Have full chaps become a mythical thing of the nearly forgotten past? I see people with them but they all seem to have been purchased 20+ years ago. I’d love a pair for winter schooling but can’t justify a pair of custom Chuck Pinnells (though they are lovely). What options are out there?
you can still get schooling chaps at some western tack stores. I agree that they were great for winter riding! I have a fake suede pair I show in, and also use for cool weather hacking.
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I found mine on the consignment rack in a western tack store, had them shortened and they are good to go. I think I may have paid $50 for them.
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I have a pair of elkhide chaps, custom made and butter soft. They’re over 3o years old. Yep, had to get a spacer for the zipper to open the legs up 2"…wonderful to ride in, protect your legs too. Once rode into a horrid briar patch, we couldn’t back out…I took off the chaps, zipped them together, put them in front of my horse’s chest and legs and we were able to push through the nasty stuff.
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Back in the early 80’s I had THE best pair of full chaps – custom made for me by a woman up in Saratoga; she made them for all the exercise riders; very reasonably priced too. Butter soft suede with fringe – any color combo. I loved those chaps! Can’t find chaps these days that compare without spending a small fortune.
I still have the schooling chaps and the Western show chaps I wore in high school. I don’t recall them being all that popular in my area back then, either. I used to ride in jeans and chaps in the winter and shorts and chaps in the summer. Now I wear breeches all the time.
I bought both my chaps at Western stores back in the day. Actually, both at the same Western store which is now closed.
I did a search, Chicks in Dover, DE has them:
https://www.chicksaddlery.com/search-results?Search=chaps
Stateline Tack has some with fringe
Dover Saddlery has some expensive ones…
https://www.doversaddlery.com/custom-chaps/p/X1-3595/
I hadn’t thought about having a spacer put in the ones I still have, that’s actually a really good idea.
I purchased something from Maryland Saddlery on eBay this morning and they have several full pairs of chaps listed!
I have a few pairs- one calf leather pair from the Dover sale basement (says Sarah on the back, but for $75 I didn’t care), a pair of Parlanti’s (On Course Consignment in Wellington, $100), and another random leather pair. I’ve seen some Tenney’s and Pinnell’s on eBay in the past… Highly recommend the Parlanti’s if you don’t mind spending a little money. They’ve been going strong for 4 years in all kinds of weather, 8-10 horses a day and haven’t suffered any real wear. Good reinforcements, nice piping, soft leather. I can’t believe I found a pair in my size in a consignment store… my lucky day.
