What are the oldest riding clothes you still use?

[Whisper]

I have a pair of Harry Halls breeches (chocolate with rust knee patches) that are still going strong after 20 years!

[Bogie]

I wear full chaps that are 34 years old.

I have a couple of pairs of breeches (also Harry Halls) that are going on 10.

[Beverley]

Well, I rode English yesterday and so donned some boots and breeches just for grins. Did not wear my old white pegged cotton breeches- which were not new when a friend gave them to me in 1985 or so- because they are buried a bit deep in that closet and I just grabbed the first pair I came to. But I did wear the brown field boots given to me by another friend about the same time- he'd found them in his late grandmother's attic when his family cleaned out her house. The lining says 'made in England for Abercrombie and Fitch,' and best he could figure, she probably obtained them around the 1920-21 time frame. So, I think it's safe to say they are 85 or so years old. Last time I had them re-heeled (and had some rotted stitching repaired)- the boot surgeon said don't bring them back, the leather won't hold the stitching any more- but so far so good!

My fringed and buckstitched western chaps, which I still wear frequently, I bought in 1969. Recently gave the 1967 vintage chaps to the barn owner, and have seen her daughter wearing them.

[FancyFree]

It's not riding clothes, per se, but I have an AC/DC T-shirt that I can now wear again. I ride in it all the time. I got it at a vintage shop in the 80's. That's old!

[Bluey]

What an embarassing question.:o
I don't fit in any of my old clothes, sad to say.:cry:
Maybe some day again, who knows...:lol:

[hunter1985]

I have a pair of tall boots that i've had for over 9 years. I've already had to have the heels replaced! I wore them down so well!

[Renae]

A friend of mine still shows in a saddle seat suit that was made in 1976. The thing about buying quality clothes and caring for them and they will be stylish and last a lifetime is definatly true :)

[xeroxchick]

I have a pair of Jodphurs my mother got at Lilly Whites in London before I was born. I would use them if I could fit her 23 inch waist! They are beautiful. I can wear her canary breeches from Saks with button up legs but love them so much I hate to put any more wear and tear on them.

[Chef Jade]

I have some old TS's (knee patched replaced once per pair) that are at least 16 years old. My full chaps are aboit 18 years old. The end of the zippers have broken off when after the freshman 15 (lbs) I needed to use a hoof pick through the hole to zip them close. :eek: Fortunately, I now fit back into them.

[Reynard Ridge]

I bought my dress boots in 1990. I do need new ones, but will probably wait until I am riding again regularly. Figure, they'll easily be 20 years old before I need new ones.

[spurgirl]

I still have a pair of rust breeches that I used to show in, oh gosh, the late 70's, early 80's... I can still get them on, but they are a tad tight-and made of all polyester, no less...:) I rode in them last year just for laughs, but man, they made me hot compared to the nice cotton blend breeches we can get now!

[Trakehner]

I gave a pair of calf-top riding boots to a good friend of mine that I had custom made at Swaine Adeney Briggs in Piccadily London in 1973 (won em' in a horse show...they've got good prizes over there). Sadly, my calves got too large to ride in them...great boots.

Today I rode in a pair of Elk chaps from 1983 I had made by "Jeff Straws Tack & Togs" in Lovettsville, VA...I don't think they're in business any more.

[bird4416]

I have a pair of Eurostar breeches that are about 20 years old and are still going strong. I also still occasionally ride in a pair of Vogels that were made in 1987. They have been resoled a couple of times and the leather is starting to crack but they still fit and are fine for schooling.

[Woodland]

Breeches - 22 yrs and counting

[copper1]

Pair of Dehner dress boots I bought in 1969! I have a pair of boot pulls that were given to me in 1959 that were not new then. Use them always.

[Catalina]

Custom Vogel field boots that I got in 1989 and they are still going strong. I just wore them to a show yesterday :).

My 19 year old TS breeches just died a couple of months ago :(.

[Good Old Sledge]

I have a hacking jacket - bullet-proof tweed - that my father used to cub in. I've worn it to hounds a few times. The tailor's tag inside says it was completed December of 1935.
I also regularly use a stock that was his that is at least 40 years old.

[RegalBeagle]

33 years - custom Vogel field boots made in 1976 - wore them at a show on Thursday.

[Come Shine]

30 year old Vogels (second hand when I bought them as a 13 year old).

30 year old full chaps. Rip in the knee but not worn out enough to replace. :)

Wow. They sure don't make stuff like that anymore.

[Mags]

I've had my tall boots since 1978. I've had gussets put in. Last year I had new soles put on, They feel like sneakers now:). I still ride in my full chaps that I got in the late 70's also.

[Sandy M]

I have an old pair of beige/cream Harry Halls, self-knee-patches than my then-employer brought me back from the UK in 1974. It was so hot this weekend, I hauled them out (haven't worn them in years) and wore them rather than darker colored breeches. GOod old Harry Halls - in good shape and LOTS of stretch.

[KnKShowmom]

I still use my 25 year old full chaps and velvet hunt cap (yup - no harness) for the few times I do ride, but have passed down my show britches from the late 70's to DD to school in and she finally fits in my GP show jacket - 30 years old and still looks great!

