PLN
From August 19 to 23, 2026, Aachen will host the World Para-Dressage Championships, a para-dressage block of the FEI Grand Championships, which this year, after many years, brings together six equestrian disciplines under one roof again.
A few days ago, the Para-Dressage Team picked up their De Niro Bellini riding boots from us, the boots in which Polish riders will compete. And we'll tell you the most interesting thing about this story right away: they were not custom-made boots.
Who is going to Aachen: the Para-Dressage Team lineup
The Polish Equestrian Federation has announced the Polish national team for the World Para-Dressage Championships. Four competing pairs and one reserve will go to Aachen:
- Maciej Bigaj and Be My Love
- Dominika Pączek and Quentino
- Agata Weigt and Discovery 64
- Mariusz Woszczek and Zachwyt Nad Wigrami
- Reserve: Magdalena Cycak and Easy Boy
The team is led by trainer Jarosław Poręba. The staff includes physiotherapist Marcin Ganowski and caregivers: Urszula Krzewicka, Marta Polaczek-Bigaj, Karolina Młodawska, Justyna Milej Markiewicz, and Sambor Nestorowicz. This is an important detail that is rarely remembered in competition reports: in para-dressage, the result is the product of teamwork, not just the rider-horse pair.
It is worth adding context for those who know para-dressage mainly from broadcasts. Riders compete at five levels (Grade I-V) assigned based on functional classification, and the test program is adapted to the level. The result is determined by the same quality of seat, horse preparation, and precision as in able-bodied dressage, with the difference that the repertoire of available riding aids may be narrower. That is why the equipment must work flawlessly, not "well enough."
We measured each leg and it turned out that custom fitting was not needed
The visit began as every serious conversation about riding boots: with a tape measure.
We measured each rider individually and separately for each leg, because the right and left legs are almost never identical, and in para-dressage, the differences can be more pronounced than average. Calf circumference at the widest point, height from the outer crease below the knee to the ground with the leg slightly bent, and foot length and width. In the breeches and socks they actually compete in, not in what they happened to be wearing that day.
And here we come to the crux of the matter. After comparing the measurements with De Niro's size chart, it turned out that a solution within the standard size chart could be found for each rider, without the need to order custom-made boots.
This is not a compromise. This is the best possible result of such a measurement, and for three reasons.
First: time. The boots arrived quickly enough that the riders will have time to break them in before the start in Aachen. With a custom order, this would be unrealistic within this timeframe, and breaking in new riding boots only at the World Championships warm-up arena is a scenario no one in their right mind would choose.
Second: the possibility of trying them on. Boots from a standard size chart can be tried on both legs, stood up in, knees bent, to feel where the shaft works. All this before making a decision. Custom-made boots are only known after delivery and after the fact.
Third: money is left for other equipment. Standard sizes are cheaper. If the leg fits, paying extra for custom measurements won't buy a single extra point.
So why do we measure at all if the boots are standard?
Because "standard" does not mean "substandard" and size is not just one number.
For riding boots, three values are selected simultaneously: shaft height, calf circumference, and foot width. The De Niro size chart is a combination of these three parameters, not a simple sequence of numbers from 37 to 42. Hitting the right combination without measurement is a matter of luck, and that's exactly where most mistakes are made when buying riding boots.
Measurement also solves three problems that are more significant in para-dressage than in able-bodied dressage:
Asymmetry and muscle tension differences. A shaft that fits perfectly on one leg may pinch on the other, or worse, twist and slip. Measuring both legs allows choosing a size for the more difficult leg, not for the average of the two.
Stabilization without stiffness. A well-fitted shaft holds the leg in position but does not block the ankle joint. If it's too loose, it starts to twist; if it's too tight, it forces compensation in the knee and hip.
Repeatability of sensation. A rider who knows the exact behavior of their boot does not have to "test" it during warm-up. This is trivial, until it comes to a test where points are decided by tenths.
When is a standard size sufficient, and when do you really need custom measurements?
This question is asked by almost every customer looking at premium riding boots. We answer honestly, because we don't profit from you buying more expensively than you need to.
A standard size is usually sufficient when:
- your measurements fall within the manufacturer's size chart and are not on its very edge
- the difference between your legs is small
- your foot has a standard width and instep
- you have a chance to try on the boot before buying.
Custom measurements are worth considering when:
- calf circumference or height falls outside the size chart; very wide calf, very narrow, unusual height-to-circumference ratio
- the difference between your legs is so significant that one size won't fit both
- you have a high instep or very wide foot combined with a low shaft
- you need a specific degree of reinforcement stiffness or an unusual finish configuration.
There's also an argument that salespeople rarely mention: custom-made boots are made exclusively for one pair of legs, so they are not returnable. When purchasing custom-sized boots, the entire responsibility for the accuracy of the measurements shifts to the moment before the order. This is an additional reason to perform such measurements on-site, calmly, and with another person, rather than "quickly" over the phone.
