Guns & Horse Tack

I needed a diversion at lunch today, so I decided to go to The Leading Rein and find out what sizes I need for my eventing vest and tall boots.  I suppose I could have gone to the Tack Shop of Austin, but I'd never been to the Leading Rein before, and it it's closer to my office.  It's kind of tucked away on a country road, and I was thinking I missed it until I saw two big signs, one of which said, "Guns", the other of which said "Horse Tack".  

 

I love Texas.  

 

Anyway, I turned in and as it turns out the Gun shop opens into the tack store.  Come for the Bates Isabelle, stay for the .45 Desert Eagle.  The Leading Rein is a bit smaller than Austin Tack Shop, but they've got quite a good selection.  I told the sales clerk I was looking to get sized for an XC vest, and show boots.  She took me back to where the boots were, and there was a green Tipperary Eventer hanging up next to the shelf with the boots.  I put it on, and what do you know, it fit!!  That went considerably faster than I was expecting it to.  She had it on sale for $150 or something like that, but it was the wrong color.  My eventing colors are Purple and Black.  Saga's mom already has a lock on Green, and it'd be awfully tacky of me to go with green as well, non? ;) With the vest size settled, that left only the boots.  I told her that I wear a 10.5 in men's shoes, but my feet are pretty narrow, so I switched to women's for my paddock boots.  She nodded and handed me a pair of boots and told me to put them on.  I did, and what do you know, they were also a perfect fit!  For those of you keeping track at at home, the tally is thus:

• Tipperary Eventer: Medium Tall
• Tall Boots: 11.5 W Bucke Downs

Since she'd been so helpful and it didn't feel right to just leave without making it worth her while, I bought some new bell boots for Zigs, and a tub of Horse treats.  Now that I know my sizes, I'll be scouring every tack store, online shop, catalog and EBay for the cheapest price on the above two items that I can find, which will probably be about $200.00 each.  I'm so glad I picked an inexpensive hobby.