I do like a good pair of long boots that are versatile enough to wear on the yard, in the saddle and out and about at events. Sturdy boots are essential for anyone who spends with horses, so when I first received the Mountain Horse Wild River Tall Boots in brown I couldnt wait to give them a try, not least because of how stylish they are.Ive been testing them in a size 7 (wide) since March and Ive really put them through their paces. I am a part-time freelance groom, so being comfortable on my feet all day long (7am-5pm) and able to move quickly is important. If Im honest, Ive never cared much for footwear, but when I opened the box, I finally understood how Carrie Bradshaw felt about her Christian Louboutins.The Wild River Tall Boots are truly beautiful and I loved the look of them instantly. Theyre full grain leather in brown and to be honest it almost felt criminal taking them out of the box to get them dirty on the yard. Alas, thats exactly what I did, and four months on they still look good.Before I even saw the boots I was impressed, because there was minimal plastic packaging involved in getting them from Mountain Horse HQ to my front door. Ive actually kept the lovely cardboard box they arrived in as its handy for storage. When its no longer needed for (or able to do) that job it will go into my recycling. Inside the box, the boots were wrapped in paper and they were filled with paper so that they didnt lose their shape while in transit.Fit Although Im 5ft 8ins, sadly I wasnt blessed with the long legs of Jodie Kidd and my height is mainly made up of upper body. This means that very few boots have passed the test of fitting my stumpy legs. Sad times.I opted for the wide version in the Mountain Horse Wild River Tall Boots and I was holding my breath the first time I tried them on. Thankfully for me, they did do up and so the testing process began. I have to admit, though, that initially it was a bit of a squeeze to zip them up. Perseverance (and an extra pair of hands) was necessary to get the zip done up the first time as it was slightly sticky, but this got easier with wear. Now I zip them up without a second thought.The boots themselves are quite long for me, which means when Im sitting down on a chair the top of boots dig into the back of my knees slightly. However, I suspect this is more of a design flaw with my short legs rather than with the boots themselves. When Im in the saddle, they dont dig in at all and they are comfortable to ride in.Performance & comfortThese boots really look the part and if I was rating on looks alone they would score full marks. I feel smart and put together when Im wearing them, whether its working on the yard mucking out, poo picking fields or having a day out walking the cross country course at Badminton Horse Trials. I also wear them for lunging, schooling and hacking fit showjumpers. In short, the Mountain Horse Wild River Tall Boots have really lived up to the job.They are waterproof so they keep my feet dry and toasty in all weathers. I also love the colour, as well as the shape.The Mountain Horse Wild River Tall Boots are made of real leather, so it took a handful of wears for them to really mould to my leg without feeling restrictive. Now that Ive worn them in, I can wear them all day without really thinking about them.Value for money Although 249 is a lot of money, you do expect to have to dig deep when looking to buy this style of boot and I think the price is in line with the market. Ultimately, they are robust, comfortable, easy to wear and they look good. Yes I had a few teething problems with the zip and ideally Id like them to be slightly shorter to suit my calves, but the main thing is that theyre very comfortable to wear all day. They feel very sturdy and Im confident they will last me a good few years. Therefore, I would say these boots are a worthwhile investment and offer value for money.Important informationRRP 249Sizes: adult 4-8 in regular or wideColours: black or brownBuying in the UK? Purchase hereBuying in the USA? View the Mountain Horse range hereRelated contentTop tips for finding the best long riding boots for youSix pairs of long competition boots to suit a range of budgetsBoot bags to keep your footwear clean and tack room tidyThe post I wasnt blessed with long legs, but Mountain Horse boots fit well appeared first on Your Horse.