Dress Boot Rant - What's with calf sizes?

I gotta say - I'm shocked at the lack of variety when it comes to calf sizes, specifically for girls who have a normal size/larger calf. I'm in pretty good shape. I'm definitely not a typical thin lean "equestrienne" type, but I'm in good shape. I have a 16 1/2" calf, and I've found TWO boots that are not custom that go to that calf size - the Fuller Fillies dress boot (which I can't get in Canada), and the Ovation Gold Circuit Pro dressage boot. These are both cheap boots (in my opinion), and there is NO in between these two boots. The ONLY exception to this was the guy I met at the Royal Winter Fair this year who does full custom for $580 (I should've gotten measured at the time but I didn't - stupid).

So I suppose I'm just surprised. Who here has a calf size over a 15 1/2"? Am I the only one?

And just to add, I'm ALL FOR custom boots, or semi-custom, but with losing weight and getting into even better shape I refuse to spend $800-$1000 on boots when they won't fit six months from now.

I broke down and ordered the Ovation Gold Circuit Pro boot in the XX-Wide they are now carrying. From what I understand they aren't the greatest boot whatsoever, but I was left without any other options in this case. I need a boot that will look decent to get me through this summer, and like I said, I wasn't going to drop $1k just to not be able to use them a few months later.

What gives!

You're not the only one. Try pairing that with a size 11 shoe.

Finding boots for myself (and shoes in general) is a total headache, I usually end up wearing whatever shoes/tall boots/paddock boots I do find in my size until the soles fall off, just to keep away from the headache!!

I ended up with a pair of field boots (I know you're looking for dress) from Devon-Aire. They're not the best quality, I certainly wouldn't wear them for more than special occasions such as lessons with trainers other than my person one, and shows, but they were hard to pass up at $36.

I just got Mountain Horse show tall boots as B-day/X-mas present... In consignment store in VA (with the price accordingly), but brand new. Out ALL boots I tried those were only one I could pull on. Just because they have zipper on back. All others just stuck right in mid and I couldn't move them either direction (felt awful). I'm tall, and with big legs too, so finding good boots is tough.

I just want to say that I feel for you. I can't even get socks that fit over my calves! I always say I have "fat calves" but the calf is really mostly muscle, so I guess I have too much muscle for most socks to fit?

What about men's boots? Do they look any different? (I ride western so I know nothing about English boots). I know when I buy shoes I go straight to the men's section. I grew out of women's shoes years ago, because I have wide feet.

Don't feel bad. They don't fit skinny people with long bird legs either. My calves swim in my boots and don't even go up to my knee. I gave up trying to find an off the rack pair that fit.

I had to buy calf boot stretchers for my daughter when she was only 11 years old and fairly thin. So I am with you on this complaint.

LOL @ the boots not fitting skinny people either. Misery loves company...its sort of nice to hear.

It's frustrating though eh? Like same deal, my calf isn't "fat" - I'm pretty muscular - I could lose maybe a half inch of fat. That still puts me only at 16"s which is STILL above an ordinary off the rack boot.

Anyways, this is the pair I ended up with. But I still just hate the generalization that women with 16"+ calves shouldn't buy boots/ride (ok I'm over-exaggerating but you know what I mean!).

Maybe it's a conspiracy so we all have to buy custom boots!

YES. I knew something was up... that's totally it. Der Dau has us by the balls.

It so totally is!!