Show boots. Dress boots a no-no?

[runNjump86]

I’ve read the rules, so I know there’s nothing in writing saying I must have field boots, but am I going to look like a total dork in dress boots for dressage and SJ?

Yes, I’ vain. :lol:

I am in love with my Volants, but they are definitely showing some abuse and need some repair work, so I wouldn’t call them show quality. Schooling show, yeah, but not rated show, even a small one.

So, suggestions for boots in the $200-$250 range that are nice enough for
shows?

ETA - Has anyone tried the Tredstep DaVinci stretch boots?

[poltroon]

No one will care if you wear dress boots or field boots. Wear what fits and is comfortable.

I have done both and no one ever said a word about them one way or another.

My daughter has a pair of Tredstep boots, I think the Donatello, and she likes them very much. They seem quite nice, and certainly very good for the price point.

[Mango20]

I’ve never evented in field boots.

[EventerAJ]

Dress boots are more formal, but no one will ever care if you wear dress or field boots. Personally, I prefer dress boots, especially with a shadbelly.

[runNjump86]

Thanks all. I figured nobody would care. This is why I love eventers; we don’t all have to look alike!

I was checking out a pair of Tredsteps that are on sale on SP and after reading the reviews about the fit being wonky I decided to pass. Dover has a pair of Mountain Horse field boots marked down so even with their ridiculous shipping they were under my budget. I read some reviews on them and did some digging on the forums and people seem pretty happy with them. Here’s hoping they work!

[Lusoluv]

I got a ridiculously low-priced pair of DaVinci’s off Ebay. But I had tried on my size before and knew they would fit, so no risk there. The nice thing about buying from SmarkPak, if the MH boots don’t fit, is you can send them back with the free return label. So no risk in trying boots from them

[Inclined]

IMO no one ever looks like a dork in dress boots!

[vineyridge]

Dressage riders never use field boots. Nor do foxhunters, except in brown. They are a hunter/jumper show thing.

[beowulf]

Most people I know use dress boots; beats having 2 different boots for all the phases…

I love my dress Donatellos… I don’t think they look dorky :lol: dress boots are easier to clean too, which is my suspicion on why foxhunters/eventers use them – all that galloping in the mud makes for a major PITA in lace boots!~

[kashmere]

The next pair of boots I get will be dress boots. Black field boots are a thing invented for the show hunter ring - which is not to say they’re a bad thing, but dress boots are just far more versatile; they’re correct to wear in hunters, jumpers, dressage, etc.

Plus, no laces to replace

[hb]

I even showed hunters last year in my dress Donatellos and no one cared. My hunter trainer even said she liked them.
Many of the newer dress boots have a tapered ankle to give the kind of fit that used to only be available with the field boot’s laced ankle. Now that boots all have zippers there is no reason for the laces.

[FrittSkritt]

I use field boots (no zipper) and have never had an issue. They’re more comfortable IMO.

[amb]

[QUOTE=vineyridge;8747038]
Dressage riders never use field boots. Nor do foxhunters, except in brown. They are a hunter/jumper show thing.[/QUOTE]
I’d go so far as to say that black field boots are a newfangled hunter/jumper show thing, and of questionable taste.

Y’all go rock those dress boots anywhere you want.

[goodmorning]

McLain Ward & at least a couple other jumper riders I’ve seen wear dress boots. I would not worry about it, at all…

[OTTBs]

[QUOTE=runNjump86;8746677]
I’ve read the rules, so I know there’s nothing in writing saying I must have field boots, but am I going to look like a total dork in dress boots for dressage and SJ? [/QUOTE]The rules say field and jodhpur boots are allowed. Nowhere does it say dress boots are allowed. I approached Malcolm Hook about this years ago and they still have never added dress boots as allowed. Actually, now I’m not sure–maybe it was that the rules used to allow dress boots in one phase and not the others? Right now the rules state field or jodhpur, but dress boots are “preferred” in dressage at I and A levels.

[MissAriel]

[QUOTE=amb;8747435]
I’d go so far as to say that black field boots are a newfangled hunter/jumper show thing, and of questionable taste.

Y’all go rock those dress boots anywhere you want.[/QUOTE]

I would agree. Back in the day, I wore field boots simply because my arch made getting dress boots with no zippers on and off easier, but they were certainly the exception, rather than the rule.

Field boots are perfectly acceptable, although less common, in lower levels of dressage. I have yet to see a judge comment on field boots on a dressage test.

[vineyridge]

[QUOTE=OTTBs;8747933]
The rules say field and jodhpur boots are allowed. Nowhere does it say dress boots are allowed. I approached Malcolm Hook about this years ago and they still have never added dress boots as allowed. Actually, now I’m not sure–maybe it was that the rules used to allow dress boots in one phase and not the others? Right now the rules state field or jodhpur, but dress boots are “preferred” in dressage at I and A levels.[/QUOTE]

This is not exactly what the rules say. Rule 114 on dress of the USEF Eventing Rules says the same for all phases:

Boots—
black, brown, field, jodhpur or a black or brown full grain smooth leather leg piece and matching leather boots.

Seems to me that if field boots are specifically named after a comma, “black, brown” must include other than field boots.

Very poorly worded rule. It probably started out as a rule giving the option of black or brown when dress boots were de rigeur. Then over time, more categories were added, but no one ever thought that “plain” all one piece, boots needed to be specified for approval.

[runNjump86]

[QUOTE=Lusoluv;8746983]
I got a ridiculously low-priced pair of DaVinci’s off Ebay. But I had tried on my size before and knew they would fit, so no risk there. The nice thing about buying from SmarkPak, if the MH boots don’t fit, is you can send them back with the free return label. So no risk in trying boots from them :)[/QUOTE]

I used them when I was boot shopping a couple of years ago, but at the moment they don’t have anything in my price point/size. The stretch DaVincis are on sale, but are either too small or too big.

The great news is I have a local Dover so I can return to the store if need be. I was going to order through them but didn’t want to wait. Good thing, the boots went off sale today after I ordered them!

[yellowbritches]

Black field boots probably became a thing for us poor folks with ridiculous arches when we still has to pull boots on. I was NEVER able to cram my foot past the ankle of a dress boot when I had to pull them on. Field boots made it possible to get them on. Now I can put anything I want on (and I live and die by zippers as nothing feels weirder than yanking off a pair of pull ons on my bionic leg).

[fooler]

[QUOTE=OTTBs;8747933]
The rules say field and jodhpur boots are allowed. Nowhere does it say dress boots are allowed. I approached Malcolm Hook about this years ago and they still have never added dress boots as allowed. Actually, now I’m not sure–maybe it was that the rules used to allow dress boots in one phase and not the others? Right now the rules state field or jodhpur, but dress boots are “preferred” in dressage at I and A levels.[/QUOTE]

If I remember correctly, years ago dress boots were required the specific events and levels. Such championship, prelim 3days and above. That was also during the time when spurs were required at prelim and above dressage.
Of course I am working from memory here, will check old books later.

OP, dress boots are acceptable at all levels. Another option if you wish is the full grain “smooth leather” half chaps with matching boots. The nice ones look like dress boots until you get close.