short boots - some questions

E

E. Bainbridge

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I'm a newly riding man, and for the time being, I'll have something like one lesson a week. I think it's time I upgraded from my plain country shoes to something more suitable.

So, here are my questions. (I searched the forum in order not to ask the same questions ten people before had asked, but I can't be sure, of course, so please forgive me in such a case :).)

Do I need half-chaps? From the few lessons I had, I didn't feel any chafing, so I wondered what the point was, but that'll probably change, won't it?

Pull-on, zipped or laced? I'm not sure the 30 seconds of lacing would bother me that much, but with chaps, would the laces (or a zipper) make it look less like a long boot? I thought of laces because I thought one might influence the fitting then. (I'll have to order online, more below.)

Ariat or not? The bottom line of the forum seems to be: they feel great, but the quality is bad (in particular the zippers), and they're too expensive for what they offer. What would be better (keeping in mind that I'd like them brown and with matching chaps)? And those great boots you mention, do you happen to know if they're true to size?

And where to get them? I'm abroad for the time being (Europe), and local shops have about nothing, so I'd have to buy online.

Hm, that's about it, I think. :)
 
You don't need chaos but it might be worth buying boots that could go with chaps if you want some at a later date.
I switched from pull on to zip (short) boots because I always found the insole started to come out with your foot as pull on boots got older. I have Ariat heritage ii and love them, very comfy and much more supportive than my old pull on boots. They have lasted 2 years so far and I expect they'll do another 6 -12 months.
If you do get chaps and zip boots I'd suggest you get chaps with the bit that covers the boot zip: I didn't and I think mine look silly.
 
I love my Ariats (short, lace up) and would always pay the extra for them - my current ones must be 4 years old and still polish up like new! I have Ariat half chaps, too. I will admit that the popper at the base of zip has gone twice on one of them, but customer service has been amazing and fixed them free of charge and posted them back within the week.

I think you will find you'll need the half chaps once you start riding more often/for longer and if you start going for hacks. I find they give you support as well as stopping rubbing (and they look better :o)
 
I always wear half-chaps with jod boots, stop some mud splattering, rubbing and do look much better. To be perfectly honest I rarely see people out and about with just short jod boots on except in showing and PC stuff (this may just me though!). I have long boots too but generally just wear short boots and chaps for day-to-day stuff
 
If you are not mucking out then Ariats should be fine for you. (Its the horse pee that rots the leather).

Style wise and safety wise I would always recommend either half chaps or long boots. I've known at least one person who was kicked on the leg by another horse while riding and could have suffered a worse injury if they were not wearing leather chaps. Also helps when hacking through woodland
 
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