How to Care How to Care for Tall Boots
Regular cleaning and proper care of your field, dress or dressage boots can extend their life and keep them looking new. Follow these guidelines to keep your favorite boots in great shape. To browse our entire selection of tall boots online, click
here.
1. Wipe dirt, manure and horse sweat from the surface of your tall riding boots with a barely damp cloth or sponge after every use. These contaminants leech moisture from the leather and can rot the stitching. Dust and dirt can cause abrasions and cracking.
2. Use cleaning and conditioning products designed specifically for boots, rather than using a tack cleaner. You can choose from a range of products designed to clean and shine boots
here. Never use household cleaners on your boots as they may permanently damage the leather. It is best to check your boot manufacturer’s guidelines for the appropriate product. When it comes time to shine your tall riding boots, apply a boot cream or boot polish to a clean boot with a soft rag, then buff with a boot polishing brush followed by another clean rag until the boot is shiny.
3. Protect your boots on wet days by using overshoes such as
Tingley Rubbers. Be sure to remove overshoes before storage. Condensation forms between the boot, your foot and the overshoe when you wear these covers, so air must be allowed to circulate and dry the sole of the boot to prevent mildewing and to preserve the integrity of the stitching afterward. If your tall riding boots get wet, allow them to dry completely and naturally at room temperature before wearing them again. Never place wet leather boots near a heat source such as a radiator, fireplace, wood stove or space heater.
4. Insert boot trees in your tall boots when not being worn to maintain their shape and the life of the zippers.
Cedar Boot Trees help repel moisture and pests, whereas
plastic boot trees are the most economical option.
Note: Allow perspiration inside the boots to dry naturally before inserting plastic trees. As with all leather products, your tall riding boots should be stored in a temperature-controlled environment that is free from rodents. Extreme heat and cold temperatures are detrimental to leather.
Improperly stored tall riding boots without boot trees. 
Properly stored tall riding boots with boot trees inserted. How to Care for Boot Zippers - Ensure your leg measurements do not exceed the size prescribed for your brand of boots. This is the key to the longevity of your boot zippers.
- Pull the zipper down completely before you slip your foot into or out of the boot.
- Never force a zipper to close.
- Remove dust or sand from the zipper teeth using a toothbrush or similar tool. Add just a bit of water to the brush if you need to remove salt from the zipper.
- Use Zipper Ease® to extend the life of your zippers and make them zip smoothly. This is an easy-to-use stick lubricant that rubs on like a crayon to keep metal or plastic zippers working smoothly.
Related Articles: How to Check the Fit of New Tall Boots How to Measure for Stock Tall Boots Our Guarantee 100% Satisfaction Guarantee
The Easiest and Best Guarantee in The Business
Shop with 100% confidence at Dover Saddlery. If something doesn’t fit you or your horse, return your original purchase within a year, and we’ll make it right with a refund, exchange or replacement.
Our experience as riders and horse owners ourselves is that in most situations a year’s time is fair enough to evaluate proper fit and function. PLUS: For manufacturer’s defects, we’ll extend the manufacturer’s warranty to a maximum of 24 months, regardless of their individual policies. (AND: Manufacturer warranties longer than 24 months will be honored and supported by us as well up to the length of those warranties).
Exceptions: Safety items such as helmets and protective vests may only be returned within 30 days, with their original tags intact. Saddles and riding boots may be returned within the one year period, but are subject to a prorated refund based on usage. Used saddles may be returned for 30 days only. For everyone’s protection, treats and vet meds which have been opened are not returnable, and returned blankets must clean and free of debris. Underwear is not returnable or exchangeable.
Special Conditions
To protect all customers and ensure that every return or exchange is handled fairly, we may require a receipt or decline a return in these situations:
• Item was not purchased directly from Dover Saddlery. (It was purchased at a used tack sale or from a retailer or online seller other than Dover Saddlery.)
• Item is missing a label or has been defaced.
• No receipt and no valid identification in our stores.
• Item is wet, dirty or contaminated, or until it has been cleaned. (For health and safety reasons, we cannot accept returns on used, defective or poorly fitting blankets if they are UNWASHED.)
• Item has been lost, stolen, damaged, or misused.
• On rare occasions, based on the nature of prior transactions.
• Supplements have been opened or used.
• Multiple returns of the same item.
• Personalized items may not be returned unless defective.
Security Guarantee
Dover Saddlery understands your concerns regarding online security. We share in your concerns and therefore work hard with experts in the field to maintain a highly secure ordering environment. Along with our comment to security, we offer you a Secure Order Guarantee - this gives you 100% protection for your credit card transactions on Doversaddlery.com.
Our Secure Order Guarantee means that you will never have to pay any money related to unauthorized charges to your credit card account, as long as those charges are a direct result from a transaction on Doversaddlery.com.
How it works: If you experience credit card fraud, the Fair Credit Act specifies that your credit card company can hold you liable for no more than $50.00 in fraudulent charges to your account. Our Secure Order Guarantee will reimburse you for any amount up to $50.00 billed to you by your credit card company for unauthorized charges to your account, if those charges result from an order you placed with Doversaddlery.com. For this protection you must promptly notify your credit card company of fraudulent charges and follow their procedures as outlined in your credit card agreement.
