Cob Jockey

When I bought my Celeris winter boots, I took advantage of the BOGOHP deal they run seemingly continually and got my first-ever pair of stiff Dressage boots (although not the stiffest they make - that would be the Passage Compete).

I was a little apprehensive about it, since I'd heard of people trying stiff boots for the first time and hating them. But beyond wearing them in the house, it was too cold to even think about riding in unlined boots for the first four months I had them, so they sat in the bag until recently. 

Survey says?

Arena lights not doing the color any favors here, but they look amazing IRL.

It's surprising, actually. I don't even notice them! Not for better or for worse, from the very first ride. They didn't hurt even a little during the break-in period, unlike the Celeris winter lace up boots which left scars on the back of my knees from the break-in process. I haven't measured, but I'm guessing the Dressage boots were made shorter knowing they won't drop as much as the soft winter boots will.

In the saddle, I don't notice the stiffness, I don't notice that they're new. They're just there, and they're gorgeous. And they ARE gorgeous. I wanted a color that would contrast beautifully with the brown saddle, and I got it.

This is the kind of leather that I love to see a nice patina on from wear, and they should continue to darken a bit and age beautifully. I can't wait for that.

So this is a bit of an anti-climactic post, but that makes my first experience with Celeris a 2/2 on delivering gorgeous, high-quality boots that fit perfectly. Thanks again Stacie for all your help!

Tis the season...to buy yourself stuff!

My $50 eBayed Ariat Heritage Contour field boots continue to cut off my circulation if I wear them for more than 15 minutes, but I put up with that for the last...six years? because I only wear them to show in.

#passable.  PC: Lisa Brezina

If I unzip the right one during warmup (my calves are dramatically different sizes after I got kicked in the knee while riding in 2007), zip it for my test, AND don't work out for a couple days before a show, they're fine.

Oh and unzip it as soon as humanly possible after our test. PC: My mom

But if the right pair came along for the right price I wouldn't say no, which is why I've had a standing eBay search for "6 dressage boots" for a long time.  Like, years.

So that's how this happened:

First "nice" pair of tall boots ever, after a pair of Devon Aires and the Ariats.

Someone was selling a "worn ten times" pair of La Mundials in my size for $140 shipped last week.   Used boots are hard to resell, but at that price if they didn't work out I felt I could definitely turn a small profit on them if I had to.


But I don't think I'll have to.  They're a perfect fit in almost every way, except the calf which is a smidge big, especially on my small calf. Not so much to where it matters though.  I figure maybe I'll bring them to Rolex-not-Rolex where LM always has a booth and see if they can do something about it.

And, by that time I'll have been working out again for six months, so my calves might grow by then anyway.

They may not be as stiff as some hardcore Dressage boots, but they're stiff enough to stand up on their own without a tree.

Spanish top for the first time in my life!

Here's to show boots that won't leave my feet numb!