Top boots vs chaps + short boots?

[typekitty]

Does one have an advantage over the other? I see people competing in both but I was wondering what is behind people's preference? I'm tempted to get chaps and boots because that is what I've had in the past but adding it up financially, I can get a nice pair of top boots for the same (-ish) price. (I don't really need anything fancy, it's just for lessons)

 

[Shay]

Really its a cost thing. A good pair of long boots which fit and look nice cost a lot of money. (The cheaper rubberized ones don't bend enough at the ankle and are not worth bothering about IMO) A good pair of short boots and chaps is much cheaper - especially if you're still growing!

If I had all the money I wanted I would get long boots no question. But I don't and my daughter is still growing so we compete in really good short boots & chaps.

 

[lisab]

I bought some second hand long boots when I first got my horse. They were £40 and were the old fashioned straight up and down ones with no zips. It wasn't until my instructor's mum asked me at a show if I could actually use my legs in them that we worked out why I rode so much better in my lessons than at the show. Because in my lessons I wore short dealer boots and suede half chaps. I couldn't use my legs in the long boots!

So I bought some new dealer boots and keep them just for shows, together with some Treadstep leather gaiters. They're fab. I would never go back to long boots now. Unless of course I had at least £300 to spend on a pair that were really soft and have zips up the back. The long boots look better I think but it's no good if your legs look nice but they're totally ineffective!

 

[Sleepeeze_dad]

I get a better feel and a lot less movement out of boots & chaps but it's so easy just putting a pair of long boots on...

Then again I ride in Karrimor Boulders and they match my chaps, have the same grips as mark todds and a very well fitting as they do them in half sizes. Anyone bored yet?