Riding boots: the complete guide to choosing yours
Riding boots are, along with the helmet, the piece of equipment that most affects your comfort and safety in the saddle. A poorly chosen boot causes chafing, loses grip on the stirrup, and deteriorates in weeks. This guide helps you compare types, materials, and sizes to make the right choice.
Types of horse riding boots
There are four main categories of horse riding boots:
- Tall boots (dressage or jumping) — cover up to the knee. Dressage boots have a stiff shaft; jumping boots have a more flexible shaft with laces or elastic.
- Jodhpur boots — reach the ankle. They are combined with chaps to provide similar protection to a tall boot with more versatility.
- Country boots — wide shaft, rounded toe. For vaquera or western riding.
- Field boots — mixed use: riding, caring for the horse, working in the stable.
In our riding boots collection, you will find more than 404 models organized by type, brand, and size.
Materials: leather vs. synthetic
Genuine leather adapts to the foot with use, breathes better, and lasts longer, but requires maintenance (cleaning with glycerine soap + grease every 2-4 weeks). Synthetic is more economical, water-resistant, and requires no care, but breathes less and does not mold to the foot.
For competition, leather remains the standard. For daily training or riders who ride in frequent rain, synthetic is a practical option.
How to get the right size
The size of a riding boot depends on three measurements: foot length, calf circumference, and shaft height. Each brand has its own chart; consult our boot sizing guide with step-by-step instructions.
Practical tip: always measure with the socks you use for riding and at the end of the day (the foot swells slightly).
Riding boots for children
Young riders grow fast, so they usually start with jodhpur boots + chaps (easier to replace by size). Check out our selection of children's boots and our kids' boot guide.
Boot brands at Rincón del Valle
We work with HKM, Hispano Hípica, Lexhis, QHP. You can filter by brand, type, size, and price in the boot collection.
Key fact: Rincón del Valle offers more than 404 riding boots and jodhpur boots from 4 international brands, with our own sizing guide and free shipping on the peninsula for orders over €70. See all boots →
