Throwback Thursday: Ulster Boots

I've been riding since I was... pretty young. I started when I was five, at a day camp in Pasadena where they just threw kids up on horses with bareback pads and rode around flood valleys.
For posterity

When I was seven or eight my mom won a riding lesson at Flintridge Riding Club which was, incidentally, the swankiest place to ride in the LA area.

I wore a purple Lion King t-shirt and white leggings, because that was the most rider-y getup I had as an eight year old. Here I am now, twenty two years later, writing a horse blog.

Fashion sense still maybe isn't great.

I digress. The point is, things have changed a lot since that first lesson I took (On Chauncey. The horse's name was Chauncey). Then I decided I wanted to do a series on stuff I used to think was cool and so, so isn't cool anymore. I very distinctly remember things I idolized as a kid and wished I could buy, but I didn't have a horse or I didn't have money.


So this 'series' (we'll see how that goes) is dedicated to nine year old, twelve year old, and sixteen year old Megans, who hid under the blanket with the original State Line Tack catalog and a highlighter and made a wishlist of things for a horse she was years away from.

The first thing I remember wanting when I was young was a pair of Ulster boots. I remember the riders at the lesson barn I was at, who actually jumped, had pairs of these. I still took group lessons that consisted of following the person in front of you and trying to remember the correct diagonal, so I was far from needing boot protection for a horse. But I still coveted them...

A tiger trap AND ulster boots... swoon

I'd hang on the rail and watch this woman with a dapple grey mare (my dream horse) zip on those plastic boots before she went out to jump giant fences. I'm pretty sure by 'woman' she was actually in her early twenties, and the 'giant fences' she was jumping were 2'6". But I still idolized her.

Good enough for Olympians.
And while I realize they're totally impractical, and probably went out of style for a reason, I saw a pair of Ulster's on eBay for $8 shipped... and I bought them. Because even if I only put them on a once, I think nine year old me would've squealed with delight. 

#goals



Comments

  1. I had white and blue Ulsters in the 90s! I didn't chuck them until about 2009 lol While I loved them and thought they were super cool for the longest time, eventually the efficient person in me got mad at how you strap them on (and my dumb weak ass hands - stupid hands).

    Hilariously T had an interview in Pasadena late last year and he asked me where I would ride if we moved to that area and I told him Flintridge! (Never priced it out and we are consequently not moving lol)

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    1. OMG white and blue. you're so classy. they were fiddly as fuck to get on i couldnt believe it!!! i get why people used electrical/ductape... cause god knows if you actually got it on tight enough!

      i have no idea how much flintridge would be but it was a GORGEOUS place. my dad used to take me there to watch hunter shows. a hundred years ago, feels like.

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  2. I have a friend who still showed in hers a few years ago! I didn't care much for boots as a youngin' but I seriously coveted a pair of rust breeches because the most badass jump rider at my barn wore them occasionally... and now I have a pair. Thanks, smartpak! They aren't as rusty brown as I remember, but I'll take any badass jumper karma I can.

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    1. omg its so fun to weirdly fulfill that kind of fantasy. and you're like yes, i know what year it is, but this is important for my child self so sh.

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  3. $8 well spent, as far as i'm concerned!!!!

    also we had a Chauncey at my first barn too, i <3'd him haha

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    1. i really need to get a picture of this guy. he was like someone's nice warmblood and i looked like a tiny midget on him.

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  4. Omg yes to things that were so cool when we were young but would be considered tacky now!!!! For me my "I one day want…" would be pettle bell boots!!! Omg the sound they made when your horse was trotting, or cantering … love.

    Glad you finally got a pair of Ulster boots (I did see those in tack shops and thought they were cool too) and enjoy them for your 8 year old self!!!

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    1. the real kicker couldve been if i found green striped ones!

      also a little birdy told me westropp might be selling the petal boots direct again..........

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    2. Oh no!!! The temptation is real now!!! 😂 I might have to get some just to wear at home when I’m riding alone hehehehe

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  5. Ooh how fun to get to kind of fulfill that childhood wish!
    I think mine was a half pad - the girls who jumped at my barn were h/js whose horses all went in half pads and meanwhile I had a western pleasure horse but wanted to be a "HUNTERJUMPER" and all I wanted was a half pad. Then GPA helmets got popular and all I wanted was a GPA but I rode AQHA and only velvet helmets were acceptable so no go for me.

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  6. I think you need to change your # to #goalsACHIEVED

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  7. STOP! I totally have some. Mine are knock offs, a black pair made by Grand Prix, and the green ones from some generic unknown brand, but I still drag them out when it's muddy. I remember when all the cool kids had them too. Such memories! Thanks for the recall :)

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  8. Doesn't count without the petal bell boots.

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  9. um yeas to reading the OG stateline tack catalog and highlighting all of your 10 year-old must haves. I remember CALLING (pre-email here) Jeffers, SLT, County Supply etc to ask for free catalogs just to drool over. I had my entire 'future barn' planned out from bits to feed buckets. For me it was breeches and a real pair of tall boots as opposed to jeans and rubber rain galoshes that I sported to my begged-for and infrequent lessons. Well now I have three pairs of tall boots and like a ka-gillion fun colored schooling breeches. It only took 20 years but I'm livin' the dream!

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    1. HAHA i called to get them too!! and all these horse catalogs would show up and my mom would be like "who is THIS for MEGAN" *suspicious side eye*

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  10. I had totally forgot about ulsters but they were the "In" boot where I rode but for me too it was before I had a horse who needed boots lol
    And 100% used to spend a large portion of time highlighting dream items in stateline

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  11. "who hid under the blanket with the original State Line Tack catalog and a highlighter and made a wishlist of things for a horse she was years away from."

    I DID THAT. SOLIDARITY!

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    1. Y'all are such babies. THE catalog was Libertyville Saddle Shop. used to fantasize that I had won some enormous amount of money somehow (say, $5000) and was going to spend it all in the Libertyville catalog. I did score a pair of used Ulsters at a yard sale, and loved them.
      I *also* had a state of the are pair of bell boots (before velcro) that had a rubber tab strap with its own slots - it fit through holes in the sides of the boot, and was oriented vertically. I cannot find them now. :(

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  12. I keep seeing those at this used tack sale near me. I didn't realize what they were until this post. I could probably get you another pair for like $2 next time I go.

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    1. omg dont joke... if they ever have a pair of medium fronts let me know!!!

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  13. Ha you're making me want to write a blog about my own version of this.

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  14. Sometimes you just need to make your inner 9 year old happy

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  15. You won't believe this but I have a complete set of Front & Hind White Ulster Boots, Size large. Only used them a couple of times and they have been stored for about 20 years. Who wants them? LOL

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  16. In show riding loose fitting clothes have no place as safety is of the utmost importance. It is up to you to check with the Equestrian online offers to get the details of your equestrian clothing needs.

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  17. The rapid growth of these interests has been seen in almost every individual living in society. Besides, if you are one amongst such a ride lover then here you go. You are suggested to opt for the horseback riding online deals.

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  18. I LOVE THIS POST! It speaks to me deeply and I had much the same start as you and definitely hid under covers with my state line catalogue. Thanks for be great blog!!

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