Leather riding boots are made to enhance the horse riding experience. Without leather riding shoes riding a horse is a definite nay. Usually horseback riders have two sets of leather riding shoes.
Their casual leather riding boots are often worn and old. The worn boots are used for practicing and for learning new tricks. The formal boot is when the rider takes advantage of the new boot styles and more expensive leather qualities.
The formal events and competitions are important to riders and their uniforms as well as their leather riding shoes need to show the judges they are worthy of winning.
Leather riding boots have a very specific style and look. They are substantially different to cowboy boots. Cowboy boots are looser, have a higher heel, and are generally shorter then horseback riding shoes. Although they are both usually made from the same cow-hide of pigskin material.
The new leather materials such as synthetic leather and vinyl leather are becoming more popular due to their accessibility and inexpensive nature, most riders still are required to have professional and classic leather formal boots for competitions.
The leather riding boot’s length is determined by the horse’s saddle. The boot must be long enough to reach the saddle so the saddle and the boot do not pinch the riders leg.
The toe of the shoe is about as rugged and durable as a steel toe shoe due to the fact that the rider will be walking alongside many horses and could easily be stepped on my a half a ton horse.
The heel of the shoe is also very specific to riders. The heels is less then a half an inch tall so that the riders heel does not get stuck into the stirrup preventing the rider from slowing or speeding up the horse.
In the earlier centuries the riding heels was typically taller. It was taller due to the fact that many women were taking the role of rider as a recreational activity and all women wore heels throughout the day and that was included in their riding shoes. Men’s riding boots were also taller because it was critically important that the foot not slide through the stirrup and cause the rider to fall off.
For a rider, getting their first set of leather riding shoes is a big step in becoming a serious horseback competitor. Riding boots take an inexperienced rider from nay to hooray. Now the rider can be a serious competitor and have a safe ride or a dangerous horse.