When are field boots appropriate?

[Thoroughbred Hunter Lady]

....taking a shot at asking these questions since they may have been asked and answered perviously (I did a quick search of the archives and couldn't find the answers I was looking for but maybe I didn't use the right keywords). So, please forgive me if these questions have been repeatedly answered here in the forums!

I recently purchased a pair of Ariat Crowne Pro Zip Field Boots and I absolutely love them but after hearing, here and there, that field boots are not appropriate for Dressage and.......I just saw (over in the hunting forum) that they are not even appropriate for Fox Hunting, would someone kindly let me know if, at a minimum, where they are appropriate, Hunter Jumper, Eventing????

Also, I would like to prepare for some Spring Dressage tests (the lowest level as this is new to me), what is the appropriate dress for someone at that level, is it safe to assume that it would be black helmet, black jacket and is it also safe to assume that white breeches would be for the higher levels only!

I "kind of" feel foolish asking these questions but I don't ride with anyone that shows Dressage and have yet to find a website that has been able to fill me in. Therefore, I'm hoping that the good people here at COTH can send me down the "centerline" in the "right" direction so when I "halt at x", a collective gasp doesn't go up from the crowd because of my attire!

[Sandy M]

I suppose it might be an issue at FEI levels (or then again, not), but I have an old injury and I canNOT get into dress boots - even with a zipper in them. I have field boots, have shown through 2nd level, and would have worn them at third had we made it (arthritis retired my old boy before we could do third). No judge ever said ANYTHING about them. Frankly, I doubt they noticed.

[PonyHunterz]

Field boots are seen in the Hunter, Jumper and Eq. ring.:D

[pintopiaffe]

They are completely legal at ANY level, and are seen quite regularly through at least 2nd level around here. (northern New England) I can safely say in all my showing and scribing years, I have never, ever, not even once heard a judge *notice* field boots. Shiny boots? Yeah, a few judges have commented on those. But not laces vs. dress.

Many years ago now there was a very successful rider who was wearing field boots with her frock because of an injury. It was amazing to see how the more she won, the more other folks wore field boots... ;)

When you get your shad you can worry about the laces. ;)

[exvet]

My daughter shows in the same field boots (as you have) at every recognized show we attend. She is a difficult fit and these came the closest. She has never been marked down nor has a comment ever been made. She rides lower levels. I wear field boots at the schooling shows because I find them more comfortable when I'm riding 2-3 horses, 6-8 tests for the day. Again, no one has ever said anything but the rules/dress code are more relaxed for our schooling shows. At the recognized shows I do wear dress boots because they are stiffer and give me more support (I don't ride as many tests as I do at the schooling shows - can't afford to) but if I was in a pinch and forgot them or whatever I would not have a problem wearing my field boots. Oh...I'm showing FEI in the spring, currently showing 4th.

[Sandy M]

My daughter shows in the same field boots (as you have) at every recognized show we attend. She is a difficult fit and these came the closest. She has never been marked down nor has a comment ever been made. She rides lower levels. I wear field boots at the schooling shows because I find them more comfortable when I'm riding 2-3 horses, 6-8 tests for the day. Again, no one has ever said anything but the rules/dress code are more relaxed for our schooling shows. At the recognized shows I do wear dress boots because they are stiffer and give me more support (I don't ride as many tests as I do at the schooling shows - can't afford to) but if I was in a pinch and forgot them or whatever I would not have a problem wearing my field boots. Oh...I'm showing FEI in the spring, currently showing 4th.

Exvet - my Petries are field boots with a dressage stiffener up the back. With a coupon, I got them through Dressage Extension for $350. They are "semi-custom" - I had to do measurements and they paired calf width/length with foot size. I ended up with a slightly too large foot, but they otherwise fit fine, and a pair of half-socks on my foot takes up the extra space. I don't know if they still make that model. I can't say I've seen it in the catalog recently, but perhaps it depends upon demand.

[murphyluv]

I have field boots- I rode hunters in college, and am now focusing on dressage. I also have a brown bridle and a black saddle. I also do not have white pants. I'd either have to lose 10 lbs off my butt or hell has to freeze over for me to wear them. I have no intentions of doing anything other than schooling shows at the moment. If that changes, I'll be finding some good spandex.
During the summer, true "schooling shows", I wear a clean polo. If it's anything more than "fun" show, jacket and stocktie. Light colored pants, always. Which, all of my pants are black, if I plan on showing next year I better get myself to the tack shop.
If you wear gloves, I would wear white ones. Especially if you have good hands.
I also do not braid for schooling shows- unless you are a very good braider. Better no braids than bad ones.

