Dressage boots

[Koniucha]

I am looking to buy a new pair of boots that will be for shows. Would a boot that is called a dressage boot be okay for hunter/jumper as well?

[Trixie]

You mean a dress boot?

A dress boot itself is acceptable (though not seen very frequently, it's technically more fomal than a field boot). With that being said, many dress boots made for dressage tend to be much stiffer than a hunter rider would prefer. I was shocked the first time I accidentally tried one on!

[MyGiantPony]

I think dress boots would be more versatile.

You can wear dress boots in hunters or dressage, but dressage boots would stand out in the hunter ring.

[Koniucha]

So what type of boot would be versatile in all rings?

[MyGiantPony]

So what type of boot would be versatile in all rings?

Dress boots.

You can wear them in hunters, eq, appointments classes, pleasure, jumpers, dressage, foxhunting.

Field boots are a little more restrictive.

Dressage boots would be the most restrictive of the choices.

[Janet]

Dressage boots are very stiff. They are not suitable for jumping in.

Both dress boots and field boots ar acceptable for both h/j and dressage.

You will probably see more field boots in dressage than dress boots in hunters. And the hunter people are more likely to "notice" which boots you are wearing.

So if "fitting in" is important to you, go with field boots.

Otherwise, get whichever fits better.

I wear dress boots for everything- I have never owned a pair of field boots.

[Koniucha]

At this point I am not sure exactly where my mare will excel (she is young) but I would like try hunters and eventing with her. I know of a pair of field boots for sale. I really am not interested in fitting in, but I would like to look traditional. Sounds to me like field boots are the way to go.

[lucyeq]

I would never ever wear dress boots in the hunter/eq/jumper ring... especially not eq. Call me a purist. Field boots for hunters/eq/jumpers and dress boots for dressage.

[GraceLikeRain]

I would never ever wear dress boots in the hunter/eq/jumper ring... especially not eq. Call me a purist. Field boots for hunters/eq/jumpers and dress boots for dressage.

Someone will correct me if I'm wrong but I am fairly sure that if you are a "purist" you would wear dress boots. My understanding is that black field boots are a very recent trend (last 20-30 years) and that before then it was either black dress boots or brown field boots.

[Trixie]

I would never ever wear dress boots in the hunter/eq/jumper ring... especially not eq. Call me a purist. Field boots for hunters/eq/jumpers and dress boots for dressage.

Grace is correct. Traditional would be black dress boots or brown field boots. Black field boots are a more recent invention.

[Janet]

Purists would wear black dress boots or brown field boots.
A purist would NEVEr wear black field boots.

Someone who follows current fashion, independant of what is really traditional, would wear black field boots.

Personally, I have no problem with black field boots. But don't call them "pure".

[MyGiantPony]

Both dress boots and field boots ar acceptable for both h/j and dressage.

Janet, I'll admit I haven't ridden in a dressage show since dinosaurs roamed, but I didn't think field boots were acceptable in the dressage ring???

The rule very well may have changed since way back then, but that's what I remember...

[MyGiantPony]

Purists would wear black dress boots or brown field boots.
A purist would NEVEr wear black field boots.

Someone who follows current fashion, independant of what is really traditional, would wear black field boots.

Personally, I have no problem with black field boots. But don't call them "pure".

Tell it sister! Amen!

[Dinah-do]

LOVED brown field boots with rust breechs. Loved oxblood boots as well.Years ago white breeches were worn for upper level classes only. Informal attire for low levels. Like hacking jackets but always with black dress boots. When I first saw black field boots I thought the manufacturer had made a mistake.

[myvanya]

I am not a USEF expert but based on my reading, field boots are allowed in dressage (see DR120) , at least everywhere I have ridden, in training through fourth level. If you were to ride an FEI test in field boots, people would look at you funny even though the rule for FEI levels simply reads, "black riding boots." Honestly, I know quite a few people who ride dressage at lower levels (meaning Fourth or below- not meaning at all I ride above that level because I don't!) in my area in field boots and no one really notices or cares.

That being said though I also do some hunter jumper when I have time and money, mostly jumpers though, so I got dress boots without the boning in the back that makes them stiff so I can use them for both.

[Janet]

Janet, I'll admit I haven't ridden in a dressage show since dinosaurs roamed, but I didn't think field boots were acceptable in the dressage ring???

The rule very well may have changed since way back then, but that's what I remember...

The rules permit either. You will see more dress boots than field boots, but I would say there are typically at least 10% field boots. And not all are cross overs from other disciplines, some "dressage focused" riders prefer the field boots.

[ExJumper]

I would never ever wear dress boots in the hunter/eq/jumper ring... especially not eq. Call me a purist. Field boots for hunters/eq/jumpers and dress boots for dressage.

Purists would wear black dress boots or brown field boots.
A purist would NEVEr wear black field boots.

Someone who follows current fashion, independant of what is really traditional, would wear black field boots.

Personally, I have no problem with black field boots. But don't call them "pure".

Plus, consider that I spent my formative eq years tucking my laces back into my field boots so that they looked sleeker and more like dress boots.

Now that most boots have zippers I think that dress boots are going to become more popular. The only reason you need field boots is to get your foot in there. With zippers and slim ankles, laces are just window dressing these days.

Also, it's a lot easier to polish a dress boot.

[BAC]

I would never ever wear dress boots in the hunter/eq/jumper ring... especially not eq. Call me a purist. Field boots for hunters/eq/jumpers and dress boots for dressage.

Then you are no purist, dress boots are as traditional, if not more so, in the hunter/jumper/eq divisions than field boots. In fact they are more correct in formal classes. And true field boots are tan, oxblood, cordovan, or brown, not black. Read Janet's posts, she is correct in all she says.

[Koniucha]

LOVED brown field boots with rust breechs. Loved oxblood boots as well.Years ago white breeches were worn for upper level classes only. Informal attire for low levels. Like hacking jackets but always with black dress boots. When I first saw black field boots I thought the manufacturer had made a mistake.

Boy would I love some brown field boots, but unfortunately my wallet does allow for that at the moment. Hopefully I can get luck on ebay, I am on there enough!

At this point we will only be doing schooling shows, but I still want to look nice. I guess I will be buying the field boots.

[Trixie]

I found a pair of brown vogels for $41 on ebay. They're ancient, the listing photos were blurry, and the auction ended at 1 a.m., but I did get my boots.