Showing posts with label leather. Show all posts
Showing posts with label leather. Show all posts

April 4, 2017

Boot Cleaning

My husband, who is in Miami for work this week, texted me Monday afternoon to ask if I'd clean and condition his Sperrys while he was gone.

I must explain, the pantyhose in the upper right has everything to do with tack shoe cleaning.

I'd explain that this isn't a sexist request, but you're all equestrians.  You get it.  We get really good at cleaning, conditioning and polishing leather for our horses, it's only fair that our husbands and wives get to benefit from those skills too, right?  Luckily for mine, I like taking care of leather.

Chillin' with Lederbalsam
My "A Team" of tack cleaning supplies was at the barn 50 minutes away, so I used the "B Team": a really old jar of Higher Standards and Passier Lederbalsam.  Plus a pile of boot cleaning stuff I don't keep at the barn.

But...I couldn't just stop at the Sperrys once I got my kit out.  So...

From left to right: Ariat Bromont H20 winter boots, Ariat Heritage field boots, Ariat ProBaby cowboy boots (yes, I wear them!), Ariat Performer IV paddock boots, and Ariat Contour half chaps

Everybody got cleaned, first with a damp rag and then with Higher Standards.  Then those that needed it got shoe polish (paddock boots due to excessive wear, show boots because I like a healthy glow there), and the polish got polished vigorously with pantyhose to give it that nice luster.  

The B Team at the scene of the crime, on my kitchen floor.

Those that didn't need polish got conditioned and left to soak overnight in a warm room.  Whatever conditioner is left in the morning will get wiped off, they'll get buffed and finally, a light coating of (solidified) mink oil for the paddock boots and winter boots to increase their ability to repel water.

(Not that the Bromont H20's need it.  Those things are like rubber boots in puddles.)

Bromont H20's shown covered in Lederbalsam.  They pretty much still look brand new after a solid winter of work.


Five years old, worn 7-8 months per year.  Bought practically new on eBay for $45. This is the model with the lace up front and zip back, and if they ever stop making them I will have to stop riding.


3 years old, worn seriously minutes per year.  Paid $50 on eBay, cannot complain.

Actually I just cleaned the cowboy boots and didn't do anything else to them.  I'm not sure what to do with them cleaning-wise, TBH.  All part of my grand cowboy boot experiment.  I'm looking forward to reviewing these and sharing the experiment soon.


Not sure how I ended up with that much Ariat stuff, but I've been nothing but pleased with the fit, comfort, longevity and wear of all of it.  Three cheers for Ariat!
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October 17, 2016

All the Reasons Majyk Equipe Rocks

A while back, after my review of the generation 2 Majyk Equipe Dressage boots, Bev reached out to me to apologize that they won't be making or selling them in smalls anymore, and to offer to send me a pair of the old generation 1 smalls that they had "sitting around".  

I use them for pretty much every ride unless they're in the laundry.

Of course I accepted.  They won't be making or selling the Dressage boots in small anymore, and mine are getting just a bit ragged after two years - mostly from Velcro hitting the binding on accident than any defect in the boots.

This is after a ride, pre-wash.  You gotta admit they look pretty good for two year old white schooling boots.

Some time went by and I completely forgot about that conversation, until...


This arrived, pretty close to my birthday.  I know ME didn't plan it that way, but we can pretend!

Inside was way more than I expected to receive:


Not one but TWO pairs of the Dressage smalls, and a completely unexpected pair of the ME leather open fronts (Majyk Equipe Boyd Martin Leather Tendon Jump Boots) in the brand new pony (SQUEE!) size!  I was so blown away.  I've admired them for such a long time, and actually having them in my hands confirmed that they are as nice as I thought they would be.


I also realized that since all of my leather stuff is used except my girth, I never get to smell that new leather smell.  These things smelled heavenly out of the box. 

A full review is coming once I receive the matching pony hinds that I bought and are backordered at Riding Warehouse.  But in the meantime, check out how tiny these things are.  They are so tiny, my trainer giggled when she looked at them sitting on a tack trunk.  

I needed something for scale and the closest thing to me was a handle of Tito's.  I realize now that this is a terrible scale photo, oh well.  Trust me, they're T-I-N-Y.
The pony hinds are backordered right now, but look for a full review on the full set as soon as I get them.  Thank you, thank you, thank you Majyk Equipe for making some of your awesome boots in pony sized!  I hope they sell like crazy!
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