[Peggy]

I got a bronze medal and showed thru 4th level in hunter-style Vogel field boots, creases and all. On a TB. Wearing a Pytchley hunt coat.

[Dixon]

Peggy, I like your style!

[smhlin110]

The rules simply state black boots I believe. I've worn my field boots Intro to First. Just bought Ariat dress boots (Which I also love!) so Second & up will be in dress boots. Be comfortable and use what you have. A dark coat and light colored breeches. White is fine at the lower levels, too. The only thing you can't wear at the lower levels is a top hat/bowler & tails. Reserved for PSG & up.

The important thing is to have fun!!! :)

[enjoytheride]

Field boots are fine. Nobody cares.

[slc2]

Not really, but we don't care about the people who care.

[whitewolfe001]

I got a bronze medal and showed thru 4th level in hunter-style Vogel field boots, creases and all. On a TB. Wearing a Pytchley hunt coat.

Yeah! *high five* :-)

[SillyHorse]

The rules simply state black boots I believe.
Black is required only above 4th level.

[mbarrett]

I wore my black field boots at a recognized dressage show (training level) and the fashion police did not ticket me or arrest me.

[2ndyrgal]

Because at the lower levels you can not only wear field boots, but they can be brown and you can wear a tweed coat. Since we just trotted our first correct 20 m circles last night, well, if we can't be good, then we'll look smart anyway. Maybe if the judge notices my perfectly shined field boots, matching tack and my horse's lovely tail, she won't notice that my right bicep looks like Popeye's trying to keep Junior's shoulder from bulging out so far we won't even MAKE the corner. I can just see it now, a compassionate judge who must say something nice, writes in the comment section "Lovely turnout". Sigh.

[J-Lu]

I got a bronze medal and showed thru 4th level in hunter-style Vogel field boots, creases and all. On a TB. Wearing a Pytchley hunt coat.

I also got a bronze medal, a third level regional championship, and started fourth level in field boots and an Elite navy hunt coat with a velvet hunt cap. :) I ended up getting dress boots but continued with the hunt coat and cap. No one EVER commented...or even noticed... the boots. (and most importantly, the rules allow for them!!)

[atr]

2ndyrgal, you can do that in dressage, too.

It isn't a fashion parade. The rules are suprisingly broad. The interpretation of them is for some reason frequently very narrow.

Wear your brown boots and tweed coat with pride--I'm sure you will look smashing, and all the other competitors will tell you so.

[kdow]

2ndyrgal, you can do that in dressage, too.

It isn't a fashion parade. The rules are suprisingly broad. The interpretation of them is for some reason frequently very narrow.

Wear your brown boots and tweed coat with pride--I'm sure you will look smashing, and all the other competitors will tell you so.

I was always told that the single MOST important thing in show turn out (for dressage) is the quality of the presentation- being clean, neat, properly fitted tack/clothing, etc. If you look like you've done your best to present yourself and your horse in a clean, tidy, and appropriate fashion then it shows respect for the judges and everyone else who has taken the time to put the show together.

Now, while I wouldn't stretch that to say 'well, i can wear my Western Pleasure outfit as long as it's clean and tidy and fits', I do think at lower levels it's safe to work on the theory that it's better to wear brown field boots and a tweed jacket that FIT and clean up nicely than it would be to wear scuffed up black dress boots and a borrowed black jacket 3 sizes too big. Likewise, it's better to turn up prepared to do a respectable job on the test itself (thus showing respect by not wasting their time by not being prepared to be evaluated) than to spend the money from that last lesson on new boots instead of the lesson, so that when you go to ride your test you make a horrible mess of it because you're not ready. :)

[Ambrey]

There is/was a rule change in the works to even allow half chaps and paddocks at lower levels. I can't imagine field boots would turn heads if people are riding in those!

[SillyHorse]

I believe the proposed rule will limit half-chaps to full leather (no suede). A good-looking, polished pair of leather half-chaps worn with polished paddock boots looks very nice.

[Ambrey]

I believe the proposed rule will limit half-chaps to full leather (no suede). A good-looking, polished pair of leather half-chaps worn with polished paddock boots looks very nice.

