Buying Boots

[Katrina]

Hello,
I have just started riding and I am interested in buying a pair of boots. I was wondering which is the best type to buy,out of the long leather type boots or the short jodphur boots. I would also love to hear peoples advantages and disadvantges of both types.

Thanks
Katrina Crawford

[Anne]

Hello Katrina ...

I agree with Sue about short boots and half-chaps .... although I'm told that the more expensive leather boots are very comfortable and well worth the money if you are thinking of competing (I'm not .... too late for me, even if I were good enough, other than pre- and novice events for the over forties! ..)

The boots I wear are Aquacats, and are just great .... comfortable, hard-wearing and flexible ...

Good Luck!

Anne

[Sue]

Hi Katrina

Personally I prefer the shorter jodphur boots as I find they give more flexibility at the ankles. However the downside is that the stirrup leathers tend to catch your calves so a nice pair of chaps helps with that! I've heard different accounts of whether you should have smooth soled or a minor tread - anyone got any ideas? I find if they are too smooth you loose your stirrups but obviously any deep tread and you run the risk of feet getting stuck in the stirrups if you fall off. Good luck with the riding!

[cynthia]

hey, katrina.

just to add my $0.02, i've got a pair of Ariat Performance Pro paddock (short) boots that are *the* most comfortable things in the world. the newer models have a much wider toe bed so you don't feel like you're squishing into them, which is certainly nice. add a pair of half chaps to those, and you'll be set. :)

i haven't gotten around to buying half chaps myself, though, so i've recently been doing everyday riding in my tall field boots, which are veeerrryy comfy and supportive once they've been broken in. if you don't plan to be showing anytime in the very near future, though, you might want to just go for a nice pair of paddocks that you'll be comfy in for everyday riding.

i'm a really huge fan of the Ariats... the company was started by two women who took what they learned working for a running shoe company and applied it to the first high-performance/high-tech rding boots, which pretty much makes it feel like you're wearing a pair of athletic sneakers. very cool. :)

ok, enough of my babbling. have fun with your new purchase, whatever you decide on!

-cyn

[Vicki]

Katrina

Cyn is right about Ariat stuff. I use their half chaps and they are excellent, Suede on inside and leather on the outside of leg, so good grip but stylish outside.

I use chaps and ankle boots for schooling and leather boots for hacking out and best boots for competition, recently had some tailor made for me but have not yet worn them. I have to keep moving them around the house so the husband doesn't see them!!

Vicki

[Karin]

Hey there...I posted the same question a little while back. If you scroll to the bottom of the general messages and go to "2" then go to the bottom of that page you'll see a mssg called "Tall boots vs 1/2 chaps". Everyone was really, really helpful, there were a ton of responses.

I started with short paddock boots and always had major bruising on my calves so it was a choice of 1/2 chaps or tall boots for me. I found a reasonably priced pair of tall boots called "Boulet Field" and I've never looked back. My coach has never once had to say heels down since I switched (I find the tall ones flex better and allow my ankle to extend lower), and it seems my leg position is far improved.

Re: your question...the biggest disadvantages to tall boots I hear about are price, and fit. Both it seems, easily managed by you...

Good luck with whatever you decide. Karin

[Katrina]

Hello Again,
I would just like to thank everyone for there responses as I really appreciate them.
I haven't decided which ones to buy yet thought :-)Ahh well. Something I forgot to mention before was that I live in Australia,
the Ariat Performance Pro paddock boots sound nice, but I am unsure wheter we see them out here? In Australia our climate is pretty warm all year round, so I was wondering which are cooler the long boots or the short boots with chaps? I think out here were have something called gaiters or leggings are they like half chaps?

Thank you all again

Katrina