Show boots. Dress boots a no-no?

[runNjump86]

[QUOTE=fooler;8748593]
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.[/QUOTE]

Thanks! I grew up always wearing field boots and nobody ever said a word otherwise. I can’t think of anyone I know who has dress boots, but I’m glad to know it wouldn’t be weird!!

I’m part of the very small population of people who prefer tall boots to half chaps, even for schooling!

[Classic_Melody]

Over the last 15 years, I have done hunters, equitation, fox hunting, dressage and eventing, all in dress boots. Never got one single comment or side-eye.

I initially got dress boots because I found a pair of very nice used Vogels on sale, and it was what I could afford. Frankly, I think they look more elegant than field boots, and with the advent of zippers, the fit problem is solved. So when it was time to finally replace my trusty Vogels, I got a new pair of dress boots without hesitation.

[merrygoround]

Hey! this is eventing! Not Hunters! :lol:

[glfprncs]

I think the reason why the rule is written the way it is is because way back in the dark ages “dress boots,” were generally the only boots you can wear with formal attire (black/dark coat, white/buff breeches, stock tie and pin). They wrote the rule to show that you could ALSO choose to wear field boots, jodphur boots/half chaps, as well AS your formal dress boots.

It used to be that field boots were not considered appropriate if you were wearing formal attire.

[chism]

I always understood it that Dress boots were the norm, and Field boots were an allowable alternative.

[Madeline]

Dress boots are always correct. Brown field boots are correct for informal (think tweed) activities or if you are Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum. As mentioned above, black field boots are a relatively new invention of the hunter crowd. And to this old fart’s eyes, look really silly with a shadbelly. But then again, anything has flopping tails that make a good moving horse look like a plow horse is silly.

[Arabiandressage]

Technically you can wear field boots. Practically dress boots are for dressage and field boots for hunters. That said I am in love with my eventing customers as they seemed to have said “to heck with formality” and I am seeing them go both ways. And they are really liking colors too. They are a blast to assist given we are all bling bling and color color. I agree with many posters here, just make sure it fits well and and you are comfortable.

[Madeline]

[QUOTE=Arabiandressage;8751612]
Technically you can wear field boots. Practically dress boots are for dressage and field boots for hunters. That said I am in love with my eventing customers as they seemed to have said “to heck with formality” and I am seeing them go both ways. .[/QUOTE]

You are confusing dress boots with dressage boots. As I said, dress boots are always correct. Very few actual field hunters use field boots during the regular season, as laces can catch on stuff. Black field boots are an invention of the show hunter folk.
Dressage boots are quite different and only appropriate for dressage.