Riding boots for girl? I have no clue how to choose!

We only ride western. I have all sorts of differant types of boots justin's are great..i just bought a pair of double h's H/H and they are a new fav..and have a fancy pair of pointed towed riding boots that are silver repel and they are very comfy for riding.. I think most important is just getting a boot that is not too wide towed with a good sole, not bulky. Fat babies tend to be very bulky and could potentialy get you hung up. Stay away from any boot that has more of a hiking boot sole, look for a slicker sole.. I always have luck with getting any of the brands a mentioned for $150 or less easily, but we are in the country and that's what is available. Id be carefull buying on line any that you havent tried on somewhere each boot fits differant and you can wear a differant size in differant brands, and arches and width can very also. No boots that are lace up eather for sure. That's what I know good luck

Justin ropers are my favorite choice by far.

Justin Gypsys are actually just as dangerous as Fat Babys.

I have really wide feet as well, and I always ride in Ariats. They fit my foot the best, and are the most comfy. I like the square toed boots. My best advice is to have her go try some on in the store. You never know how they are going to fit your fit, or feel to walk in, until you try them on. If she is already riding in Ariats, switching to the Western version may be the way to go.

That seems to be an unfair statement to make, since you have indeed NOT seen them in person. Yes, cheap western boots (under $50) tend to be cheaply made and won't last long. But a nice quality Western boot will last you decades, if you take care of them.

I have a pair of Fat Baby's that I bought about 9 or 10 years ago. They are SO comfortable; just like tennis shoes. And they look just as good today as they did when I bought them. But I take care to condition the leather every couple of months.


You will have to check with the local rules of the shows you plan on entering. Some may require a Western boot.

One other thing to consider is that I honestly would not consider a paddoack boot to be safe in a western stirrup. And this is the reason why: Look at the where the fenders on a western saddle end, and where the top of the paddock boot will fall. If is very easy for your short boot to get trapped with your heel down, if the edge of your boot gets stuck under the edge of the fender. You never want your foot pinned in a stirrup; ever. It's just not safe.

Hence why I will NEVER ride in a short shaft western riding boot (like the Justin Gypsys). It's too easy to get your foot caught.

English saddles don't have fenders, so it's a non-issue there.


They will feel stiffer and bulkier for the most part, but once you get used to them, I doubt it will make much difference.

The nice thing about western boots is that they DO come in different widths (That's the A, B, C, D, etc listed behind the number size). They can be hard to find, but if you truly need to find a wider boot, it can be done.

Fatbaby boots should NEVER be ridden in. Period. I don't ride in mine.

Fatbaby boots have no heel on the sole, so there is nothing to prevent your foot from sliding all the way through the stirrup and getting yourself dragged and hung up, if you should fall off.

Western stirrups don't have that breakaway rubber side on them like most English stirrups do, so if your foot goes all the way through, that makes for a dangerous situation. Never ride in a western saddle unless you've got a proper heel on it.

Plus you are still dealing with that short shaft on the boot that can get stuck under the fender.


I wouldn't.

Each boot fits so differently. You have to try them on. I never order any kind of shoe online. I've got to try them on.

Or at least, order from a website that has reasonable shipping and a good return policy, so you can return them if they aren't comfortable or don't fit.

Each brand is personal preference. Ariat is one of the common name brands.

There are cheap off-brand western boots out there that are sometimes a good choice for a growing child taking lessons. Or, check out EBAY! Lots of great used stuff on there.

I personally, love Ariat. I didn't do this on purpose, but I just noticed last year that out of my 7 pairs of western boots, 5 of them are Ariats. I guess they just fit my feet well!!

Again, check with the show rules to see what is going to be required.

Western shirts are going to be long-sleeved with cuffs and a collar, and of course, button down.

You could get away with buying a regular "dress" button down shirt from Target (for example) because the judges are not going to check the brand name of the shirt, as long as it meets the button down and long sleeve requirement, is clean, and properly pressed.

You do not have to get expensive with western show clothes, but you should still make sure everything is neat and clean for good presentation. Even something as small as polishing the BOTTOM of your boots (which the judge sees when you walk away from them in a halter or showmanship class) can really show that you went the extra mile to look professional.

@beau159: Thank you for your thorough reply! I really appreciate it.

Just to clarify--I meant to say that only the cheap boots that I saw at fairs seemed to be low quality. I'm quite certain there are plenty of high quality Western boots. I just never saw one in person (because I saw them in person only once, and they were poor quality lol)

I spoke to her instructor yesterday--she was actually okay with paddock boots, even if my daughter rides in English pants and not in jeans (which would cover the boot.). Now I have to think it over, as her instructor is all about safety, safety, safety. Hm...

Jeans won't prevent the top edge of the boot getting caught under the stirrup fender. Jeans are simple flimsy fabric.

It's just a matter of if the edge of her riding boot matches up to about the same level of the bottom of the fender. Some saddles/fenders it won't, and some it will.

If it's close to getting caught, or does get caught, wearing stiff half-chaps will solve the problem because that takes away the top edge of the boot.

Thank you for the clarification.

If you do look more into buying western boots, Canada West is a pretty good brand. My two favorite brands would be Canada West and Brahma. Both are quite comfy and hold up for a long time. I wear a size 9 in ladies so I have a bigger foot as well.

I just saw that the Ariat Telluride H2O are on sale. So would they work for Western? It doesn't matter then, that this style is low at the ankle? Thanks again.

Ariat Telluride H2O | DRB0741 | Greenhawk

The reviews say that they are insulated? I'd like a lighter boot for her for the spring / summer / fall. Her instructor suggested she wear her current winter ones for the summer, but I'm just not sure wearing thinsulate in warm weather is doable for a kid like mine. Lol