Vintage riding boots are boots which have been designed specifically for use in horseback riding. There are a number of different styles of riding boot, customized for various equestrian sports, and riding boots are also sometimes used by motorcyclists, since many of the features designed for horseback riding are also useful on a motorcycle. Riding supply shops generally carry an array of vintage riding boots for their customers, and these boots can also be ordered through supplier catalogs.
 Naturalizer NEW Womens Riding Boots Black Leather 8 US $37.62 |
 Enzo Angiolini Womens Riding Boots Beige Leather 7 US $15.50 |
 Calvin Klein Mayson Womens Riding Boots Black Medium Leather 6 US $17.38 |
 Rampage NEW Womens Riding Boots Brown Medium BHFO 75 US $17.50 |
 Madden Girl NEW Womens Riding Boots Brown Medium BHFO 8 US $19.50 |
 Steven by Steve Madden Womens Riding Boots Black Medium Leather 8 US $22.50 |
 Lucky Brand Womens Riding Boots Brown Medium Leather 85 US $26.00 |
 Steven by Steve Madden Womens Riding Boots Black Leather 85 US $41.00 |
 Circa by Joan David NEW Womens Riding Boots Black Medium Leather 85 US $43.69 |
Several issues are of concern when designing boots for horseback riding. The first is safety. Riding boots are designed in such a way that they cannot slip through or catch on the stirrup, and they must also be sturdy enough to support the riders leg while preventing it from being pinched in the stirrup leathers or injured in a collision with a fence, tree, or other obstacle. Vintage riding boots also provide support to the riders ankle, ensuring that he or she can hold a firm seat, and the toes are typically reinforced.
Most vintage riding boots look very similar to conventional boots, until one examines the heel and sole more closely. The sole tends to be smooth, so that it slides easily in the stirrup iron, and the heel is tall and broad to provide support and create a wedge so that the foot cannot slide through the stirrup iron. The top of the boot may also be cut to allow greater flexibility around the knee, especially in the case of boots designed for jumping, where the rider adopts a half-crouched stance.
Field and dress boots are both high, typically reaching almost to the knee. Field boots lace or zip, allowing more flexibility around the ankle so that the rider can easily change position in the saddle, to move into a jump or hunt seat. Dress boots are stiffer, and designed for riding on the flat only. Paddock boots, also called Jodphur boots, are more casual riding boots which reach only to the ankle, and they are less common in competition. Western boots are very similar to dress boots, except with a more pronounced heel, and slightly different aesthetics.
When selecting vintage riding boots, it is critical to try them on, and ideally to bring in your potential outfit (like a vintage mini skirt) to make sure that the boots are a good match. Equestrians should try bending through a series of moves in riding boots, to ensure that they have enough flexibility, and they should take note of any discomfort. If riding boots pinch or feel awkward in the store, they may become painful during a riding session. Vintage riding boots should also feel snug and supportive, rather than loose, as loose boots can interfere with commands to the horse or with security in the saddle.
No element of English riding attire more fully embodies that combination of style and substance than tall boots. Whether lace-fronted field boots for hunter-jumper events and some three-day events, or plain-front dress boots for dressage, tall boots present a continuous, elegant line of leather from stirrup to saddle. Beyond look alone, however, their fit—how snugly they follow the body’s contours—directly affects the rider’s control and how clearly commands are conveyed from human to animal.
