LeMieux Junior Field Riding Boot Review: solid kids’ leather boots that actually feel like proper adult gear

I got these LeMieux Junior Field Riding Boots in size 5 UK, tall calf, for a young rider who rides 3–4 times a week. The idea was to replace a pair of cheap synthetic boots that were starting to crack and rub at the ankles. I wanted to see if spending more on proper leather boots for a kid actually makes sense, or if it’s just paying for the logo.

From the first ride, the main thing that stood out is that these feel like scaled-down adult boots, not toy versions. The leather, the zip, the spur rests, the sole – it’s all closer to proper competition boots than the usual junior stuff. We used them for flatwork, a bit of jumping, and some hacking in damp British weather, so they’ve had a decent mix of use, not just ten minutes in an indoor arena.

Over two weeks, they were used on ponies with different stirrup irons and in all the usual yard conditions: wet concrete, muddy gateways, slightly flooded car park. I paid attention to how easy they were to get on and off, if they rubbed anywhere, and how the kid felt after an hour in the saddle and another hour walking around doing jobs. No special treatment, just normal yard abuse.

Overall, I’d say they’re pretty solid for a young rider who’s riding regularly and needs something more serious than plastic boots. They’re not cheap, and they’re not perfect, but they do feel like proper riding equipment rather than dress-up boots. If your kid rides once a month, it’s probably overkill. If they live at the yard, they start to make sense.

Price-wise, these sit above the cheap synthetic and rubber kids’ boots, and below top-end custom stuff. So you’re firmly in the mid to upper bracket for junior footwear. The question is whether that’s worth it when kids grow fast. In my view, if your kid rides once a week for a half-hour lesson and that’s it, this is probably too much boot. A cheaper synthetic pair will do the job for occasional use, even if they’re less comfy and don’t last as long.

Where these start to make sense is for kids who ride several times a week, do pony club, maybe small shows, and spend a lot of time at the yard. The leather, better sole, and proper zip make daily use more comfortable and more reliable. The fact that they look smart enough for shows while still being tough enough for yard work means you don’t necessarily need a separate “show boot” and “yard boot”. That saves some money and hassle.

Compared to cheaper brands, you’re mainly paying for:

• Full grain leather instead of plastic-feeling synthetic
• Decent YKK zip that doesn’t feel flimsy
• Grippy X-Grip sole that works well in the stirrup
• More supportive footbed and lining

Overall, I’d call the value good but not cheap. You’re not being ripped off, but you do need a kid who actually rides enough to justify it. If that’s the case, these make sense. If not, you’re paying for qualities they won’t really use, and a lower-priced boot will be fine.

The design is very much “mini adult field boot”. You’ve got the streamlined elasticated front lacing look, but it’s actually elastic, not real laces, so kids don’t have to fiddle with tying anything. It keeps the front of the ankle neat and gives a bit of flex for heels-down. The overall shape is quite slim and fitted, especially around the ankle and lower calf, which gives a nicer leg position in the stirrup compared to chunky rubber boots.

On the back, the full-length YKK zip runs from the heel to just behind the knee, with a small keeper at the top and a tab at the bottom. The keeper is simple but does its job – it stops the zip creeping down while riding. There’s an elastic gusset down the side of the zip to give some stretch in the calf. That’s handy because kids’ legs change shape fast, and this gives a bit of wiggle room. On our tester, it sat snug but not strangling, and it was still easy enough to zip up on the second and third rides as the leather softened.

There are spur rests on both sides of the heel, which is a small thing but nice if your kid uses spurs for ponies that need a bit more encouragement. The round toe and low block heel are classic riding boot style – nothing fancy, just practical. The heel gives enough lift to keep the foot from sliding through the stirrup, and the toe box isn’t weirdly narrow, so there’s space for toes to move a bit. Aesthetically, they’re just plain black leather with no big logos screaming at you, which I appreciate. They look tidy enough for shows but not so precious you’re scared to walk through mud.

