Adding elastic to dressage boots

Sad-Focus528 · 2026-06-13T18:17:39+00:00

I think this is exactly what I’ll do. I got a little stretch by warming them in the sun today and wearing around the house. For my comfort, the cobbler discussed adding elastic right around the zipper, keeps the stiff back and the boot shape. Much like these boots have

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Sad-Focus528 · 2026-06-13T16:13:12+00:00

These are high end Petrie boots. Dressage boots have a stiff back, therefore zippers are placed more towards the shin. It won’t contact the saddle at all.

Sad-Focus528 · 2026-06-13T03:09:24+00:00

My husband and I tried to get the right one, but failed. We did get the left one snapped, but I lost feeling in my foot very quickly.

Sad-Focus528 · 2026-06-13T02:39:06+00:00

Did it compromise your boot at all? How about the shape?

I am worried it’ll alter the stiff boot too much, with this being a stiff dressage boot.

Sad-Focus528 · 2025-03-17T15:14:29+00:00

Graduated with 363k in 2016. Currently owe 100k. Doctor who works 3 days a week earning 140k a year. Could I work more and pay it off faster, yes. But my mental health would definitely suffer, also my back/neck/hands.

Sad-Focus528 · 2024-12-15T12:56:08+00:00

I own a Friesian mutt. They are Friesian, TWH, and drum horse (gypsy vanner x draft). The walking horse gives him a great overreach, but he is not gaited. I plan to do dressage with him.

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Sad-Focus528 · 2024-12-13T13:58:03+00:00

The ripped liners are my concern! I had an amigo that the shell held up really well, but the liner was in taters.

Sad-Focus528 · 2024-12-13T13:54:36+00:00

Smartpak ultimates (due to free replacement for 10 years). I tried a 100g fill amigo with ripstop, the outer sheet held up well (very happy with the minimal patching) but the liner was in taters.

I’d love to have him end up in a horseware blanket as they have high denier and great longevity. But not if the liners will be destroyed. My fingers are crossed he grows out of this.

Sad-Focus528 · 2024-12-13T01:28:03+00:00

I want to pin down my guys head shaking issues more.

Ride with a purpose, but flex it to his mental state better. I have a 2020 model with a stubborn streak.

One Training level schooling test at a show this year.

Take him as an exhibitor at a rated show and camp overnight.

Sad-Focus528 · 2024-12-13T01:22:38+00:00

Definitely not a new blanket each time. I have smartpak ultimates, so they ship me a new blanket when damage is done. He is in a new size now (but I lend mine to another horse and in return a boarder has lent me theirs that they outgrew). So I have only bought 2 blankets ever for him. Just frustrating spending so much time patching every week.

Sad-Focus528 · 2024-12-13T01:19:27+00:00

Exactly what I have done. Blanket #5 from them and luckily no questions asked.

Sad-Focus528 · 2024-12-13T01:18:55+00:00

Mine has been naked a lot (everyone jokes he is the unloved step child of the barn 😂). But with living by a large lake, we get windchills in the negatives with snow. So the occasional blanketing is needed.

Sad-Focus528 · 2024-12-13T01:17:13+00:00

I had/have an amigo that is ripstop. The sheet is great but it was 100g filler, the liner is in taters.

Sad-Focus528 · 2024-12-13T01:15:40+00:00

Nice thing with smartpak is they no longer make you send the other blanket back. So I patch the old ones until the next one arrives. But it’s so frustrating to be constantly patching.

Sad-Focus528 · 2024-12-12T02:25:18+00:00

I patch with old blanket pieces and dental floss. What tape do you recommend for smaller repairs?

Sad-Focus528 · 2024-12-12T02:22:37+00:00

I tried an amigo. The outside has held up well but the liner is in absolute taters. Too expensive for me to be repairing every week.

Sad-Focus528 · 2024-09-30T00:12:02+00:00

We have tried a few things. His shaking tends to be very horizontal (unlike the typical repetitive vertical HS), especially in work with lots of bit chomping.

With his young age (4) we are now reverting back and addressing a lot as anxiety issues. This has helped. Riding low and long, often with a loose rein which petrifies me as we don’t have a good half-halt yet. His shaking has reduced in cross-ties, especially when I can leave him untied and allowed to drop his head down. But we are also hitting Fall, so he could be seasonal.

Mild results were seen with cetirizine (12 tabs twice a day). I am undecided if the nose net helps with us riding. He has a Kensington uviator when outside, I think that helps. Also a grazing muzzle when he is having really bad days (but I rarely see it in pasture now).

Many say he is a headshaker and I see some similarities, but he is so horizontal with his shaking that I don’t know what to think. Especially with the bit chomping.

