FAST
Shires Moretta Women's Lanciano Leather Riding Boots - Black
$259.99
Filters
Filtered by:
Foot Size:
Brand
Department:
Filter Color:
Riding Style:
Winter:
Back Height:
Calf Width:
Price ranges
31 Products
Showing 24 of 31
Tall boots for the dressage leg
Tall Dress Boots
A dress boot gives a dressage rider a clean, laceless line from knee to heel and a close, steady leg in the saddle. Choose height and calf width first, then the finish and the zip.
Updated November 2026
Shop by Brand
Find Your Fit
Boot fit
In the Spotlight
TuffRider's Belmont and Regal dress boots both pair a Spanish top with a back zipper and snap closure.
TuffRider dress boots
Baroque, Belmont, Regal and more dress boots from TuffRider
What riders say about tall dress boots
Two riders on how Horze and TuffRider boots broke in and fit.
Horze Rover Dressage Boots - Black
These boots are amazing. I help run a 16 horse farm and ride 5 times a week multiple horses including my own, and teach students wearing these everywhere. They were not hard to break in at all in comparision to other boots I have had!I have always used half chaps because I felt like they had more give and I could lengthen my heals but these are so easy to ride in I love them. Hoping they last long and I will def buy again. Great boots for the $$
TuffRider Women's Double Clear Sport Tall Boots - Black
So full disclosure; I have a very wide toe box. I often have to buy a size or two up in boots because my frog-toes won't fit, but of course this causes other problems. Unfortunately this means most traditional riding boots, which have a toe cap design that has a seam right across where my feet are the widest, are very snug and uncomfortable on my feet. I thought I was doomed to this design until I purchased these sport boots which, NOT ONLY HAVE A WIDER TOE BOX but also got rid of the toe cap seam entirely! They do not look like classical riding boot, but they look cool as heck--these are the only boots I've gotten compliments on. If you really like the super fitted top of ankle look, these are not for you (so, for the rest of us, no, they don't cut off your circulation). Oh, and the calf leather is PERFORATED so not only do they weigh less than normal classic tall boots, but they are quite breathable and great for riding in hot weather. I have very muscular calves so I always buy wide calf, and I feel these fit a bit wider than normal (but according to size charts I do not think I could go down to a regular calf). The tread of the boot is great, very thick and comfortable but still flexible with just the right grip for the stirrups. There is sole cushion and some arch support which is much appreciated. The zipper on the back doesn't have the typical lower snap cover Tuff Rider Boots tend to have, but the zipper is much bigger than my other TR zippers and seems to be very durable. I had zero break in time (which is typical of TR); when I popped them on the first time and they felt like I'd been riding in them for a year already. I'd say the stiffness of the calf leather is about medium-stiff, more than the TF Belmont (which has no stiffness at all) but less than say a typical Ariat.
The Dress Boot Edit
Dress boots for the long leg and the show ring
Four short sections cover what sets a dress boot apart from a field boot, how to match height and calf width, how to break a pair in and keep it show-ready, and where a first dressage pair can start.
Dress boot or field boot
Dress boots vs field boots: what changes in the ring
A dress boot differs from a field boot in three ways: it has no laces, a clean smooth front and a leg cut taller through the knee, as on the Horze Women’s Duvall Tall Dress Boots. Horze describes a curved zip that wraps the calf, snap closures at the top with a zip guard, elasticated leather for give and a spur rest.
A field boot has a laced instep and a softer ankle so a jumping rider can flex over a fence, while a dress boot keeps an unbroken line from knee to heel. Equinavia describes the Spanish top on its Karina dress boot as one that elongates the leg in the saddle. Look elsewhere if you mostly jump: the field boots on our Tall Boots page are built for that.
Compare the full range on our Tall Boots page.
Height and calf
Dress boot height and calf width: getting the fit right
Tredstep Sirani Dress Boots fit a long or short leg because Tredstep makes them in short, regular and tall heights, and Tredstep Donatello III follows the same range. Height runs from the heel on the floor up to the back bend of the knee, and a dress boot should reach that bend without pinching it.
Calf width matters as much as height. Measure the widest part of the calf while seated with the knee at 90 degrees, and take a few readings to find the largest. A dress boot should fit close without sagging, and Tredstep Medici II is built on a curved anatomical calf pattern for that snug leg line. Horze and several other brands size in European numbers, so check the chart before you choose, and size up or down by the chart rather than your street shoe.
Filter by calf width, boot height and foot size with the Boot fit menu above.
Break-in and care
How stiff dress boots are and how to break them in
The Equinavia Women’s Karina Synthetic Dress Boots are built with a contoured fit, a tapered ankle and elastic gussets on both sides of the heavy-duty YKK zipper, so the give sits at the ankle and the shaft stays tall. Expect the ankle to ease first and the calf to follow, so wear them for a few schooling rides before the first show.
Keep dress boots on a boot tree between rides so the shaft holds its shape. Leather boots like the Tredstep Donatello III take a little conditioner at the ankle, while synthetic pairs such as the Karina and the Horze Rover simply wipe clean with a damp cloth. For show day, brush off the dust, buff the shaft with a soft cloth and polish the toe and heel.
Always follow the care card that comes with your boots.
First pair
A first pair of dress boots: where to start
The TuffRider Women’s Belmont Dress Boots are a sensible first dress boot for a rider moving toward dressage, with soft leather uppers, a Spanish top, a back zipper with snap closure and a memory foam foot bed. TuffRider adds an elastic gusset and flex construction so the boot moves with the ankle.
The Horze Rover Dressage Boots suit a rider who wants a synthetic leather boot with a breathable mesh lining and elastic at the calf, and the Mountain Horse Women’s Serenade Dressage Boot adds a leather lining and a forward-placed full-length zipper for steady leg contact. Between them they cover a synthetic and a leather option at different points in a rider's progress, so start with the material you want to care for. Look elsewhere if you need a boot for muddy barn chores: a country boot from our Tall Boots range is built for that.
More TuffRider dress boots are in the In the Spotlight shelf above.
Questions riders ask
Dress boots FAQ
What is the difference between dress boots and field boots?
Dress boots have no laces, a smooth front and a taller leg cut for the long dressage position, while field boots have a laced instep and a softer ankle for jumping. Choose by the work you do most, then compare heights and calf widths in the Boot fit menu.
How tall should dress boots be?
Measure from the floor to the back bend of the knee, reaching fully up into the curve, and allow for a little drop as the boot settles. Tredstep makes the Sirani in short, regular and tall heights, so compare the height that matches your leg and shop that size.
How do I measure my calf for dress boots?
Sit with your knee at a right angle and measure around the widest part of your calf in breeches, taking a few readings and using the largest. Compare that number with the brand's chart and the calf width filter in the Boot fit menu above.
How long does it take to break in dress boots?
Plan on a few schooling rides for the ankle to ease, with the calf following. Wear the pair around the barn first, keep a boot tree in them between rides, and wear them in well before show day.