If I had to nitpick the design, I’d say the tall height really is tall. On a shorter or very young rider, it might hit the back of the knee and rub at first. Also, because they’re quite fitted, they’re not forgiving if your kid has a very wide calf or prefers a looser feel. But overall, the design is practical and geared toward kids who ride properly, not just occasional pony rides.

Comfort-wise, there’s a bit of a break-in period, like with most leather boots. On the first ride, my tester said the boots felt slightly stiff around the ankle and behind the knee, but not painful. After about three rides and some walking around the yard, the leather started to soften and crease in the right places. By the end of the second week, they felt much more natural, with heels-down position easier and less pressure at the back of the knee.

The footbed is a plus. It’s soft enough that walking around for an hour doing jobs (filling haynets, fetching horses, sweeping) didn’t lead to sore feet. Compared to the old cheap synthetic boots, these felt less flat and more supportive under the arch. There’s no special insole tech here, just decent padding that gets the job done. If your kid has very sensitive feet or needs orthotics, you can probably still swap in your own insoles without too much trouble.

The breathable mesh lining helps keep things from getting too sweaty, but let’s be honest: if the kid is riding in warm weather and then running around the yard, the boots will still be warm inside. The difference is they don’t feel like a sauna. After taking the boots off, socks were warm but not drenched, and there wasn’t that wet, sticky feeling you get with rubber boots. No blisters showed up during the two weeks, which is a good sign. The elastic gusset on the calf also stops the boot from cutting in when the leg bends.

The only real downside on comfort is the height and initial stiffness. On a shorter rider, the top of the boot might hit the back of the knee and rub a bit in the first few rides. If your kid hates any kind of break-in period and expects slipper comfort from day one, they may complain at first. But once the leather gives a little, these are comfortable enough for riding plus yard work, not just ten minutes in the saddle.

The upper is full grain leather, and you can feel the difference compared to cheaper synthetic kids’ boots. Out of the box, it’s a bit stiff but not like a board. After a couple of rides and some walking around the yard, it softened up nicely without collapsing. The leather takes normal boot polish well and wipes clean with a damp cloth. After a few muddy hacks, it cleaned up without stains or weird marks, which is what you want for something that’ll see a lot of yard grime.

Inside, you’ve got a breathable mesh lining and a leather collar/heel tongue. The mesh is there to stop sweaty legs getting too sticky, and it does help a bit. After an hour’s ride plus chores, the socks weren’t soaked, just normally warm. It’s not magic – if your kid runs hot, their feet will still sweat – but it’s better than unlined rubber boots where everything feels clammy. The inner footbed is soft and has a bit of cushioning, not memory foam levels, but enough that you don’t feel like you’re standing on a plank.

The sole is rubber with an X-Grip tread pattern. The tread is linear, designed to work with the stirrup footplate. In practice, that means the boot doesn’t slide around on the stirrup as much, even when the stirrups or boot soles are slightly wet. On concrete and yard surfaces, the grip is decent. It’s not a hiking boot, but my tester didn’t slide around in the car park or on wet rubber matting in the stable, which is what matters.

Overall, the materials feel like they’re built for regular use, not just occasional shows. The leather is decent quality, the sole feels tough enough to handle daily yard walking, and the zip doesn’t feel flimsy. For the price, I’d expect this level of material, so it’s not a bargain, but it’s also not pretending to be luxury. You’re paying for proper leather and a functional sole, and that’s what you get.

Durability is always tricky to judge in a couple of weeks, but there are some signs. After two weeks of regular use – riding 3–4 times a week plus yard jobs – the leather showed normal creasing at the ankle but no cracking or weird peeling. The stitching around the sole, zip, and spur rests still looked tight, with no loose threads. The sole didn’t show any obvious wear patterns yet, even with a fair bit of walking on rough yard surfaces.

The YKK zip is a big plus here. Cheaper kids’ boots often die because the zip gives up. On these, the zip ran smoothly from day one and didn’t feel like it was straining, even when the boots were new and a bit stiff. The zip keeper at the top did its job; the zip didn’t creep down while riding. If the boots are looked after even a bit (quick wipe-down, no forcing the zip when filthy), I’d expect the zip to outlast a growth spurt.