Riding boots for wide calves: the most common reason customers ask for custom sizes
It's worth stating clearly: most people who come to us asking about custom riding boots don't do it because of competitive sports. They do it because with wide calves, high insteps, or very short stature, "standard sizes" from a store have never fit. And very often, it turns out that the problem wasn't the leg, but an insufficient size chart in previous boots. With a broad size chart from a premium manufacturer, the same leg fits a standard size without any extra cost.
De Niro Bellini: What makes this model of dressage boots stand out?
The Bellini belongs to De Niro's dressage family and is a close relative of the brand's most popular model, the Raffaello. There are two differences, and both are only noticeable when worn.
Narrower finish around the ankle. The Bellini has a tapered ankle, while the Raffaello maintains a more classic, straight line. The effect is a more distinct, "lengthened" leg silhouette in the saddle, and in dressage, where the judge observes the rider for several minutes continuously, the silhouette is part of the overall score.
Soft reinforcement of the outer shaft. The Bellini comes standard from the factory with a "comfy" panel, which is less stiff than the standard Raffaello panel. This feature was the deciding factor for the team: a boot with a soft panel is tolerable from the first training and breaks in faster, so a few weeks before the championships is a realistic plan, not a risk.
Other design features are common to the brand's premium line: calf leather on the shaft and foot, full calf lining, zipper placed on the inside of the leg, Vibram sole sewn and glued, reinforced toe cap. All De Niro riding boots are made in the factory in Casarano, in the province of Lecce, southern Italy.
If you want to compare models within the brand, it is worth seeing the differences in the entire De Niro riding boot collection live, and those looking for a more distinctive aesthetic usually end up with Tricolore by De Niro riding boots.
How to measure your leg for riding boots?
The measurement is based on three dimensions, plus the conditions under which you perform it. Conditions are just as important as the numbers.
Measure yourself in the breeches and socks you compete in, after training rather than before (the calf works and swells during the day), and preferably with a second person. Measuring height yourself almost always results in a measurement that is too short.
- Calf circumference, at the widest point, with the leg bent at a right angle, tape applied with gentle tension, without pressing into the muscle.
- Shaft height, from the outer crease below the knee to the ground, with the leg slightly bent. The reference point is the tendon palpable behind the knee.
- Foot length and width, converted to European size; for a wide foot, we note the need for a "wide foot" width.
And always measure both legs. This is one extra measurement and the most common skipped step when buying riding boots.
How to break in new riding boots before a competition?
Since the team now has a few weeks to break in their boots, it's worth discussing how to do it wisely.
Start with short rides, not a full training session. The new shaft is stiffest around the ankle, and that's where the first rubs appear. Twenty, thirty minutes of quiet work is enough to start.
Do not force bending or wet the boots. Calf leather molds to the leg on its own; it just needs mileage, not violence. Instead, it's worth using dedicated care products that maintain the natural elasticity of the leather.
Plan a buffer. A rule we repeat to every customer planning a season: buy riding boots so you have several weeks left to break them in at home. A model with a soft panel breaks in faster, but you still want to get to know it in training, not in the arena.
Are riding boots permitted at FEI competitions?
Riding boots are a standard part of the competition attire in dressage and para-dressage. FEI rules regulate the appearance and type of permitted attire and equipment, not the method of its manufacture or its origin from a standard size range.
In para-dressage, however, there is an additional formal layer: riders may use approved compensating aids, which must be declared and accepted according to FEI para-dressage rules. If any footwear modifications fall within such aids, this is determined at the rider's documentation stage, not at the warm-up arena.
Why did we choose these riding boots, and why are we happy about it?
Riding boots are one of the most challenging categories in an equestrian store. They cannot be sold well without measurement, without knowledge of individual manufacturers' size charts, and without a willingness to tell the customer two inconvenient things: "this model is not for your leg" or "you don't need custom measurements, this size is sufficient." That's why we are developing this category from a service perspective, not an assortment one, similar to what we did with saddle fitting in our Fitting Center.
The fact that we measured the riders' legs and delivered the riding boots to the Para-Dressage Team competing at the World Championships within a timeframe that allows them to be broken in confirms for us that this path is the right one. Without pathos: the team did not come to Ruda Śląska for a logo in a picture. They came for boots that need to perform in Aachen. The rest is our job.
It is worth remembering that riding boots are only one piece of the puzzle; the rider's position starts with a well-fitted dressage saddle, and foot stability is ensured by well-chosen Venice Dressage Plus stirrups. If you are preparing a full competition set, you can also consult on the selection of a riding helmet at the same place.
If you're thinking about your own pair
We perform measurements and fitting for De Niro riding boots at our store at ul. Oświęcimska 9 in Ruda Śląska. It takes about forty minutes and includes measuring both legs, trying on boots, and discussing models. If you're not sure whether you need custom measurements or if a well-fitted standard size will suffice, just write or call. This conversation costs nothing and often saves several thousand zlotys and one disappointing season.
And on August 19, we start cheering. For Maciej Bigaj, Dominika Pączek, Agata Weigt, Mariusz Woszczek, and Magdalena Cycak, and for the horses! Good luck.
