Tall boots and mental illness

[Blueeyedroan]

I have problems, and you need to solve them for me !
I have abused the absolute snot out of my Ariat Heritage Contour boots for around 8-10 years now. Was lucky enough to score them off Facebook new with tags , but someone bought them wrong size and couldn’t return so I got them well below new price.
They have FINALLY worn a hole through the right calf at the stirrup leather and the left isn’t far behind. It’s only through the first layer of leather thankfully - but the end is near and my heart is shattered. I’ve been through a lot with these boots and they are so broken in to me it’s like having a comfort blanky on my legs .

Here’s where things start to get weird….

Upstairs , tucked away in a boot bag, is a pair of the Ariat Volant Front Zip boots… with the red accenting. I’ve had them for almost 10 years too, and they were purchased new with tags off of Facebook as well for far below market value. These boots are amazing . They were the nicest thing I ever had the privilege of wearing - in my life. They blew my broke girl thrift store mind. I wore them to a few shows (I also haven’t shown in literal years )and other than that kept them in storage as they are so nice. My excuse since has been that Ariat didn’t make them for long, and never ever made them again…. No one else did either…. They are truly irreplaceable. So they sit. Upstairs. Broken in at best. I cannot bring myself to wear them because once I do , they are gone forever. Why did Ariat discontinue them?? Anyways …

Month ago after the boot hole blowout I went on Facebook and looked up my size on the old Marketplace (9, medium height, wide calf).
Found a pair, exact size, totally out of my league and price range . Sent a lowball offer . Seller accepted ! I sent the money and the boots came in the mail.
Ariat Volant S. The owner had custom boots and these were her backup pair , worn only a handful of times. $250 shipped.
THESE. BOOTS. ARE. STUNNING.
I almost cried.
They are unbelievably lovely.
…… and they have sat on my sofa since because I can’t bear the thought of schooling in them.

So to sum it up , I have two pairs of absolutely breathtaking Ariat Volants.
They are both out of production and were purchased for bargain prices so I have too much guilt to wear them because it’s not a deal I will likely ever get again and I could never ever afford to just go buy new nice boots .

What is wrong with me ?
And why did Ariat quit on the Volants , especially the front zip?

[GreyDes]

Nice things are made to be used. Think how much you’ll enjoy riding in them!

Also, remember that the rubber soles will eventually dry out even sitting in your closet, so you’re really doing yourself a favor by riding in one of your two lovely pairs of boots

[LilRanger]

If you alternate wearing each pair, they will last 20 years! Think of all those years of gorgeous boots to wear!

[Blueeyedroan]

YES!!! This is genius !

[ThreeWishes]

Take good care of them. Clean them after every ride. Don’t wash your horse in your boots. Don’t walk around the show grounds in them. Think of them both as your riding suit. You put on before you mount the block and sit in the tack. And when you get off put a pair of barn boots on to do all the things. Clean your boots after every ride. If only to wipe them down and clean off the zipper. Keep them in boot trees. They’ll last. You can school and show in a pair of coveted boots forever. Just take them off when you’re off your horse. And care for them like they’re brand new

[LCDR]

Wearing through at the stirrup leather is an easy patch job and can give your old boots more years of life. Here’s a patch my local tack shop’s saddle repair man did on my Dehner’s over twenty five years ago. The patch is hard to see even in person; it is a matching leather rounded rectangle that is sewn over the old boot’s shaft. I’m still wearing these boots today even though I have newer ones. These are comfortable old friends that I take out when I need a confidence boost. They’ve been re-soled twice, too.

[Blueeyedroan]

I’m terrible for this.
Once my boots are on, they are on.
They get the horse , ride the horse , bathe the horse , put away the horse. Then they drive the truck to the grocery store and pick up groceries before heading home.
Now I’ve worked a 9 hour shift , been at barn for 2-3 hours , shopped … if I sit down or even pause we are DONE.
So the boots walk through the house and let the dog out back. Dog is nuts , so we throw a ball for a few. I see the grass is long , fire up the mower and mow the lawn .
Once I’m finally done ALL that - the boots come off.
No joke.
It’s a thing and my old Ariats have stood up to all of it haha .

