Cob Jockey

If anyone is looking for a review of the Ariat Contours, here it is: I am in love with them.

They should be the same color as the boots...

Love their slim silhouette compared to the Dublins.

I've been riding in them for two weeks now, and I have to say, I'm never going back to a cheap and/or non-leather half-chap ever again.  This is definitely the highest-quality leather item I own now.  It's so soft and supple, but at the same time, it's very thick; they really feel like a premium item.  They give me fantastic grip on the saddle without making me feel like I'm stuck, and certainly they give me more than the rubbed-off suede did on the Dublins.

They're also quite stiff and tight (though not stiff up to your standards, Kelly!).  I had read that you want them to be so tight you can barely zip them in the beginning, and boy did I do that right.  That's how I found out my right calf is still much bigger than my left after my accident in 2007.  When I finally got them on the first few times, it felt like the circulation was being cut off to my right calf.  Now that they've had some time to break in, though, they're much less painful, and I can already tell they're going to mold to my leg perfectly.

If I had to complain about something, it would be the plastic zipper.  It's big and heavy-duty, but I can already tell that I will be replacing it with a metal one at some point.  That's okay with me: just like my paddock boots, good leather will last a lifetime with good care, and the repair is worth the investment.

I'm glad I only had to pay $49 for them, but I like them enough that I would have paid the $170 if I had to.  I highly recommend them!