Paddock Boots Vs Riding Boots: Which One Will Last Longer?

Suppose, you are about to play soccer. What kind of footwear would you choose? Would you wear regular shoes or sneakers, or special soccer boots? The answer is obvious: you would go for the soccer boots. Why? Because they are designed for the game. 

The same thing is true for selecting perfect footwear in various disciplines of equestrian activities. You have to choose paddock boots or riding boots depending on the specific work demands. In this equestrian world, the same type of boot does not fit all, as you need to accomplish a wide variety of activities here.

In this article, we are going to give you the right decision on whether paddock boots or riding boots will last longer. So, dive into the world of equestrian boots today…

What are the uses of Paddock Boots and Riding Boots?

You can use Paddock boots for different types of multifunctional equine activities such as working in the ranch or cow firms, herding cattle, horse grooming, and doing some basic riding activities as well. 

Since, this type of boot is used in field-related work, where horses or other animals eat grass and roam freely, you can consider it as a field boot. 

On the other hand, riding boots are used only for riding purposes as those boots are prepared with some exclusive features that are mostly suitable for beginner to advanced stages of riding. Watch this video to learn the types of horseback riding boots.

Paddock boots are suitable for English riding(where you need to hold the reins by using both your two hands) but you can use riding boots for both English and western riding (in western riding you need to hold the reins by using one hand only) as well.

Western riding requires great athletic characteristics, such as jumping, hunting different animals, fishes, or birds, performing roping activities in a rodeo event, or different skill contests of racing. 

In that case, you can wear riding boots to ease your movement. If you want to learn more interesting stuff about the ranch and roping activities, read this article on ranch saddle Vs roping saddle.

How have paddock boots and riding boots evolved? 

Before the 19th century horse enthusiasts felt the need for riding boots for the first time when they experienced difficulties in riding by using normal high heels to protect their ankles. In the very first decade of the 10th century, they discovered normal riding boots by using leather. 

Then, over time they realized that there are other activities in equine disciplines besides riding, that require different types of boots. From this realization, after the 19th century, they gradually developed paddock boots for field activities. 

Later, they added some new features to the riding boots for performing various advanced-level riding with convenience. 

What are the pros and cons of paddock boots and riding boots?

Although paddock boots and riding boots are very important for performing different equine works, there are still some issues with these boots. So, you need to choose a  suitable boot considering the negative aspects of your specific requirements. 

Let's examine the pros and cons of both paddock boots and riding boots in detail:

Pros and cons of paddock boots:

If you are a beginner in horse riding you can use paddock boots because the thickness of the sole is medium which will help to maintain balance and increase your comfort during riding. Since you need to work a long time in the firm or paddock, this boot is a perfect fit for you.

But the problem is, you can not perform all kinds of riding activities by wearing this boot. 

Field boots are generally prepared with short chafing so they can not cover the lower part of your knee. Despite having some disadvantages, field boots are very popular in the equestrian world. 

Pros and cons of riding boots:

The greater thickness of the sole of riding boots provides huge support while placing the foot into the stirrup. The upper portion of riding boots might be short or long. 

You can purchase long or short riding boots based on your preference. But these types of boots are made with a slightly higher heel. But why? Keep thinking and match the answer from the end of the article.

Riding boots are quite expensive. So, if you have budget issues you need to think twice before purchasing it. But you will find different price ranges for riding boots. 

If you look for more additional features, the price range may cross your budget. So, if you badly need a riding boot with good quality, you just give Importance to the basic features according to your needs before purchasing. 

Do you think that just by selecting the right boots, you can enjoy horse riding with great convenience? No, you need to be sure of other things, such as whether the horse has any physical defects or abnormalities. 

Again, there may be some defects in the horse, which will not affect the riding in spite of its presence. Or sometimes it can affect the riding. So you need to be very careful about those things. If you are interested in knowing more about such physical issues of your horse, read this article: Can you ride a horse with dropped fetlocks?

How can you compare between Paddock Boots and Riding Boots?

Imagine a scene where you are riding a horse, it is raining heavily and you are getting wet. At that moment you are thinking that if water got into your boots, you would be very uncomfortable and unable to ride properly. 

