Ariat was founded in 1993 by Beth Cross, a woman who grew up on a farm in Pennsylvania surrounded by horses and animals. From a young age, Beth experienced the equestrian world in its entirety.
In the 1980s, brands like Nike and Adidas revolutionized the sports world through sneakers employing technology and performance, while country boots had not evolved over the decades. While working for Bain & Company and consulting for Reebok, Beth Cross saw an opportunity to apply athletic footwear technology to western riding boots.
The name Ariat is an inspiration from Secretariat, the legendary Triple Crown champion horse. His strength, commitment, and competitive spirit were perfectly aligned with the brand that was being born, so she decided to honor him. In the same year of its founding, Ariat launched its first two boot models and subsequently hired several riders and horse enthusiasts. In the years following the company's launch, it expanded into new high-performance clothing for Western and English riding, as well as workwear.
The company also expanded its distribution in the US, Europe, Australia, Mexico, and Japan. In 2009, Ariat became the official boot sponsor of the PBR (Professional Bull Riders). In 2015, Ariat signed a sponsorship agreement with the FEI (International Equestrian Federation). In 2017, Ariat became a partner of the non-profit organization Jared Allen's Homes For Wounded Warriors, which builds homes for wounded war veterans.
In 2018, Ariat announced that it was continuing its partnership with the USEF (United States Equestrian Federation), and was awarded "Entrepreneur of the Year" in the Consumer-Oriented category by Ernst & Young. In 2020, Ariat was considered the largest equestrian footwear and apparel company in the world.
Ariat manufactures boots in the United States, Mexico, Asia, and Europe. Ariat invests heavily in technology to bring comfort, performance, stability, and functionality to those who work in the field. Co-founder Beth Cross worked with biomechanical research groups to develop lighter and more durable products and testing laboratories in the manufacture of Ariat boots, which are designed to be durable in outdoor environments. Some boots go through more than 150 production steps, all for real performance.
In 2006, the company ventured into the manufacture of Western apparel, including woven shirts, tops, and outdoor clothing for men and women. The clothing incorporates flame-resistant technology, which became required by Colorado oil workers.
Ariat is one of the world's largest country outdoor brands, a benchmark for quality, performance, and exclusivity.