Measuring yourself correctly when buying a pair of long riding boots will help to ensure you’re comfortable, secure and safe in the saddle. Wearing the wrong size of riding boot can result in discomfort as well as spoil the overall picture, particularly if dressed for a competition.
Measuring yourself correctly when buying a pair of long riding boots will help to ensure you’re comfortable, secure and safe in the saddle. Wearing the wrong size of riding boot can result in discomfort as well as spoil the overall picture, particularly if dressed for a competition. Follow our guide to help measure yourself for tall boots.
What you will need:
A soft measuring tape A piece of paper A chair (ideally a straight-backed dining chair) A helperFor the most accurate measurements it’s best to ask someone to help you. Wear the breeches/jodhpurs and socks that you are most likely to wear with your boots.
Bear in mind that leather boots will stretch over time while they are broken in, and can be uncomfortable while they are new. At first they should fit snugly to your leg and be slightly difficult to zip up, so don’t be tempted to add to your calf measurements. If you buy boots that are too large they will become looser over time and be more likely to drop too much, resulting in the boot being too short a height. If you are finding new boots too uncomfortable to ride in, there is an option to ride in a heel lift until the boot has dropped sufficiently.
1) Sit in a chair with your feet flat on the floor, knees at a 90 degree angle.
2) To measure boot width, ask your helper to measure around your calf at its widest point
3) To measure boot height, measure from the floor to the back of your knee. The height you would like your boots to be at is down to personal preference – some riders prefer a very tall boot while others like the boot to come up shorter. It’s always a good idea to check the size guides against specific boots to help you to decide on sizing, as different stiffnesses of leather will have different rates to which they drop once broken in. In general, add approximately 1½ inches to your original height measurement.
4) Match your calf and height measurements to the size guide supplied with the riding boots
Field boots are designed with a softer leather which will drop and crease around the ankle allowing for a proper leg position while riding, particularly if riding shorter at jump/cross country length. They should still stand high enough at the knee to achieve an elegant look.
Dressage boots are made from stiffer leather than field boots – they aren’t designed to drop by much or soften at the ankle, instead looking more elegant and elongated with a longer stirrup length.
It the boots fasten with a zip, as most tall boots do, look for a calf measurement that is as close to or slightly over your measurement to prevent stressing the zip excessively.
When selecting the shoe size, choose the closest size offered for your usual shoe size. If half sizes aren’t offered and the boot is slightly roomy in the foot, space can be taken up with an extra foot bed, gel sole or air cushion.Please contact us if you require further assistance when choosing long boots.
