Children’s field boots have a lace at the throat of the boot in front of your instep.  This allows your foot at to pass through the narrowest part of the boot to get into the foot with ease.  The laces are then tightened up for a custom fit. By having the laces it enables child riders who have high insteps or long heels to get into and out of a boot with less struggling.  Having a zipper down the back makes it easier to get in and out of their boots.

Field boots are usually black and very tall against the back of the equestrian’s knee.  When I measure for custom field boots I add an additional 1¼” inches for drop.  The drop is when the boot settles at the ankle after it is broken in.  The drop is very important because, when English riders are in the correct equitation position their heels are below their toes in the stirrups.  By putting their heels down when riding you will pull the calf of the boot down your leg.  The boot will then appear to be to short. By adding the extra height in the shaft of the riding boot it will never appear short.

When is the right time to move your child up from a paddock boot to a tall field boot? This question can be answered first by your child’s trainer.  If you get the okay to purchase tall boots, you have to consider whether you junior rider can achieve a proper fit.  Kid’s tall field boots are even harder to fit than adults.  The problem is that kids come in all sizes and heights. If they are a pony rider in a children’s size shoe then the height and calf choices are limited. If your child rider is in a women’s size shoe then you have to hope they are all enough to handle the height of a grown women’s boot. Either way, a snug fitting calf at the correct height with a shoe with room to grow is ideal.

Design features of field boots are ribbed soles for grip in the stirrup and so your child will not slip down trailer ramps, a punched toe design to make the boot look more stylish and zippers down the back. All together a properly fitted field boot is one of the most import parts of your horse show attire.