History of riding attire

[RdEventer]

Here's a different sort of question: does anyone know the history behind field and dress boots? I'm guessing they're both heavily associated with foxhunting, but I'm wondering if riding boots go back to the days of classical horsemanship... For that matter, when did equestrians start wearing ratcatchers, stock ties and the like?

[Gestalt]

Might get an answer by posting this on the Hunting forum. Lots of knowledgable people there.

[Janet]

Here's a different sort of question: does anyone know the history behind field and dress boots? I'm guessing they're both heavily associated with foxhunting, but I'm wondering if riding boots go back to the days of classical horsemanship... For that matter, when did equestrians start wearing ratcatchers, stock ties and the like?

Dress boots (black) were for formal occaisions, including hunts. Feild boots (brown) were for informal occaisions, including those when you were doing a combination of riding and walking.
Stock ties were simply part of normal formal or semi-formal attire (aka cravat) that was also worn for riding/hunting.
Similarly with boots. What people were wearing anyway.

[AiryFairy]

There are probably military associations with the field boots/dress boots, the stock tie was meant to be used as a bandage or sling if there was an accident in the hunt field, but they were traditionally part of a gentlemen's wardrobe.