The Foxley is the E.Woodford version of a traditional Paddock boot. English riding boots have long been a classic wardrobe staple, whether for country pursuits or as a fashion preference.
The knee-high leather of standard boots protected the wearer’s legs from rubbing against the saddle while the pronounced heels ensured secure stirrup grip. With the Paddock’s shorter shaft, wearers were granted more flexibility and movement than before.
Though ankle boots were already being worn away from the racecourse or hunt in 19th century Europe, it was the introduction of jodhpurs – trousers with inbuilt protection for legs – later that century, that gave the paddock a popularity boost. The shorter boot was easier to pull on and take off and, as it naturally required less leather, provided a less costly choice for riders.
Footwear designed specifically for horsemanship is thought to date back to the 1200s at least, though the first known instances of humans on horseback are from more than 5,000 years ago, in Central Asia.
While the riding-boot style originated in the equestrian world, it has inspired many footwear fashions throughout the ages, including the Blücher, the Wellington, and the Chelsea boot.
