Can someone tell me more about Ariat boots?

I am looking into getting some boots that I can wear to ride English. I have western boots but I can't wear half chaps over them! So the search is on..

I found these: eBay - New & used electronics, cars, apparel, collectibles, sporting goods & more at low prices
Ariat Barnyard Laceup boots with steel toe (recently getting stepped on by a Percheron is making me want steel toed). They don't look bad, and a friend of mine has the Ariat Terrains and loves them, so I wasn't sure how much of a difference there would be. Would these be "flexible" enough for riding? How comfortable are they?

Or if someone has any other suggestions of somewhat cheaper boots, I will definitely look into them! Thanks in advance

Those are decent, I bought some for my girlfriend, she liked them so much I bought a pair, I have a pair of terrains and these fit and feel the same. Except the barnyards are all leather and while not water proof at least water resistant especially if you rub in some boot waterproofer. My terrains your feet get wet from wet grass. You wont notice the steel toe till you get stepped on. Then you'll be glad you have them. Price isnt too bad, the usually run about $50 for womens but if you shop around at places like bootbay or bootbarn you can get them from a store with a track record and no hassle returns as well as included shipping.

I really like the Ariats. I have a western pair to show in and 2 different types of paddock boots (can't remember the exact names). Got mine on ebay, but will look into bootbay and bootbarn!

Thanks! I was just mainly worried about the flexibility and comfort of them for riding. I am also considering these 2:

Ariat® Heritage Sport Lace Paddock™ Boot < Laced Paddock Boots < Riding Apparel|Dover Saddlery.

Ladies' Ariat® Heritage III Lace Paddock Boot < Laced Paddock Boots < Riding Apparel|Dover Saddlery.

I can tell you one thing about Ariats, they are a nightmare trying to break them in. But once you do, you'll never want to take them off. All the Ariat boots I had I loved, after they broke in.

I only have western Ariats, so I can't offer much advice when it comes to style, but I wouldn't particularly recommend steel toes. I've always been told to avoid them with horses, particularly larger ones because if they step hard enough, the steel could bend and slice your toes. I don't know anyone personally who has had that happen, but I'd rather just bite my lip when I get stepped on.

Not that old wives tale again, I was waiting for that one to be repeated, steel toes will not no way no how, slice your toes off, anything big heavy and small enough to collapse a steel toe would have done ten times worse to your toes in non steel toe shoes. There's not a horse in the world heavy enough to collapse a steel toe either, they are rated at a minimum of 2500 lbs. This is a BUSTED MYTH !
These barnyards are very comfortable and do not need to be broken in.

Well I was stepped on by our huge Percheron mare at work on Saturday so my foot's a little bruised from that.. Thankfully not bad.

My BO is getting the Heritage III lace up and she says she's always loved them. I'm thinking more toward the 'sport' kind if it would actually do any good.. They're supposed to be waterproof and comfortable to wear all day (which I'd definitely need!).. Has anyone ever worn either of these before?

I have more Ariat boots than I can count! Western, love 'em! Lace up, zip up winter, Terrain summer boots. They are all comfy. The terrains are really nice, but mine don't have steel toe and do get wet. My lace up paddock boots are super nice and have the Cobalt foot bed, BUT, they did hurt my ankle when breaking in. The lace "studs" would dig into my upper ankle when I was riding English and had my foot well flexed with heel down. It hurt so bad that I finally took them to a shoe repair place and had one pair of the studs cut out, right in the middle, so that I could flex my ankle with nothing pressing on it. Now they work beautifully.

I like my winter zip up ones. Zip ones offer less support, but are more likely to slide off your foot if , God Forbid, you ever got entangled and dragged by the stirrup in a fall.

Not a big fan!!
Not keen on the price, the style or the entire boot to be fair! I've had a couple of pairs, incase the first was a fluke, and didn't match up at all!
Mountain horse are superb, and do some lovely boots for English riding.
However, if you're willing to spend the pennies, I would reccomend Konigs boots, their factory is round the corner from me, but they're super duper, very comfortable, long lasting and you can personalise ;) Reitstiefel Knigs