# Do any U.S. Military dress uniforms still feature high riding boots? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 2, 2005, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-any-u-s-military-dress-uniforms-still-feature-high-riding-boots/292552 "2005-03-02T04:17:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Merl\_Minnozza](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b3f665/32.png) [@Merl\_Minnozza](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merl_Minnozza)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2005, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-any-u-s-military-dress-uniforms-still-feature-high-riding-boots/292552/1 "2005-03-02T04:17:13Z")
Every time I’ve seen U.S. Army, Navy, Marines or Air Force officers in full dress uniform, they have straight-leg pants and dress shoes. My impression is that in the past, some U.S. military dress outfits included knickers and knee-high riding-style boots. Do any outfits still have this or has it been done away with now that horses aren’t part of the military anmore? ---
**Author:** ![mks57](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b9bd4f/32.png) [@mks57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mks57)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2005, 7:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-any-u-s-military-dress-uniforms-still-feature-high-riding-boots/292552/2 "2005-03-02T07:45:52Z")
The First Calvary Division at Fort Hood has a Horse Calvary Detachment. Their uniforms and equipment are based on those of the late 19th century. I don’t think I’ve seen anyone in a calvary uniform since World War II. I’ve read that General Eisenhower was determined to get rid of all of the Army’s horses. ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2005, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-any-u-s-military-dress-uniforms-still-feature-high-riding-boots/292552/3 "2005-03-03T03:06:45Z")
Well, here’s a photo from Ronald Reagan’s funeral: [http://www.redlinerants.com/posts/data/upimages/040610\_funeral-01.jpg](http://www.redlinerants.com/posts/data/upimages/040610_funeral-01.jpg) Also, I tried but failed to find online a photo of the dress blue uniform of the US Marine mounted guard from the Peiking Embassy in the 1930’s. You’ll have to take my word that that was a silly uniform. ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2005, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-any-u-s-military-dress-uniforms-still-feature-high-riding-boots/292552/4 "2005-03-03T04:00:00Z")
Here’s what seems to be [a recent-ish photo of mounted Marines, in dress uniform.](http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/image1.nsf/ae82f18a8e1b160b852568ba007e7e5e/6175bf893ea227ee85256e6a007b3e44/%24FILE/horses_good.jpg) For what it’s worth. I don’t know if they’re wearing what you’d call “knickers” or not. ---
**Author:** ![Merl\_Minnozza](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b3f665/32.png) [@Merl\_Minnozza](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merl_Minnozza)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2005, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-any-u-s-military-dress-uniforms-still-feature-high-riding-boots/292552/5 "2005-03-03T05:23:23Z")
That kind of uniform looks like what I mean. I guess only horse-mounted parade officers wear them. ---
**Author:** ![GusNSpot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gusnspot/32/436_2.png) [@GusNSpot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GusNSpot)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2005, 6:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-any-u-s-military-dress-uniforms-still-feature-high-riding-boots/292552/6 "2005-03-03T06:28:20Z")
My son was a scout in a Cav outfit and they had dress blues with combat boots with spurs. No ridding breaches but regular blue with a stripe pants. Wide brim hats and sabers. 4-5 years ago, See picture [here.](http://members.aol.com/gusnspot/dressblues.jpg)