In such situations, it would be best if you could use waterproof riding boots. As soon as the boot gets wet, its water-proofing capacity will absorb the water and you will be able to ride comfortably in the rain.

Due to the innovation of technology Paddock boots and riding boots, both are available with moisture-absorbing capacity in them. This feature helps to remove the deposition of sweat or water from the legs and brings comfort to versatile activities.

Now imagine that you are working in a ranch or cow firm in the freezing weather of winter by wearing a paddock boot. At one point you are feeling a cold sensation rising from the ground to your legs and you are not in a position to stand comfortably due to extreme coldness. Can you continue working on the ranch by wearing this boot?

Yes, paddock boots provide a very exceptional feature in that the intense cold feeling will not be able to enter your boots and you will get a warm comfortable feeling. 

Riding boots can also provide this feature to escape from extremely cold sensations but you need to spend a little more money to get it. You already know that a riding boot is a bit more expensive than a paddock boot. So, you will get the additional features from the paddock boot at a cheaper price than the riding boots. 

What are the factors to consider for selecting a perfect boot based on its key features, material, durability, comfort, foot size, weather, and cost?

Before selecting the perfect boots for your particular work, you must do thorough research about the key features the boots provide, materials, design, quality, how comfortable the boots are for you, and the most important factor is your budget. 

In addition to that you should consider the general climate condition of your location, because if you live in a country of hot and damp or moist weather you need to select those boots that contain a standard airflow system.

This system will give your boot the capacity to absorb shocks due to the moist weather and increase its air removal capacity. Additionally, summertime boots are very lightweight, so you can easily handle them. 

Similarly, if you live in the coldest weather country, you should select boots, which can remove frizziness from the internal part of the boot via its insulated or padded effect. 

Both field boots and riding or tall boots are available in different materials such as leather, elastic rubber, or artificial objects with some additional features like designer lace or zipper. You can choose any additional feature based on your comfort and preference. 

These boots are available in different foot sizes, you must choose the boots which perfectly fit your foot and with the stirrup. Because when the boot size does not adjust with the stirrup and your foot, you can not ride comfortably by placing the foot into the stirrup. 

If you are interested to know more about stirrups, read this article: Why are stirrups important in horse riding?

When researching the materials of your boots you can easily get an idea about their durability or lifespan because no boot production company will tell you that their boots will not last longer…So, you can take reviews from other boot users of the same company or get assistance from a professional. 

If you are looking for a professional horse trainer, read this article on how to find a reputable horse trainer. 

If you clean the boots regularly after work, their durability may increase and they will last longer. So, proper and regular maintenance is highly required to increase the lifespan of any kind of boot, whether it is paddock boots or riding boots. 

The price of a field boot starts at $29 USD  and within 300$ USD you can buy a good quality boot. On the other hand, the price range of western horse riding boots is between $140-$1040 USD. So, you can obviously purchase the required boots that meet your budget. 

Although paddock boots are more economical than riding boots, it would be great if you could perform both fieldwork and riding activities by using the same boots, right? So, do you think you can do advanced-level riding like western riding in paddock boots? Think deeply and you will find the answer to this question in the next section of this article.

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes riding boots different from paddock boots?

Riding boots do not contain the extra coat of leather and thickened sole like the paddock boots. Rather it contains slightly higher heels and lastly, the high cost makes the riding boots different from field boots. 

What is the importance of heels for riding boots?

Riding boots have relatively high heels so that when you step on the stirrups for riding, your feet will not accidentally slip off the stirrups and it plays a role in keeping your ankles safe in any professional riding as well.

Are there any problems using paddock boots for western riding?

Generally, paddock boots are not recommended in the case of western riding, because this type of boot is a bit heavier than western riding boots. So, you will have difficulty mounting and dismounting frequently during such professional riding activities by wearing these boots. But if you are experienced enough in doing western riding activities for a long time, you can definitely manage it. 

In Conclusion

You can serve versatile activities of the equestrian field by using paddock boots or riding boots according to the requirements and comfort of that particular work. 

In this article, we have explained the usage, history, comparison, benefits, and challenges of using both paddock and riding boots, and lastly which one would last longer based on some important factors. 

If you have any opinion regarding this article please leave it in the comments section. Feel free to share this article with anyone who is truly concerned about which boots might be right for them and which ones would be more durable.