Equiwin BLOOD-HORSE Rider Galloping Boots

The three most common styles of tall riding boots are field boots, dress boots, and dressage boots. Dressage boots are also referred to as stove pipe boots due to their more structured and cylindrical calf shape. What type of boot you use is primarily up to you and your personal style preferences, except dressage boots since those are only used in dressage.

Field boots are typically made of soft, supple leather with laces at the instep, allowing deeper ankle flexion when the rider uses a shorter stirrup for jumping position. The jumping disciplines favor an elegant and elongated leg position, even with a shorter stirrup, both stylistically and due to the balance that a longer leg position provides in the air over a fence. To help achieve this coveted look, boots can have different cut tops or calf accentuations.

Dress boots are quite similar to field boots, with the largest difference being the absence of laces over the instep. They are made of the same soft, supple leather that should provide a more snug, fitted look, with as much height as possible while still being functional for the rider. Dress boots feature back zippers like field boots, but they do not have instep laces.

Field, dress, and dressage boots are the most common types of English riding tall boots, but not the only types. Polo, hunt, schooling, and winter tall boots are other styles that you may have heard about. Polo boots are only used in polo and polo crosse and feature a more structured footbed and ankle. They also utilize a front zipper, often partially or fully covered by leather. This is to help protect from bumps and strikes from opposing horses and mallets.