Legendary fashion icon Marilyn Monroe was once quoted as saying, “Give a girl the right shoes, and she can conquer the world.”
For anyone who spends time in the saddle or on the farm, boots can easily make you or break you. A good pair of boots are well fitting and comfortable once broken in, and often very hard to replace when their time is up. For those of us who live our day-to-day lives in cowboy boots, we work in them, show in them, ride in them and even use wear them to special events.
A person’s boots can even tell a story about their owner depending on color, style, and wear. GoHorseShow asked multiple people to share a picture and the story of their favorite boots and explain why they are special.
Ali Grusha – (main image) These are a pair of Tin Haul boots that I wear to ride in every day. Well, almost every day. I was wearing these when my young horse fell and broke my leg. The hospital threatened me that they might have to cut them off. My favorite color is turquoise, and there was no way I was going to sacrifice my favorite boots. I will say, I didn’t wear them for seven months after my accident. I was nervous that they were bad luck. However, I’m back to wearing them and they still are my favorite boots.
Carey Nowacek – My favorite boots have been through it all. I bought them when I was probably 15 years old to show in and they quickly became my favorite boots. I would show the showmanship and riding classes in them. Being as superstitious as I am, those boots stuck with me all the way through the end of my college career. The poor boots have been resoled so many times that finally the boot repair shop said they could not do them again. With a huge hole in one of them and barely any sole on the other, I just 
could not let them go. I remember one weekend at the University of South Carolina while we were competing, it was raining and everywhere was soaked. My coach and teammates strapped plastic bags to my feet so that I could walk around the arena and not have wet socks. Everyone always asked, “When are you getting new boots?” and I promised I would after I finished my collegiate career. I had won a lot in those boots, and I couldn’t bear to part with them. So, when I was finished at Texas A&M and came home after graduation, sadly I retired my trusty boots. Shortly after, my dad said he had a gift for me. He brought in a full-size bronze of my boots that he had had made (pictured right). It is still one of the coolest gifts I have ever received. They look just like my old boots, hole in the sole and all.
Cody Parrish – This is my lucky pair of boots. Not only are they snazzy looking, but they’re the most comfortable pair I’ve ever worn. They fit like a glove, and I really get good airflow when I get loping. They’re experienced enough that they can train a horse by themselves. They also make me a trendsetter because no one else at the shows has such a good-looking pair. No they are not for sale.
Jadasa Jablonowski – This is my favorite pair of boots. There are many reasons I love them, including their color and design. However, the true reason I love them is because I just feel good when I wear them.
Beth Case – Well, I’m nine months pregnant and about to have a baby, but I’ve been riding up until the very end. Due to my fat swollen feet, I have been wearing these because they are the most comfy ones to ride in right now. I think they are called roper horse shoes. They are like a combination of boots and tennis shoes.
Ashley Hadlock – It’s hard to pick just one pair. I have a big love of boots and shoes in general, so for me, boots are not just for showing. When I saw these Old Gringo boots in the store, I just had to have them. Pink is one of my favorite colors, I love anything with animal print, and the stones added a little extra flare and sass to the style. I felt they were almost made just for me. I like how I can pair something simple with the boots and have a fun outfit. Living in Nashville, the boots are the perfect accessory for the many concerts and fun events I attend.
Blake Carney – Boot fit is very important to me. I have some painful back issues and having good boots are a priority for me. Anyone close to me knows I wear my boots until you can basically pull them into pieces with your bare hands. For the last few years, the Tin Haul brand has really done me right. I don’t know what they put on the bottom, but I can get so much more wear out of their boots. The pair I am wearing now I bought right before the Pinto World last year. I should have worn them a little more before tackling those long days in them, but they definitely fit like a glove now. I coached 13 world and reserve world champions and a reserve high point 14-18 at the world show. Worth every step.
Sydney Scheckel – My favorite pair of boots are by far my black ostrich boots from Logans. I’ve won a lot of big titles in them including the Youth World, NSBA World, and the Congress. But most importantly, they’ve been comfortable from the very first day I got them. I love these boots so much and I’ll never let them go, so I take very good care of them.
Peyton Bivins – My favorite boots are my custom made La Mundial English boots. They are extremely comfortable and I was able to design them myself. Keeping it simple, I chose to add a silver tab with the letter “P” on them as well as some metallic golds accents, which, if you know me, are complimentary to my tastes in fashion. They have also been very good to me in terms of luck. After coming away with the Novice Amateur Hunter Hack Congress Championship, something I never thought possible, I undoubtedly gave Collin all the credit, but the boots made their lucky debut for that win. La Mundial boots are incredible and I am very thankful for the opportunity to own a pair.
