In all honesty, I have been browsing the internet way too much and need to know if anyone sells these or has a pair they can tell me about. I may need some. I currently ride in field boots, which I love, but the laces pinch my ankles sometimes and they are not traditional for dressage. I am very much not at the level of stovepipes yet, and I don’t think I will be for a while. I know this is a very random question, and I appreciate any responses. Thanks in advance and happy holidays!
This came up a while back. Apparently it is just fine to compete at all levels in fitted zipper dress boots that are also used by jumpers. The stove pipes are a bit old fashioned. Lots of people love them for support and clarity, and lots of people dislike them or can’t imagine wearing them, or don’t want to go custom to get them to fit.
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I have a pair of Romitelli dress boots (off the shelf, not custom) for my everyday schooling boots. They are medium stiff and have some bend and flex in the ankle. I can walk around in them and not feel like they are cutting my legs off from the back of my knee.
If you go custom, you can discuss the stiffness with the maker and request a less stiff boot.
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Any “dress” boots would probably suit. The stiffened ones tend to be marketed as “dressage” boots. Mountain Horse, Ariat, Tredstep, etc. all make nice looking normal dress boots.
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googled Stovepipe boots and i’m not sure i understand. There seems to be a different between stovepipe and tall boots. Stovepipe being almost to the knee and they don’t have that bump up thingie that covers the side of your knee. Looks like the tops of them are even all around.
Not a hundred percent sure if my definition is correct, but from my understanding a stovepipe boot is a very stiff boot used at the upper levels of dressage.
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Yes, it’s an older definition, but you have it right.
I have ROmitellis as my show boots. COmfy enough to walk around in all day. 
I think what the OP is describing is dressage dress boots with a stiffener on the back seam
conventional dress boots as used in hunters are perfectly acceptable for show; with or without zippers. They do not have to fit skin tight either.
Stovepipe boots are dress boots with a stiffener up the back seam, and/or the entire outside of the leg.
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This, plus no tapering at the ankle, making them straight like a stovepipe. They can have different “tops,” which refers to the difference in height between the outside and the inside of the boot.
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I had to go to ebay to find a photo of the older style stiffened dressage boot. All the photos I could find of new dressage boots were more or less fitted dress boots.
This has been a change in the past 15 years I’ve been back riding.
I have Mountain Horse for everyday schooling. The Opus model I believe, but they have a few others. I got them on sale and they’re a good value thus far (2 years now), and wouldn’t hesitate to buy another pair of boots from that brand. I had Tredstep prior to them, and was also satisfied, but they were field boots.
For competing and some clinics (when I’m motivated enough 
) I have Cavallo Insignis boots that are harder on the outside of the boot, bit softer on the inside (side against the horse), so a compromise between stovepipe and soft. They’re probably the stiffest I’ll go though, just due to personal preference.
Thank heavens for zippers!
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Look for Hunter/Jumper dress boots, Ovation has the Mirabella, no stiffener in the tops but for me the foot was a bit bulky. Check Ariat, not sure how stiff their dress boots are, I have a pair of Vortex for daily riding, they are ridiculously soft. If you look at UK shops, they have a lot of dress boots for jumpers.
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I would not look for hunter/jumper type dress boots; they are too soft and won’t provide the stability in the ankle that you want for dressage. You aren’t looking to jam your heel down like one needs to do when riding over fences.
Dressage boots are available in various degrees of stiffness, and ones with an inside front zipper are easy to find.
Kingsley’s are a really soft boot. Look at the ones with the suede patches be ause it breaks up the hardness. They will be pretty and comfy. Also The Dressage Store takes payments on them… just sayin…
I have Petrie dress boots that I am very happy with. They aren’t leather socks, but not stovepipe stiffness either - somewhere in the middle. I like ankle support with a little flexibility. I ordered from Ooteman in the Netherlands after measuring myself about 20 different times.
