Riding Boots - Who Knew?

(First, insert a Duh and smack myself on the head here.) So, I had never owned a pair of field boots before. I've always ridden in paddock boots and half chaps. After many years of leasing other people's horses, I finally got a horse of my own a few years ago and finally want to start showing. (again head slap here, should be fun to start as an adult) Anyway, I put my stiff new boots on and proceeded to ride my horse to start breaking them in. We started jumping a few fences and grid patterns and I suddenly realized my position was PERFECT. I was so thrilled and so ticked off at the same time! If I had known this outcome, I would have invested in a pair of boots 20 years ago. Something about the stiffness in the boot created a serious anchor effect in my lower leg. Every single jump, my leg was right where it was supposed to be, not a hint of jumping ahead, and my horse was dead straight and landing on the correct leads every time. All I have to hope for now is that I develop good muscle memory before they soften up!!

To all of you who jump ahead, find a rock stiff pair of boots and jump with them on a few times. It's an amazing difference, and it really drives the point home that the key to not jumping ahead is a solid lower leg.

I'm the opposite. I HATE tall boots! I have decent legs over jumps normally, but tall boots make my legs slide soooooo far back, grrrrr

love love love tall boots. I've had several pairs since I was 10 and I will never go back! Sure, they are expensive (I have Ariat Crownes without the zip. I hate zips) but they are worth it to me. I have a really horribly loose lower leg and they definitely help me find my base of support and stay there.

Dont you just love tall boots! I can get my heels down in them, But not in my paddys and half chaps.

I got a pair of Dublin field boots with the zipper for showing this year, and I rode in them for the first time a couple of days ago. I could really get my heels down in them (Cuz with my short legs if they weren't down the back of the boot "bit" the back of my knee, lol). I thought it was a little harder to regulate the pressure I was giving with my leg, but I need to get more used to riding in them. I still prefer my paddocks and half-chaps for everyday, though.

My mom once told me about a horsey friend of hers who had blood clots or some kind of circulation problem in her legs that the docs attributed to her wearing tall riding boots all the time. That makes me a little leery of wearing them a lot beyond breaking them in (plus I can't afford a new pair if these wear out in 2 years, lol. They need to last me a good while). Has anyone else heard of something similar, or was this a one in a million thing?

Sorry to go off-topic, but your post Scoutrider brought up a question: I have a pair of rubber field boots I got originally for mucking and general work in the mud (sometimes halfway up my calf at my old ranch, blech.) They have since become my everyday riding boots/ ranch boots. But unless the weather is under 60 degrees, they make my legs really sweaty, and then I get an itchy rash every time I wear them. Is this just because they're rubber, or does this happen with leather boots too? And does anyone else have this problem? If so, how have you solved it?

Back on topic: I adore my boots, even though I ride western! :)

Huh, I never heard of boot helping you with solidifying your lower leg.

I just got a pair of tall boots. I'm just breaking them in... and the blisters are terrible, but it's interesting that it's working out so well for you.

GypsyTally, I have a pair of rubber stall mucking boots (nothing special, WalMart cheap, black rubber waterproof boots) that make my feet sweat just how you're describing. I've never had a rash, though, even when I was very young and wore similar boots barefoot and in shorts, lol. I only use them to clean stalls or walk in other nasty things. I did notice, though, after I took off the leather field boots, my calves were a bit sweaty. Not soaked through the breeches or anything, just, like, they felt much cooler when I took the boots off, if that makes sense. I didn't really notice the heat or sweat when the boots were on. Granted, I was wearing black breeches and the sun was out (apparently that's how the barefoot+rubber boots compulsion manifests itself after the age of 10, lol).

My first pair of tall boots were a blessing. I bought them used and the calves fit great but the foot was a bit too big. If I didn't keep my heels down, they would fall off (it happened a few times and the mocking has yet to end).

My newer boots are fine, they fit better and they were new. they definitely keep my leg more still. my old trainer drilled into me that when you lesson you have boots and britches, a tucked in shirt, a hairnet and if any hair was sticking out then you didn't ride. I have stuck with that for lessons but at home i rarely lesson for real anymore.

For training I just wear jeans and paddock boots. I used to get rubs but that stopped. I've been told it looks unprofessional but half chaps annoy me and full chaps annoy me even more. I just tell people that the outcome of the horse can show my professionalism.