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When I was in my teens I used to love riding. Every spare moment I was to be found in the stables. My parents bought me the whole outfit, including proper boots. However, one day when I came back from the stables, my mother had such a severe hay fever attack that I never went back there until I had left home. Riding boots need to be tall enough to prevent the leg being rubbed by the saddle or the horse’s back. They also need to have a slight heel to prevent the foot from slipping out of the stirrup. The heel should be relatively smooth to stop the foot getting caught in the stirrup in case of a fall. The origin of this type of boot lies in the court of Queen Elizabeth 1 in Tudor times. They were worn by country gentlemen as well as soldiers. They later became such a fashion item that men used to wear this type of footwear in the house too. The first Duke of Wellington had a special kind of boot made for him that was waterproof and could be used in the saddle as well as walking over rough, muddy terrain. This was the man who fought Napoleon at Waterloo. Since he was a cavalry man, this footwear was especially suited to his job as the terrain was often boggy in the fields at Waterloo. Wellington was from Anglo Irish origins. He became a Member of Parliament, but gained fame in the wars against the French, when he rose to the rank of Field Marshall. He lived to a ripe old age and remained in charge of the army until his death at 83. Since Wellington was very popular after Napoleon’s defeat, many men started wearing this new type of boot. These were mostly dandies. If you are a keen horse rider you should buy the right boot for the particular branch have chosen. If you are a show jumper then you need a different boot from a jockey in the Grand National. If you are in a show, then the boot you should be wearing is a high cut fitted version. For any casual trekking you can probably get away with a short version as these boots will give you more flexibility and stability. Most boots are made of calf skin or some sort of cow hide. However, there are now also synthetic leather boots available, which will probably be less pricey. If you are unsure of what kind of footwear to buy, it is best to have a look on the internet. There are many sites there that stock these boots. Also there are several articles to help you choose the right boot for you. If you are fashion conscious, then you can find out what boot goes with what kind of riding sport, so that you do not make a fool of yourself by turning up with the wrong footwear. For dressage you wear a black boot, but fox hunting requires a two tone coloured variety. If you are stuck, then please have a look at the many styles of riding boots available on our website at http://www.mr-shoes.co.uk/
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