Wildheart 11" Women's Western SA6209

Some boots are for looking at and some are for working. The Wildheart does both. The vamp is smooth ostrich, the upper is full grain leather, and the 11 inch shaft dresses up for town and still holds up in the pen.

The wide square toe gives your toes room to spread, which you notice around hour eight in the saddle or on a concrete aisle. Underfoot, a removable Cushion Comfort insert forms to your foot and absorbs shock. A leather outsole and a metallic shank complete the build, and a 3/4 welt with double row stitching holds it all together.

Highlights

• Smooth ostrich vamp over a full grain leather upper
• Wide square toe that leaves room across the ball of your foot
• Removable Cushion Comfort insert that forms to your foot
• Leather outsole with 3/4 welt and double row stitch
• 1 1/8 inch walking heel with a spur ledge
• 11 inch shaft with a full leather lining

Why choose a dressy western boot that still works

A dress boot and a work boot usually come from different shelves. The Wildheart closes that gap with a leather outsole and a metallic shank, so it handles a Saturday in town and a weekday at the farm. The ostrich vamp adds the look, and the full grain leather upper keeps the boot practical for a working week.

A 1 1/8 inch walking heel with a spur ledge suits the rider who wants a real Western heel. The leather outsole sits right with straight-leg jeans, a starched shirt or a skirt for an evening out.

Who it suits: the woman who rides on weekends and works the barn during the week, the dancer who wants a boot that looks sharp on the floor, and anyone who saves the smooth ostrich for special days.

At a glance

How to use it

Try them on late in the day with the socks you will wear, and walk a few laps before you decide. A new western boot slips a little at the heel at first, and the leather softens as you wear it. Your toes should have room across the wide square toe, and the heel should hold steady.

Break them in around the house and the barn before a show or a long day in the saddle. Let the Cushion Comfort insert come out to air after a sweaty day, then put it back in once it is dry.

Good to know

• Smooth ostrich and full grain leather both want a soft brush and a little conditioner now and then. Wipe dust off as it settles so it does not work into the grain.
• Set them away from heaters and out of direct sun after a wet day. Leather dries best slowly, and forced heat is what cracks it.
• Pair them with straight-leg jeans for the barn and town, or a denim skirt or dress when you want the ostrich vamp to carry the outfit.
• For the right fit, the boot should feel snug over the instep with room for your toes across the square toe. A little heel slip in a new boot is normal and settles as the leather breaks in.

About Tony Lama

Tony Lama began in El Paso, Texas, in 1911, when Anthony "Tony" Lama set up his own company and turned a small repair shop into a boot factory. Over the decades the family pushed the craft forward, and the company was one of the first in the industry to work ostrich leather into boot making.

Get a pair on before the next show or dance night.