I’ve been in New York City for three days with another K9 handler doing cadaver evidence recovery. Our feet are blistered and sore from the walking and climbing we’ve had to endure. I called Ariat to ask if we could have TWO pairs of work boots either donated or sold to us for a reduced cost. The reply I recieved was a resounding and unpatriotic “NO.” I am asking for all who read this to NOT support Ariat in any way, shape or form. Please spread the word about their lack of support for just TWO people trying to help a nation in distress. I’ve been posting this everywhere, so please respond to me in email
Did someone just open up a can of Spam? 
This certainly has all the markings of an internet hoax. Blanket condemnation of a company based on one person’s allegations, call for boycotts, etc.
Public radio yesterday said volunteers have been extremely well-provided with donated food and clothing.
And skepticism aside, if a company like Ariat wants to make a donation, they give to a legitimate charitable organization, so they can take a tax deduction (like, by donating boots to the Red Cross.) If they donate to random individuals, then they’re just giving something away.
Stop posting this to all the threads!
Not nice.
Y’all check out the H/J thread! 
Maybe a little bio and credibility would be in order from Firerider88. Upon doing a search I find these as the only two topics this person has been involved in. The profile indicates joining on Sept 2000, a professional rider from Memphis, TN. So I guess being a lurker for a year or so.
I take it with a grain of salt, but it would be a shame if it was untrue and some took it seriously.
“The older I get, the better I used to be, but who the heck cares!”
I saw this post in the hunter/jumper forum, and I replied there. Such a strident condemnation without all the facts, and in an anonynmous manner, is wrong. Please people, know that what you say can be extremely harmful. Please, people, use some common sense here. Personally, I believe such statements are an abuse of the internet.
I have had the opportunity to work with Ariat! They are so incredibly generous I can’t begin to describe it! This just doesn’t sound right. They have on every occassion I have ever contacted them provided boots, gift certificates and prizes for anything I have been promoting! They give to all the charity events I work on.
This is not just one person I work with either, it has been many different ones over the years. They always come through. I think that this whole think doesn’t smell like spam it smells like big ole dead fish!!
O.k. I called one of my contacts at Ariat to confirm this, her response was WHAT!!! I was informed that any “legitimate” request (backed up people by documentation by a recognized agency) would have been responsed to positively. They would be more than happy to help. However they will not respond to a person calling and saying “gee, I’m so and so supporting my country send me boots!” If an “official” request is made for assitance by an offical agency they will respond.
I believe this puts this cr*p to bed hmmmm!
Lions and Tigers and Bears, oh my!!
This doesnt ring right with me.
Always three sides to every story, if there IS a story…
I want to thank Firerider88 for posting her message, and to those of you who brought it to our attention this afternoon. I am the President of Ariat, and want to speak to our efforts with respect to the WTC and other tragic events from last week. We have been working since last week to identify organizations to whom we could donate footwear, to assist in either the rescue effort or for families who lost their home and possessions in the tragedy.
We did receive a voicemail over the weekend from a woman who said she was on her way to New York. The message was transcribed incompletely, and the person from Ariat who called back misunderstood the request. We are assuming it was Firerider88 who called, and we have sent her an email to contact us again to allow us to help with her efforts in New York.
All of us here at Ariat are so saddened by the recent events, and are eager to help in any way possible. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the victims and their families, and to everyone connected to this horrible tragedy who have suffered.
Beth Cross
You would think that they would be able to part with 2 pair of boots, even at a reduced cost. When you look at all of these companies large and small that are donating thousands and thousands to help out, this does seem like such a miniscule request.
I know for myself, I have always ridden in Ariats, and am in the market to be buying a new pair of barn boots, and possibly field boots shortly.
Although they have always been my favorite, I will have to re-think replacing my existing ones with their brand.
Thank you and welcome, BethC. I was finding it hard to believe that Ariat would not be helping out in some fashion, (speaking from someone who owns 10+ pairs of paddock boots and clogs).
Bless you, Firerider, and others at ground zero.
Who did you speak to at Ariat? I know that there have been tons of boots donated to the workers here in the city - why did you have to have Ariats? How did you identify yourself? Maybe they thought you were some crook or crackpot trying to use a horrifying situation to get free boots. In my opinion, Ariats aren’t exactly good climbing boots. 
Thanks for all your efforts BethC, and may I add that I loooooove your paddock boots!
There are some very good responses to this in the H/J forum giving some very good reasons why the Ariat representative to whom Firerider spoke did not agree to the request, including that they may have been warned to be careful of fraudulent requests. There was also advice to contact the people in charge at Ariat, who may not have the slightest idea that any request was made or what the response was.
As a former buyer for 2 different tack shops I must confess that even though Ariat’s shoes/boots don’t fit me right, they have always been a great company to work with…
BTW, Beth…my Dad is obsessed with your boot socks. He doesn’t even own a pair of boots; just loves the socks. Makes it very easy to stocking stuff and birthday shop!! 
There is no crying in baseball!!!
I repeat my post from the other board:
While I agree with everyone re Firerider’s post, I would also like to point out that this is someone who is WORKING ON THE FRONT LINES in this disaster, who has the HORRIBLE duty of FINDING BODIES!!! I would think she is under a little STRESS!!
Please, would those of you who KNOW the people at Ariat, do the calling for this person, who really probably should be getting some SLEEP rather than making phone calls (and posting her frustration on the BB )
Come, we can help her! (Sorry, even if I could find some boots here in Ireland for her, they wouldn’t get there in time )
PS THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU ARE DOING IN NY!
Instead of blasting a company on a bulletin board.
Thank you, Ariat, but I wonder why Kmart didn’t get the call from Firerider88.
I’ve been in New York City for three days with another K9 handler doing cadaver evidence recovery. Our feet are blistered and sore from the walking and climbing we’ve had to endure. I called Ariat to ask if we could have TWO pairs of work boots either donated or sold to us for a reduced cost. The reply I recieved was a resounding and unpatriotic “NO.” I am asking for all who read this to NOT support Ariat in any way, shape or form. Please spread the word about their lack of support for just TWO people trying to help a nation in distress. I’ve been posting this everywhere, so please respond to me in email
I AM VERY SUSPICIOUS OF THIS POST WITHOUT VERIFICATION!!!
WEATHERFORD…WHAT IS YOUR FIRST HAND KNOWLEDGE OF THIS SITUATION???
TO WHOM HAVE YOU PERSONALLY SPOKEN?
I, too, thought this sounded a bit odd. I’m not going to say that it was spam, as I don’t believe that to be the case. Rather, I feel a misunderstanding occurred. I’m glad Ms. Cross was able to attempt a resolution with Firerider88.
Now if Ariat would only get past their prejudices against women with feet wider than “B” 
…the rest of us could fully enjoy the benefits of Ariats
For the record, Ms. Cross, I’m a Ladies 10 EEE. Those B widths DO NOT cut it!
Off the soapbox…
What I do, I do for my horse, and thus I do for myself~me
