Riding Apparel
Buying Your First Pair of Riding Breeches
Are you new to riding horses? Did you go to the riding apparel store and get frustrated by all the different types of breeches available? Riding breeches are a tight fitting type of riding pants that are designed to fit the rider snugly and not rub the rider when riding the horse as this can become very uncomfortable very quickly. The fit inside tall English riding boots. There are also Jodphurs, which are similar with the exception of they are worn outside of the shorter style paddock boot.
Sizing for breeches are sized by the waist, for example, 30 or 32 would be the waist size in inches. They usually come in regular or long, which refers to the inseam length, but be careful, because different manufacturers use different lengths for what constitutes an R or an L, so if you are tall or short, it can be extremely helpful to inquire about what the inseam is. In general, a size 26 will equal a size 8 in women’s, 28 will equal a size 10 in women’s pants, and so on and so forth.
Breeches generally come in pull-on, fly-front or side-zip styles and in a variety of colors. Different horse sports prefer different styles and colors for showing. Dressage riders, for example, usually wear white full seat breeches, or occasionally a pale cream color, in the show ring. However, for everyday schooling, you should just choose whatever color strikes your fancy. Although breeches are more popular with English riders, many Western and trail riders enjoy the comfort that provided by the seamless fit and smooth fabrics of breeches.
Most breeches come with knee patches, which help prevent wear and provides grip in the saddle, or full seats, in which the knee patches extend up the leg and also cover the rider's seat as well. Full-seat breeches provide the most grip in the saddle, which some riders prefer but others find annoying.
The patches can be made of Clarino, ultrasuede and other synthetic materials, or of deerskin or leather. The synthetics are less expensive and an excellent choice if you ride infrequently or are outfitting a child who will outgrow her clothes before she wears them out. Alas, they can be machine washed for easy care. Pros or amateurs who ride daily often prefer buying breeches with deerskin or leather because even though the initial cost is higher, they will last longer. They last the longest if they are hand-washed.
Today, there are many choices in breeches fabric. Some people prefer cotton or cotton blends, but some of the advanced microfibers provide the most breathability and wick away moisture, which can be great in the summer. Some Polartec-type microfibers provide great warmth in the winter.
There are several different equestrian apparel stores online to purchase breeches once you find your right size. You can also search websites like Ebay for many good buys on equestrian apparel.
