Cross-Country & Jump Boots
Whether you're schooling over show jumps or galloping a cross-country course, the boot you choose isn't just a preference — it's a safety decision. The open front versus XC debate is one of the most common questions in the eventing world, and getting it wrong puts your horse at real risk.
What Riders Are Actually Asking
What is the difference between open front boots and cross-country XC boots?
The distinction is intentional and critical. Open front boots — like the Professional's Choice Open Front Tendon Boots (VenTECH Breathable), the Professional's Choice White Open Front Tendon Boots, and the PC Sports Medicine Open Front Boots — are designed with the front of the cannon bone deliberately exposed. This lets a horse feel a pole when it touches it, creating the tactile feedback that trains horses to pick up their feet and be careful over fences. It works precisely because show jump poles are lightweight and knockable. Cross-country boots are a different design philosophy entirely. The Professional's Choice Pro Performance Elite XC Boots use a full wraparound Pebax strike guard — a high-performance thermoplastic elastomer that is flexible enough to conform to the leg but becomes rigid and impact-absorbing on contact. XC fences are solid, permanent structures; a horse hitting one at speed without full-coverage protection is a serious injury risk. The PC Elite XC's honeycomb ventilation also sheds water instead of absorbing it, which matters enormously on a course with water features and mud.
Can I use open front boots on cross country?
No — and this is one of the hardest rules in English jumping. Experienced eventers and forum moderators will say it plainly: open fronts do not belong on cross country, full stop. The entire point of an open front boot is that a horse can feel a fence rail. On cross country, you don't want a horse to feel the fence — you want the boot to absorb the impact so the horse keeps going safely. A horse that clips a solid fence at XC without adequate leg protection can go acutely lame right on course. The Professional's Choice Pro Performance Elite XC Boots and the full-coverage Toklat Pro Tendon Horse Boots are the appropriate choices for cross-country schooling and competition. If you're doing a combined training show with both show jumping and XC phases, keep a pair of open fronts and a pair of XC boots in your kit and swap between phases.
Do I need rear boots for show jumping and cross country?
For cross country, yes — unequivocally. Hind legs are at significant risk on XC from the inside of fence elements and from the horse's own toe striking the coronet of the hind heel during bold jumping efforts. The Professional's Choice Ventilated Open Front and Rear sets and the Professional's Choice Pro Performance Ventilated Open Front and Rear sets cover all four legs in a single purchase — the most practical solution for riders who compete in both SJ and XC phases. For pure show jumping, opinions vary by level and discipline. Most serious show jumpers boot all four legs with open fronts on the front and fetlock or brushing boots on the hinds. Schooling riders often just boot the fronts. The Professional's Choice Open Front Rear TPU Boots and the PC Rubber Open Bell Boots are the practical choices for hind leg and hoof protection when you want to cover all bases.
How do I choose between XC boots and open front boots for arena schooling?
The discipline of your schooling work should drive the choice. When you're working over poles, gymnastics, and show fences in an arena, open front boots are the standard — the Professional's Choice VenTECH Open Front Boots with their shock-absorbing air cushion are the most widely reviewed and recommended option at this level, and the Toklat Pro Tendon Horse Boots offer an excellent breathable neoprene alternative. When you move to cross-country schooling over solid fences — even small logs and roll tops — switch to full-coverage XC boots. The PC Pro Performance Elite XC Boots have been reviewed by Eventing Nation and are a top-rated choice: the Pebax strike guard flexes for comfort on the move but locks hard on impact, and the rip-stop outer shell sheds water and debris rather than absorbing it. For riders who want one boot to school both disciplines, full-coverage boots are the safer compromise — you lose some SJ training feedback, but you won't be caught out at the first solid fence.
How to Choose the Right Boot for Your Discipline
- Show jumping and arena work: Open front tendon boots — PC VenTECH, PC Sports Medicine Open Front, or Toklat Pro Tendon. The open front is a deliberate training tool, not a corner cut.
- Cross country at any level: Full-coverage XC boots with a strike guard — the PC Pro Performance Elite XC Boots are the gold standard for serious eventers. Never use open fronts on solid fences.
- All four phases in one purchase: The PC Ventilated Open Front and Rear sets cover all four legs and work well for combination SJ/XC schooling days.
- Bell boots for both phases: The PC Rubber Open Bell Boots and PC Fleece Open Bell Boots protect heels and prevent pulled shoes on the approach and landing — critical for any jumping discipline, particularly on course where footing varies.
Brands Riders Trust
Professional's Choice is the dominant name in this category, and for good reason — their open front and XC boot lines have been reviewed and competition-tested by Eventing Nation, and the Pro Performance Elite XC Boots have become a go-to for eventers from starter level through advanced. The VenTECH air cushion technology in the open front line sets the standard for jump boot shock absorption. Toklat rounds out the range with the Pro Tendon Boot — an excellent breathable neoprene alternative for riders who prefer a softer shell and proven leather splint pad construction.
At Hooves and Paws, we've been outfitting working horses for over 30 years. Our team rides — including over fences — so when we stock PC open fronts and XC boots alongside Toklat tendon boots, it's because we've used them ourselves. We carry a full size range with fast shipping, and if you're sorting out your eventing kit or building out your jump boot wardrobe, we're here to help you figure out exactly what you need.
