A set, not a score
The standard addresses several properties of the footwear and publishes a level for each: among them the height of the upper, resistance to abrasion, resistance to cutting, transverse rigidity and impact protection at the ankle. A boot can reach the higher level on one property and the lower on another, and both figures are real.
Why that matters when comparing
Two boots both described as reaching the higher level can have earned it on different properties. Reading them one property at a time is what makes the comparison meaningful, and it is why the standard publishes them separately rather than combining them.
Height, and the short boot question
The height of the upper is one of the properties classified. A short riding boot will usually sit below the height the taller classification requires, and makers say so rather than hiding it — which is exactly what separates certified riding footwear from a trainer with a logo.
What is not in the standard
Whether the sole grips a peg, whether the closure can be worked with gloves on, whether a membrane keeps a foot dry for a whole day, and whether there is a shift pad on the left toe. Those decide whether a boot is worn, and this site reports them beside the levels.
Questions riders send in about this
Can a short boot be certified?
Yes, against the properties it meets. The height classification will reflect that it is short, which is information rather than a failure.
Is a boot with no standard cited a riding boot?
It is footwear. The marking is what records that it was tested for this use, and its absence is itself the answer.
Last reviewed 18 September 2026