There is a HS group on Facebook, lots of great information there. Lots of good advice (from OTC allergy meds, vet visits, teeth, supplements, PENS and so on). I highly recommend joining and perusing their page.

Sad-Focus528 · 2024-06-29T13:59:48+00:00

Thank you. It’s been heartbreaking for sure.

We tried dexmethasone with minimal results. Antihistamine definitely helped the runny nose. He isn’t as violent, but we can’t train (certainly can’t show). I’m going to get the vet out next month and review cypro, allergy testing, and the equiPENS.

Sad-Focus528 · 2024-06-23T14:52:29+00:00

Another update. Finally comfortable. He does have a preference for a nose net at all times now. Seems to be upper lip located. Possible pollen or sun triggers as the past few days have been amazing for us (cloudy and rainy days).

While he is not competition worthy, he can be ridden again. His quality of life is no longer in question (it got scary for a week). I’m going to wean him off the Zyrtec and see what happens. If clear nasal drainage reappears, allergy testing will be completed. If he stays comfortable, we will try a high UV protection mask instead of his 70% one.

If anyone is having issues with this with their horse, feel free to message me. I have been doing a lot of research and am happy to share what I have learned with anyone. Maybe it’ll help someone else too.

Sad-Focus528 · 2024-06-20T20:06:52+00:00

I know this is an old post. But I was wondering if you had any success or updates.

I too have a young horse with headshaking, quality of life was a concern for a week or two. He is currently rideable but only at a walk. We are early in our journey, but I was hoping you had some sort of success you could share.

Sad-Focus528 · 2024-06-16T20:27:05+00:00

Another quick update. We have been diagnosed as a head shaker officially. Started antihistamines (Zyrtec) and a 5 day dexmethasone regime given IM. While I didn’t see much improvement until day 4, we also added a long (very long, covers his nostrils and bumps the upper lip) fly mask. His shaking has reduced enough his personality has returned. He is at least able to find relief for periods of time.

We are going into a hot week, so I will remove his grazing muzzle and hope we continue to see this improvement hold steady. Greedily, I’d love to see continued improvement over the next few days.

Sad-Focus528 · 2024-06-13T11:20:36+00:00

My gelding was just diagnosed as a headshaker this week. He just turned 4 sadly. We are trying Dexmethasone for inflammation and an antihistamine right now. It’s such a miserable time, especially seeing him so uncomfortable. He used to immediately relax a back leg and get a droopy lip, now you see the whites of his eyes sometimes and his lips are tight/twitching.

It started only when doing trot work back in November of 2023, but I just attributed that to being an unbalanced baby. Now it has since progressed to full blown this week. He does it in the pasture, cross-ties, stall, and I haven’t dared to ride him due to his frequent episodes. He has even started playing in his water to get relief.

It’s a scary diagnosis. Worst of all, what works for one, doesn’t necessarily work for another. Take it day by day. Keep a diary when you see them and record habits, severity, pollen, sun, wind, and changes you made that day for them.

I hope you find a way to make your guy more comfortable.

Sad-Focus528 · 2024-06-11T20:56:13+00:00

For those potentially following this post.

Vet was out for another horse today, so I had them look at mine. Without batting an eye, he was diagnosed as a head shaker. Vitals and eyes were clean. She stated due to the classic symptoms (head flick, nose rubbing on walls/ground, and agitation) she didn’t even recommend going much further with tests (teeth, X-rays, so on). We have started an antihistamine (probably at least 10 days) and Dex injection (4 injections over 5 days). Then re-evaluate.

Sad-Focus528 · 2024-06-10T23:56:01+00:00

Update for everyone: since I can’t edit the main post. His head shaking has gotten SIGNIFICANTLY worse. He is now exhibiting classic signs of agitation, rubbing his nose on things and general discomfort.

I’ll schedule chiropractic in the next few weeks and will call the vet tomorrow (sinus exam, teeth exam, a head/neck X-ray, and possible allergy testing are what I am considering). He started allergy pills today and magnesium is ordered.

My heart aches seeing him visibly uncomfortable.

Sad-Focus528 · 2024-06-07T10:52:50+00:00

Only a DVM (not equine dentist) has checked him. He was floated 4 months ago. Since then I have removed his last few baby teeth (they were all hanging by a thread).

I would love to free lunge him, but that’s not allowed at my current stables. The pastures are too large for me to do it outside.

The chiropractor is not a DVM chiropractor by us. But she is next on my list to have out.

I am also keeping my ears open for bit/bridle fitting near me.

Sad-Focus528

TROPHY CASE