The rubber sole feels solid and is properly bonded to the leather upper. No separation at the edges, even after being flexed a lot at the ankle. The tread didn’t clog up too badly with mud, and a quick hose or brush cleaned it. The moisture resistance is fine for typical British drizzle and damp fields. I wouldn’t treat them as full mucking-out wellies, but they handled normal splashes and wet ground without the leather going soggy.

Realistically, the bigger issue with durability on junior boots is kids growing, not the boot failing. These feel like they’ll easily survive being passed down to a younger sibling if they’re looked after halfway decently. They’re not indestructible, but there’s nothing flimsy about them. For the price, I’d say the build quality matches what you’re paying, which is decent mid-high range for kids’ riding boots.

In the saddle, these boots do what they’re supposed to do. The X-Grip rubber sole with the linear tread pattern actually makes a difference with stirrup stability. On standard metal irons and on composite ones, the foot felt secure without sticking. Even when the stirrup treads were a bit wet from going through a puddle, there wasn’t that slippery feeling you sometimes get with smoother soles. My tester had no issues keeping their foot in place during trot and small jumps.

The slim ankle and fitted calf help with leg position. Compared to the old bulky boots, the rider’s lower leg looked quieter and closer to the pony’s side. The boot doesn’t bunch up at the ankle, so it’s easier to keep the heel down and the leg still. The integrated spur rests do their job: spurs sit in place without sliding down the heel. For kids who are starting to ride more seriously, this is useful. For total beginners who never use spurs, it’s just a neutral feature.

Off the horse, the performance is decent. The sole gives enough grip on wet yard surfaces, and the heel and sole thickness are enough that you don’t feel every stone underfoot. They’re not meant for long hikes, but for walking between fields, stables, and arena, they’re fine. They’re listed as moisture resistant, and that matches what we saw: they handle damp grass, light rain, and wet footing without soaking through quickly. They’re not full-on waterproof, so if your kid stands in deep puddles or washes horses with water splashing everywhere, water will eventually get in.

Overall, in daily use they feel like proper riding boots, not just something that looks the part. They give decent grip in the stirrup, support the leg, and cope with normal yard abuse. If your kid is competing or riding several times a week, the performance level is appropriate. If they just do the odd pony lesson, this is more boot than they really need, but it still works fine.

Out of the box, the LeMieux Junior Field Boots look like standard black long riding boots – nothing flashy, which I like. They come as a pair (obviously), no extra bits like spare insoles or boot trees, just some basic packing paper inside to hold the shape. The packaging is functional: cardboard box, simple branding, no fancy unboxing moment, but it protects the boots fine. For the price, I wouldn’t mind a basic boot bag, but you don’t get one.

First impression in hand: they’re lighter than some clunky synthetic kids’ boots I’ve handled but still feel solid. The leather doesn’t feel like cardboard; it’s slightly stiff at first but not rock hard. The zip is a YKK one running up the back of the leg with a proper puller and a little keeper at the top. It actually feels like it’ll survive kids yanking it up and down, which is not always the case with cheaper boots where the zip is usually the first thing to die.

The size 5 tall calf we tried has a 32 cm shaft circumference and sits just under the knee on a slim, average-height young teen. It’s worth saying: these are definitely shaped like adult field boots – narrower ankle, defined heel, round toe. So if your kid is used to wide, sloppy rubber boots, this will feel more fitted and structured. Inside, the mesh lining is visible and feels smooth, not scratchy. There’s a padded collar at the top and a padded tongue at the heel to stop the zip digging in.

In short, the presentation is simple but honest: you’re paying for the boot itself, not for packaging. If you’re expecting a premium unboxing moment, you’ll be disappointed. If you care more about whether the boot looks and feels like proper riding kit, this is closer to adult competition boots than most kids’ models I’ve seen.