Anybody ever had dressage boots stretched?

[hoser1]

I had custom dress boots made last spring that I have worn only about 10-20 times, but they have become progressively, painfully tight. They are now so tight that they literally take my breath away for about the first 10 minutes, after which my lower legs go rather numb. They were snug when I first tried them, but not this bad. I have not gained any weight on the scale, but what I can figure is that I was breastfeeding at the time I had them fitted and I think my fluid balance changed after I stopped. I can't ride in them like this and was thinking about getting them stretched. Before I do it though, I want to know if anyone has done it to nice boots and was the outcome good? Did it help with the fit? These are fully lined.

[angel]

About the best way to stretch them, would be to wear them into a creek. Yeep! Put them on, get them soaking wet, and walk around in them.:eek: Do this several times over a period of a few days until they are more comfortable. Actually, most boots...even the cheap ones, need this done so that they fit and mold to the foot. Yes, I was horrified the first time someone told me to do that with expensive boots as well!

[Gontyna]

Yes, years ago I had some Petries stretched by a bootmaker, and they worked perfectly after that. I have also had stretchy gussets put into boots, with success.

[DJ]

I had mine Cavallos stretched. It worked out really well for me. Well except that apparently one of my calves is bigger than the other and we only measured the small one. :eek: But the stretching worked well for me.

[Sabine]

About the best way to stretch them, would be to wear them into a creek. Yeep! Put them on, get them soaking wet, and walk around in them.:eek: Do this several times over a period of a few days until they are more comfortable. Actually, most boots...even the cheap ones, need this done so that they fit and mold to the foot. Yes, I was horrified the first time someone told me to do that with expensive boots as well!

you can make it easier and do it at home, using cheap plastic bags from the supermarket- step into those and then slide on the boot and go into a tepid water bath in your bath tub, lay out old towels before and after 10 minutes- get out- after fully immersing your boots into the water- dry off the outside of the boots or put even larger trashbags around the boots and walk around in them for at least 30 minutes.
Take off- put in wooden foot and calf stretchers...and let dry in a well aired not too hot place...and do it again if needed. It works great- its a PIA to do but doesnt cost a penny....

[Saracatherine]

About the best way to stretch them, would be to wear them into a creek. Yeep! Put them on, get them soaking wet, and walk around in them.:eek: Do this several times over a period of a few days until they are more comfortable. Actually, most boots...even the cheap ones, need this done so that they fit and mold to the foot. Yes, I was horrified the first time someone told me to do that with expensive boots as well!

Walking in a creek does work!! I bought a pair of almost new boots from
ebay, that were advertised as medium calf size, but when they arrived, they were slim........arrrgggghhh! So, I took them to my leather guy and he added some leather by the zipper and they fit fine. Well, I went on a trail ride with a friend and had to walk my horse across a creek, nearly to the top of the boots. The boots actually stretched more. Wish I had known that little tidbit before I had the leather guy fix them.

[rothmpp]

Also - Most boot shops can't/won't stretch boots with a zipper. So - if you have a zipper, you may be out of luck for stretching the conventional way.

[chancellor2]

I had my Cavallos stretched and it was okay. But, I wound up putting gussets in too.

[hoser1]

Thanks for the suggestions, everybody. My boots actually already have gussets, but no zippers. Getting them on is not a problem, and the fit around the top is OK (probably due to the gussets). It's the way they severely compress my calves - seriously painful. Anybody know if having gussets already in will pose a problem for stretching?

[Nojacketrequired]

Spray copious amounts of rubbing alcohol on the INSIDES and then put them on and wear them until dry. This helps the leather fibres to relax and once dry they won't tighten up again.
Don't get the rubbing alcohol on the inside.
A very old shoe-maker told me that once, and it works great.

NJR

[egontoast]

Spray copious amounts of rubbing alcohol on the INSIDES and then put them on and wear them until dry. This helps the leather fibres to relax and once dry they won't tighten up again.
Don't get the rubbing alcohol on the inside

NJR- is there a typo there? Spray on insides but don't get it on insides?:eek:

Anyway, yes, i had boots stretched. The calves were too big so I had them cut down and then they were too tight. I had them stretched and also put zippers in --that also gives you an opportunity to add room if you explain to the bootmaker. talk to the boot guy about how much extra you need.

[Maya01]

Another low cost, at home thing you can do is to:
1. Put your boots on as far as they will go without resistence
2. Get your hairdryer and turn it on full
3. Heat your boots up where the problem area is, gradually putting them on further until you are fully in them
4. Stretch your calf muscle and walk around until they are cool

This should mold the leather to your leg, and since leather stretches easier when heated, it will stretch the leather without cause any damage. I used this on my field boots and they worked perfectly (until the zipper broke - but those darn Ariat zippers are as small and fragile as anything :lol:).

I hope this works well for you. You may need to do it two or three times until it is fully stretched :yes:

[whicker]

Shiela, the owner at horse and hound in flint hill, Va is superb at stretching boots. She has done my dehners and even has the nobs for bumpy feet.


Years ago, I had my vogels shrink and I wore them anyway to an event. I got a blood clot in my calf from the pressure.

Please make sure they are big enough brfore you spend any time in them.

On a positive note, maybe you are developing more muscle in your calves and strength in your legs... If you are a Mom, you are doing lots of weight training with all the needs of the little one:winkgrin:

[hoser1]

Years ago, I had my vogels shrink and I wore them anyway to an event. I got a blood clot in my calf from the pressure.



Oh, that's horrible! Thanks for sharing - that would never even have occurred to me, but my boots are tight enough that I think it would be a possibility to have happen.

[LegalEagle]

Anybody know if having gussets already in will pose a problem for stretching?

I have had boots with gussets stretched before. The cobbler sewed a piece of leather over the gusset before stretching and then removed it after they were stretched (if that makes sense). Then the elastic and stitching were not stressed.