One ride in, 2,495 to go...

My good ol' field boots, only about 16 years old, have finally kicked the bucket — so to speak. They are semi-custom and ran about $800 in the early 90s. If you do the math, and figure that I have ridden in them an average of 3 days per week for those 16 years, I've only worn them 2,496 times! What other piece of apparel, or any other item for that matter, have you gotten that much use out of?
Even though the cost-per-ride on those boots is probably negative, and since I'm no longer the 20-something, single, carefree, selfish woman that I was then, I've been kinda sorta thinking about more affordable options to new field boots.
I finally lost the fantasy that I was going to get back to showing, so I really don't need field boots anymore. And I am very, very limited on budget, ie $0.00, this summer so I've been nursing along my boots, enjoying the custom venting in both ankles which are really just huge holes in the aged leather. (These holes horrify Jen to no end.)
Recently, Dory got some swwwwanky custom half-chaps from "Erma" who seems to have outfitted trainer Carole Corwin's entourage two times over. And with good reason, her chaps are HOT.
As they say, God brings you what you need, and Erma mentioned to Dory that she had a pair of chaps already crafted and gave Dory the measurements, should she know anyone who might need a pair and fit those dimensions. I got all excited and Dory measured me. I was really lucky...the measurements were dead on, except for the calf that was minimally larger.
Now these chaps are sold for $250-$300 depending on customization and this pair Erma was only charging $40! There's no tassle, braiding, fringe or silver conchs which is OK by me. Twas a deal I couldn't walk away from. I only knew that they were black/tan and Dory thought they were hot. So I took a gamble and got them sight unseen.



Now I just need to sew up the hole in the crotch of my 8-year-old, second-hand breeches...