Oh, I agree completely- but so do field boots :) My only problem with the half chaps rule is that it eliminated my excuse for buying tall boots ;)

[meckss]

In the eventing world they are pretty much the norm and in dressage you'll see them at least through 2nd or 3rd level (I've never competed higher... so I can only guess about that) But it is more about the overall performance than it is about your attire. Really we should just "blend" into the ride- not distract or detract from our horses appearance-so neat and simple is the way I go.

[claire]

I don't know if this is true.
But, I was told that in the "olden' days" :cool: field boots were originally used for dressage...and only later became the preference for hunters.

A tack shop employee at Bit of Britian told me this.

Or maybe, it's just some sort of h/j urban legend? :lol:

In any case, as everyone has said: no problem using field boots for dressage. Think how many lessons you could buy with the $$$ you would spend on "dressage boots". :D

[slc2]

Field boots originated for - the field. That's why they're called field boots.

Various laced boots were used in the field - military, hunting, etc.

Field boots are appropriate whenever one has field boots and wants to wear them. Dress boots are, I think, still required at the fei level. If so, one has a choice at the non fei levels.

Ideally, traditionally, dress boots are for dressage, and field boots are for - the field, but dressage competition with that kind of dress code didn't originally include a lot of people who were showing on a budget at the lower levels. But some people find field boots more comfortable. If one is hard to fit and custom boots are out, buying field boots can be a better compromise than badly fitted dress boots one can't get on or off.

[SillyHorse]

I don't know if this is true.
But, I was told that in the "olden' days" :cool: field boots were originally used for dressage...and only later became the preference for hunters.

A tack shop employee at Bit of Britian told me this.

Or maybe, it's just some sort of h/j urban legend? :lol:
Your tack show employee is misinformed. Field boots were originally used for informal foxhunting. Way back when, we sometimes wore them (cordovan) for schooling our hunters, but always wore our black dress boots for showing. At some point, not sure when, black field boots became de riguer for showing hunters. If someone moved into dressage from hunters and field boots were what they had, that's what they wore. Same holds true today.

[Mach Two]

I agree with Silly Horse.
I am a former hunt professional, and I was pretty well read on traditions and protocol...and I recall one of the old timers saying "what is this about black field boots? There is no such thing! A field boot is brown"
In other words, the black laced boot was created for the hunter show world, and eventually became the standard...but remember in the 70's when you could still buy a cordovan or brown laced boot from Millers?

And I agree with the others, in that a "black field boot " (which in spite of the old timer's admonishment, really DOES exist, ) is perfectly fine for dressage. A dress boot of course looks more correct with tail coat. If one is going to hunt, and ride dressage, and have one pair of boots, one is best having a dress boot rather than a dressage boot, as the stiffness of a true dressage boot will not allow the flexion of the ankle with a shorter stirrup. The laced boot is not correct for formal (Saturday and Sunday) hunting, only for informal days, and the really traditional riders still wear cordovan or brown for informan days....the dress boot is always correct. If one is going to do the hunters and also dressage then either a dress or field boot will do.

[rabicon]

I wore mine in the hunters and then I switched to dressage and do the low levels, intro and training. I wear mine and nobody says anything and it doesn't count off ;) I'll wear mine up to 2nd level before I buy any dressage boots, its not a big deal and I see dressage riders at low levels wearing them all the time.

[mcm7780]

I got a bronze medal and showed thru 4th level in hunter-style Vogel field boots, creases and all. On a TB. Wearing a Pytchley hunt coat.

You rock!

I rode in one dressage schooling show and won my class. (Only dressage show I ever went to; I like being able to say that my horse and I won ever dressage class we ever entered. :lol: jk) I wore an ancient pair of beige breeches that were my nicest pair but also used for schooling, a turtleneck with stock tie hiding the shirt (borrowed from my neighbor who had been a Grand Prix rider that was long listed), a blazer that we safety pinned shut to kinda look like a riding jacket, and rubber "dress" boots. :lol: No one commented. I was 13 and my parents didn't want to invest a lot into show clothes since I only went to a show or two a year and was growing. Once I stopped growing, they hoped I would grow out of horses. I didn't. So I bought my own show clothes. :D

[SillyHorse]

This is one of the reasons I love dressage. No one cares (or if they do, who needs 'em? :lol: ) what you wear as long as it's within the rules. You cannot be "marked down" like you can in the hunters if your outfit isn't what the judge thinks you should be wearing.

[SierraBravo]

another one here who earned her USDF bronze wearing field boots - a pair of Dehners purchased off the consignment shelf at the local tack shop. Didn't buy my first pair of dressage boots until later that year.

No one ever said a word.