Short and Fat

If you are a dressage rider, you know what I am talking about. This sport's attire  is designed for tall, thin people. I am not tall nor thin. I was thin for about 8 months, but that life of complete deprivation made me very lonely and unhappy. I have finally come to terms with the fact that if I want to be happy, it's going to come with a few extra pounds.

So what does that mean for a dressage competitor? It means that finding boots to fit can be somewhat of an issue. For schooling I love the TuffRider Belmont boots. They fit me perfectly every time - I've ordered at least several pairs over the past few years - I am hard on my schooling boots, especially the zippers. For show boots, I was lucky to find the Ariat Maestros, which Ariat no longer makes. I've worn them happily for more than a decade. With the recent zipper blowout and replacement, I've felt the need to replace them. Enter the Petrie Olympic Dressage Boots.

Who doesn't love a boot box?

I love everything about these boots. They look rich and elegant, that inside zipper seems like a brilliant idea (haven't ridden with them, so who knows?), and the leather is sumptuous. It would have been perfect had they fit.

My finger is indicating where the bottom of my knee cap is.

That's a "no-go" on the zipper - too narrow.

For comparison: the Petries are several inches too tall. And no, they won't drop that much!

The Petries are back in their box. I'll be in Ventura this weekend, so I am hoping to return them in person. The fine folks at Dressage Extensions are on the hunt for a pair that will fit. The sizing chart for the Petrie boots is overwhelming, so I know they make a boot to fit me. Getting it in stock might take a while.

I guess I am not Cinderella after all.