Also pulled my brown herringbone jacket out of the mothballs for DD to use in a schooling show - bought it at the Country Rider in Cold Spring Harbor in the 70's - just had to replace the buttons - kinda fun to see she finally fits in it!

[ddashaq]

I have a pair of black ribbed breeches that are 20 years old. They are still wearable and once in a great while I will wear them, but there are so many better options now that it is pretty rare that I pull them out.

[Whisper]

I'm a little surprised that two other people who have older breeches also have Harry Halls! It seems a bit of a funny coincidence, but they really are *very* well-made! I've enjoyed reading about the other ones, too - it's really cool how some things seem almost indestructible in this disposable age.

[HuntJumpSC]

Alas! My old clothes/boots/chaps no longer fit so they had to find homes elsewhere. :no: But the fun part is finding new bargains!
The oldest thing I still have and use are a pair of Abercrombie & Fitch neverrust english spurs. They came in a bag full of odds & ends some lady brought to me at work years ago that she thought I could use. Still have the original brown straps. They're pretty neat. :)

[xeroxchick]

This is kind of embarrassing, but I have a brand new pair of Dehners with patent tops that I have never worn! I still wear my old ones from 1989. They have been worked on at Dehner a couple of times, but are just so comfortable I can't bring my spoiled self to put the new ones on and break them in.

[Eclectic Horseman]

Wow, another Harry Halls person here.

I have two pairs of Harry Hall corduroy breeches that are still in service. One pair bought in Ireland around 1986 and the other pair in Harrod's in London circa 1989.

Granted since they are corduroy they are only worn in the cooler months--but still, they have worn like iron. I had another pair that was mid-8os vintage, but I wore through the seat bones on those.

[Come Shine]

That could be a great ad feature for Harry Halls, or a contest, to see who has the oldest pair! They really do seem to be indestructible.

[Roisin]

33 years - custom Vogel field boots made in 1976 - wore them at a show on Thursday.

I have mine, too! Made same year as yours and they still look great. I did take a 22 year break in there, so that helped.

[Across Sicily]

I have field boots that are circa 1992 or so.

I've only owned them for 9 of those years :) They are still in fantastic shape.

[sisu27]

I'm a little surprised that two other people who have older breeches also have Harry Halls! It seems a bit of a funny coincidence, but they really are *very* well-made! I've enjoyed reading about the other ones, too - it's really cool how some things seem almost indestructible in this disposable age.

They used to be well made. Sadly now made in China and the like.

I also have old Harry Hall britches (20 yrs old) and have ridden in them. I still show in an old Harry Hall hunt coat that is probably 30 yrs old (I got it handed down to me by my first coach). Sentimental, superstitious yes but also still in good shape.

I school in 20 yo field boots and have 15 yo full chaps.

I love old stuff and search for high quality second hand goods. They really don't make things like they used to.

Isn't it a cool thing that horse sport is so steeped in tradition that you can still do that? Our uniform is not a simple swim suit or shorts or whatever yet it manages to remain virtually unchanged. I wonder if the drastic change in quality (and consumerism) will prevent future generations from being able to do as we have done?

Cool thread, thank you.

[ArtilleryHill]

Well, it wasn't always mine, but my hunt coat was made in 1963. Still in excellent condition after at least two owners.

[Maybeapril]

My chaps are about 20 years old. I think they have stretched with me...as I got bigger they got bigger. It's strange because I wore a size 4 when I got them and now I wear an 8 or maybe a 10. I remember the calf part use to be too big and now that part fits.

[kashmere]

Hand me down breeches, in oh-so-fetching blue corduroy, from late '70s or early '80s. They sit at about my 3rd rib, but man oh man, I love them. They're quite a bit older than I am. :lol:

[tarragon]

I have a pair of rust Miller's breeches from when I was 12 in 1982 that I still ride in. That is only possible because they are very stretchy :winkgrin:

I also have a beautiful tweed Harry Hall cubbing jacket from the 50s that was passed down by my first trainer.

[lolalola]

I have Harry Halls brought before my kids were born, and they're now 23 and 20. They have held up very well.

[Vitriolic]

I have two Harry Hall jackets: black wool and tweed wool bought second hand in 1978! My saddle a Crosby Prix de Nations, used daily since was purchased in 1976. I had on a pair of rust Regency (made for Millers) breeches which look like they would melt if too near a flame. I did throw out all my velvet hunt caps as I looked so much better in those than the safer, modern "feedtubs". ;) Sheesh. See you. I am going shopping! :)

[RolyPolyPony]

I have 20 year old dove grey Devon-Aire breeches, complete with the weirdo ribbing that was popular in the late 80s/early 90s. And 20 year old paddock boots - I got them from Smith Worthington when I turned 13 and we determined my feet had finally stopped growing and I could get a new pair :) They've been resoled once, but the body of the boot is still going strong! I actually recently purchased some Ariats on sale that I couldn't resist, but most of the time I still turn to my old ones.