[Aussie_2020]

Wear them now, enjoy them now, consequences be damned

[Bluey]

Look for a third bargain pair, then pick one of the three pairs to wear.
Now, knowing you still have two other magic pairs of boots, should happily wear one, right?

[GraceLikeRain]

Not to be morbid but like…life happens. I struggle with using new things but I also have instances where I held off on using the beautiful thing and then life changed in a way where I never got to use it and that’s an even worse type of regret.

Also, shout out to the ariat contour boot. I have the square toe contour in brown that I got for a great deal off of eBay 11 years ago. I have worn them every ride since and they are starting to show their age and I too feel the panic of when the time comes that I will need to retire them and want to save them forever.

[risuenaVT]

I don’t know if this will help, but I’ve got a 90-something year old relative who uses her fine china and silver for every meal because as she says, “What the point of owning it if you don’t use it or enjoy it?”. And that really resonates with me. I won’t use the fancy table settings every meal, but every so often I will, and it makes me happy.

So maybe figure out if you’re happier having two pairs of gorgeous unmarred, new to you boots, or actually going and using and enjoying at least one pairs of those boots the way they were designed to be used? Things are meant to be enjoyed!

[BeeHoney]

Equestrian items were made to be used. I had a gorgeous bridle that I felt like I needed to save for special occasions…by the time I went to use it the rubber on the reins was melting and the leather was stiff and dry from disuse. A gorgeous pair of show breeches I was saving for special shows–well, then I got pregnant and it was years before I fit into that size again and then they were out of style.

My thought is that you should use one pair of the boots for nicer occasions (lessons, shows) and one pair of boots for daily wear.

[Mango20]

I spent 15 years keeping the expensive Calvin Klein comforter that my grandmother bought us from our wedding registry in the closet, so it wouldn’t get messed up by dogs on the bed. I’d pull it out once in a blue moon when I wanted to make the bed properly because someone might see it, but never kept it on the bed. A few years ago I decided that was ridiculous and I was going to enjoy it. It’s still in perfect condition and the dog who sleeps on the bed hasn’t caused any issues with it (the other dog sleeps on the floor these days). Anyway, the moral of the story is that stuff sitting in your closet is doing you no good and bringing you no joy. Just wear the boots and every time you do, you can reflect on how nice they are.

[ThreeWishes]

Then they will fail. Especially the footbed. Your choice. I have tack that is 30 years old. Because I care for it. If you treat your dream boots like muck boots they won’t last

[ThreeWishes]

No one is saying don’t ride in the boots. But walking around mud and water and the store for 8 hours only lessens their use

[goodhors]

Use your good stuff, enjoy it NOW! No one will love it like you do or care for it after you die. I have a bunch of “the good silver and china, tablecloths for holidays.” I use them as often as possible because no one else knows or cares abouts the stories behind them. They make me smile to see them being used. If something gets stained or broken, that is life. I have quit saving the nice bridles, saddles, boots. They look good, feel even better and I DESERVE to have nice tack these days!

Don’t be saving them, they can fall apart before you ever get to enjoy them!

[ThreeWishes]

No one said don’t use them. They are riding boots. Not muck boots or walk around the barn for 8 hour boots. There is a middle ground. I wear my boots 6 days a week to RIDE. Not wash 4 horses, grocery shop, and clean stalls. I’ve certainly done that in my 40 years of riding. And those boots did not last beyond 3 years. Listen OP said these are her dream boots and she covets them so just trying to give advice on how to promote their longevity which certainly does not mean not using them. Just using them for what they were made for.

[Hidden_Oak]

Like the fine china that never gets used- set a beautiful table and enjoy. Use (and enjoy!) your lovely boots.

[Renn_aissance]

I have good news for you.

I have the Volant S with the croc tops. They’re over 10 years old. It took them that long to break in.

These are not some paper-thin calfskin you’re going to have to baby. This is pigskin. It is meant to survive the nuclear apocalypse. Wear the boots.

[KBC]

Wear the boots. I cleaned my mums house after she passed and was so sad at all the pristine things that had been kept for best. Use the things, wear the things. Do it today!