Why Investing in Quality Riding Boots Is Worth Every Penny

A Personal Journey from Basic Gear to Lasting Comfort and Performance

The Surprising Evolution of My Relationship with Riding Boots

If you told me in 2021 that boots would become one of my all‑time favorite things to work on, I would’ve called you crazy. For years, Ariats and Mountain Horse boots were my staples. I went through several pairs over the course of my career. They were functional for a time, but ultimately, they were just boots that did their job until they wore out in a few months. I never felt any real attachment to them. Honestly, I didn’t even realize you could love a pair of boots; it seemed as unlikely as loving a hammer.

Learning Proper Boot Care: Lessons from Pony Club

Pony Club taught me how to polish boots properly. How to take a toothbrush and a pick to the crease between the leather and the sole so mud doesn’t sit there and rot the stitching. Does knowing how to do this very well matter? Yes. Do I actually do it? Absolutely not. Those early boots were functional. As functional as a girl living her dream needed them to be, which isn’t saying much. I would’ve ridden on bare nails if it meant getting on a horse. And I did, more than once, when I’d worn completely through the soles. I’ve always been a little mean to my gear, and my gear has always had to survive me.

Growing up, all I ever heard about “show boots” was how uncomfortable they were. And in my youth, good boots = show boots. Everything else? You bought for $200 because they were going to get beat to hell anyway.

Discovering High-End Boots: The Kingsley and Sergio Grasso Difference

Then I turned 37. I opened Red Ribbon Tack and I wanted to truly stand behind these $900+ boots I was recommending. So, before I even launched the website I bought a pair of Kingsleys. That choice changed everything.

For the first time, I slipped into a boot that wasn’t just built to survive me, it was crafted to serve me. I was riding several horses a day, teaching lessons, walking miles, and, for once in my adult life, my feet weren’t screaming by sundown. No limping to my car. No peeling off boots like they were medieval torture devices. I was… comfortable. Supported. I discovered a kind of functionality I didn’t know boots could have.

A few months later, I picked up a pair of Sergio Grasso boots for hunting. They fit differently, but they worked just as hard. Neither pair has worn through the calf, popped a zipper, or developed holes where my toes crease. They simply do their job. Quietly and reliably, just as good equipment should.

Boot Care Habits: Does Price Change Behavior?

Here’s the funny thing: I thought dropping over a thousand dollars on boots would magically transform me into a meticulous caretaker. It didn’t. I’m still me. Yet, these boots have lasted far longer anyway. Shocker.

My Kingsleys still look so sharp, they’ve become part of my home décor.

My Kingsley Londons, five years later. Still good enough for the mantel. Featured with some favorites: cookbooks, hunting literature, Stübben spurs with Pravins spur guards, and a stunning hat pin by Matter of A Pinion. Quality ages well

Show Boots vs. Everyday Riding Boots: What Matters Most?

Show boots definitely have their place. If you want to school in bling, honey, I’m all for it! But show boots are built for moments, not for mileage. Patent leather, snakeskin, ostrich—they’re all gorgeous, but fragile. A little tall, a little stiff, a little “please don’t scratch me.” And on show days, we absolutely suffer for the sparkle.

At home, though? Your boots, exciting or classic, should feel like an extension of you. They shouldn’t make you sore, distract you, or need constant fussing. Boots I’ve lived in for five years? I know and trust them. I know the heel isn’t going to come off while walking XC when I couldn’t be bothered to change into sneakers.

How to Make Your Riding Boots Last Longer

Even the best boots don’t defy the laws of physics. Leather is a natural material and will break down eventually. (You want this. Earth wants this) They’ll eventually wear out. And when mine do, I’ll cry. But here’s something most riders miss: if one pair lasts two years, two pairs don’t simply last four. They last closer to six. Giving leather, stitching, and all those tiny structural bits time to dry and decompress by rotating boots makes a dramatic difference in longevity.

The Real Value of Quality Boots for Equestrians

Boots that truly serve you are worth the investment. Not because they sparkle (unless that’s your thing), but because they let you ride, walk, teach, and live without limping. We’ll justify four-figure show boots for a handful of hours and a great photo. We suffer for the Sparkle. Then we turn around and school in boots that last about as long as duct tape. The math has never made sense.

I might be losing money selling you two pairs of boots, but I’m gaining riders who don’t limp, cuss, or replace their boots every nine months. Riders who trust their gear. Riders who get that the boots they live in should work as hard as they do, and complain less.