Any Horse people out there? Recon Half Chaps

[fadedoak]

Hopefully there are some horse people out there that will agree that these are brilliant! Rather than the confused non-horse folk that are still slightly confused on what half chaps are..
I need some enthusiasm because I am super excited about them.

I live in a vastly frigid place, and dear mother nature has decided that despite my desperate attempts, its going to be winter and not spring.
I ride all winter long regardless, but today, in a balmy 16*, the zipper of my half chaps broke.
I was sad, because the extra warmth and grip down there is something I really quite enjoy.

So, a thrift store run + dumpster diving = 1 wool sweater + 1 crappy suede jacket = half chaps!




enjoy!
Also, non horse folks -> heres what half chaps look like.

[Renstar]

Wow, I like - almost legwarmery but different, love

[fadedoak]

Yes, they do resemble leg warmers, and boy, they are toasty!
Half chaps help keep you on the horse (I ride bareback quite a bit) and protect your legs against thorns or branches, the leather patch is extra grippy too..  My former half chaps (RIP) gave me a little extra ankle support as well.

[arachnes thumb]

bikers and skiers call these gaiters - they keep your legs warm and dry...Geez, I better not show your craft to my boyfriend, or he will want a pair for cycling...They are pretty sweet - good job!

[SapphireGypsy]

I miss riding, mostly because it offers me an excuse to get things like this.

Awesome.

[hawkeye]

Ack! I love this idea. I will have to remember it if anything ever happens to my own beloved halfchaps. They are handy for grip, but I don't use them for warmth - it was 80 degrees today down here in the South!

[marieC]

Mine are old-school and velcro shut, but now the velcro is the color of neon orange, blue, and green fleece that I have for saddle pads.  So they're kind of unbreakable.  Except that the elastic loops at the bottom became so stretched out I cut them off.  They're kind of franken-chaps.

[marieC]

Oh, my actual point - get some winter breeches!  I have a pair of Tuff-Riders ($25 on sale!) and the inside is something like fleece sweatpants.  They are MON-EY.  I stay toasty warm.  Well, not my toes or fingers, but then I figure I just need to be working harder.

[fadedoak]

I have a pair of used swiss army (like switzerland, not the knife) hiking gators, that I got from the surplus store that I usually use in the winter. But I happened to have left them in a friends car so I HAD TO make myself a new pair..

[ResilientRosie]

These are AWESOME! I love my half-chaps when I ride. My leg muscles are not what they should be and that extra grip is important. I might have to try to make up my own custom pair.