Farley McLendon – I’ve had this particular pair of boots since 2004. Phyllis Harris (Harris Leather and Silverworks) and I designed them at the Tom Powers. I wanted something different and I liked the full ostrich wing-tipped look. They have been resoled and stitched so many times that I can’t count. The design is still available but with the Harris logo on the shaft.
Hilary Reinhard – I love all my boots. From the funky stitched pairs to the classic exotics, I can’t choose a favorite pair. I love having a wide selection, so I can match my mood and the occasion. I’m lucky that I’m an agricultural engineer, so boots and jeans are pretty much appropriate for every work day. Now, I am particular about boot socks. If I feel like I need some extra luck, my socks will not match…mismatch socks are lucky. My current favorite is a Wonder Woman sock matched with a sock with unicorns all over it. Who can go wrong with that combo?
Jenna Dempze – These are my go-to boots- Rios Of Mercedes smooth ostrich. Nothing fancy, pretty basic, but they are comfortable and fit great. They are my second pair of the same brand/style/leather. Thinking back now, I guess they are pretty special…my first Congress championship was in them.
Natasha Blanchard – My favorite boots are my Rod Patrick boots. They are my lucky show boots. I was a 2011 NSBA World Champion in those boots and they are very special to me.
Cathrin Gutmann– These boots are Nile crocodile boots from Rod Patrick and I’ve seen them at Woods’ Western for three years. They were perfect, and, of course, they fit but I wouldn’t buy them until my birthday three years after I saw them. Luckily, they were still there.
Cori Cansdale – These boots are special to me because they are so comfortable and they are who I am. I have high heels, Converse, and all other types of shoes, but these boots are me and they are my favorite. These boots have seen me through every win and every loss.
Tanna Suits – I absolutely love these boots, first of all because they are purple, which is my favorite color, and, second, I love the design. I first saw these boots at Congress two years ago and kept finding myself going back by them several times, and they caught my eye. I just had to have them. I get more compliments on these boots than any of my others.
Julian Harris – Being able to go into the pen wearing clothes that make you feel great and confident has a lot to do with how you feel trotting in. My La Mundial boots have a look that I love and my own twist on them that make them my own. I love being able to have my own one of a kind style when I go into the pen.
Ellexxah Maxwell – These boots are special to me because I have won two of my favorite awards in them. I won the Youth 12-14 Showmanship at the Congress and the Reserve Youth World Champion Showmanship in them. They are kind of like my lucky charms. I hate showing in showmanship with any other boots. Plus they are super comfortable.
Julie Hoefling – These boots are special to me because they were the first pair of boots I bought when I returned to riding after a 10-year break. That was three years ago, and, since then, I’ve bought boots and won boots but these are still my favorite. They are not fancy and as you can tell, they have been well-loved. They are stretched out, have oil spots on them from spilled supplements, and the heels squeak when I walk. They are my every day, “go-to” boots and remind me how far I’ve come since I bought them, and how hard work and getting some dirt on your boots pays off.
Patty Bogosh – My Rod Patrick Caymans are my favorite boots. This pair means a lot to me because they’re my showmanship boots, and I won the Level 2 Showmanship at the AQHA World Show last year in them. When I got home and was unpacking, I pulled them out and they still had the red dirt on the soles…cleaning them brought back all the memories of the moment that I had dreamed of for so long!
Trista Mallow – Some people might consider me a boot diva. I have separate pairs of boots for the barn, horse shows and Closet Space. My horse show boots consist of a pair I ride in and, then, depending on if I show the showmanship or equitation, I have separate boots for those events. I even bring a pair of rain boots for in the wash rack or rainy days. When we just take Closet Space to shows and no horses, that involves an entirely different boot wardrobe. I have a few pairs of more fashion type boots (pictured l
eft) to accessorize my outfits with. Although, my ‘go-tos’ are my basic black square-toed ostrich Rios of Mercedes (pictured right). They are super comfortable. I love them so much; I have two pairs of this same boot, one for showing and one for the store. Guilty! A girl can never have enough boots.
Samantha Armbruster (Author of Article)- These are my absolute favorite pair of boots. I have probably sprayed them about 100 times with black horse polish to make them appear more new and clean for showmanship class. Though they have some nice sized holes in the soles, I cannot bring myself to throw them away. These boots have been with me for many wins and make me feel more confident every time I put them on.
Do you have a pair of favorite boots? We want to see and hear about them. Post in the comments section of the article or you can post a picture on our Facebook post.
