In these days of zippered boots (eek, dating myself…), does anyone else still wear half chaps? My tredsteps are falling apart and I desperately need a new pair. The only caveats are that they must be smooth on the inside and brown. I show in boots, so no need for them to look show-worthy. TIA!
I wear half chaps because I do all my own barn work and wear Ariat Twin Gore paddock boots. I have slightly wider calves so my only option last time around was Tredstep.
1 Like
Secchiari half chaps are so high quality and come in a great shade of brown.
I do! My legs are such a weird shape that finding boots to fit was really a challenge - therefore, they are show boots only!
My Tredstep half chaps have took a licking and kept on ticking. When these finally die, I will buy another pair.
1 Like
I love my washable Ariat Breeze half chaps but they are only in black that I’ve seen. I throw them in the wash every few months and come out like new.
I have a brown pair of Tredsteps and they are great. I wear them in lessons and have gotten compliments on them.
2 Likes
Been wearing Ariats for close to 40 years. When I wore my first pair to go cubbing, the hunt folks teased me unmercifully. No one had ever seen half chaps before.
I have a pair of fancy Italian paddock boots and half chaps in calf leather I picked up on ebay about 20 years ago, but I have never worn them. They are just too pretty to get dirty.
2 Likes
I still have, love, and wear my Pinnell custom chaps on the regular.
3 Likes
Anyone have Ovation TreVizzo half chaps? I am about to get rid of them I’m so frustrated. I have relatively narrow calfs (calves?) I love the look and they were initially snug but have stretched nicely around the upper part of my leg so it’s fantastic.
But the part that goes over my front-zip paddock boots just isn’t stretching, so the zipper crawls open a bit. If it were a side zip, I’d care less but I feel like it can be really annoying to whatever poor schoolie is putting up with me that lesson. I think the zipper head has the potential to dig in. Interestingly, the marketing photo shows the chaps put on with the faux-spanish top detail towards the front, almost over the knee. I had just assumed the photo was taken by someone who had no clue. 
I’m thinking of selling them on FB marketplace just to try over but it’s frustrating since the uppers are finally kind of perfect and buttery. Sigh. I won’t get another pair of back-zip half chaps … only offset from here on out.
1 Like
I have ProChaps and have found them very comfortable and durable. They also come in a number of different sizes, so they fit well:
3 Likes
OK - I re-read my post and the level of drama over half chaps is a bit high. Actually, if I rode better and could keep my heels away, it would be fine. The Ovation TreVizzo half chaps are well made, good looking and break in well - real leather is a plus in my book. Also, affordable!
2 Likes
I really like the Cavallo half chaps I have. I’m almost 2 years in and due for a replacement maybe this year but they’ve held up to a good amount of abuse and not even had a seam loose. I do have SG show boots and much prefer the Cavallos. The leather is not perfectly smooth kind on the inside but also not suede - more like buffalo with a bit of grippier texture. Great for everyday riding but not so great when you’re used to the grip and then go into your slippery slippery show boots hahah. I believe mine is the dressage model but honestly while they have a bit more texture they’re not at all like dressage boots.
I have those in brown, but they’re more than a few years old. I recently bought a pair of inexpensive Dover paddock boots to wear with them. I ride at two barns and now have a complete set of stuff that stays with my horse and another that lives in my car and/or garage. I figured they’d also come in handy as general barn and show footwear.
I prefer riding in half chaps to zippered tall boots for a variety of reasons.
- Habit: Everyone at my first barn lessoned in half chaps so it was years before I got my first pair of tall boots. I aquired several pairs of half chaps (hand-me-downs) so there isn’t a reason to not use them.
- Feel: My paddock boots are comfy and I like walking around in them more than my tall boots. My off-the-rack tall boots aren’t uncomfortable, but I can’t actually snap the clasp at the top without it digging into my leg right above the back of my knee because they’re slightly too tall.
- Expense: I reserve my tall boots for showing because nice ones were expensive and horses like eating money. I don’t feel bad if my paddock boots are skuffed, muddy, and gross. If one pair dies (hasn’t happened yet) then I can get another for far less than a pair of tall boots that fit me.
- Personal Hangup: When I finally interacted with people who often wore tall boots, all of them cheerfully told me how tall boots were Very Important and Painful to Wear. My best friend has scars on her legs from breaking her boots in as a child. I listened to all that and went “hmm, I don’t think I care enough about Tradition to wear uncomfortable shows nor will I bleed to get them to fit”. The pair I got off-the-rack fit me fine (didn’t really have a break-in period nor were they super uncomfortable) but the “ehhh” attitude never left.
3 Likes
@LilDunFilly Other, more sane, nations buy long boots that fit so an agonizing breaking in period is not necessary. It is an American phenomenon.
3 Likes
I’ve never heard of these - will check them out. Thanks everyone for the suggestions.
1 Like
