If there is one thing that is essential to any self-respecting rider beyond his saddle, it is his riding pants, also called “breeches of horse” purists. When a horse lover is not old enough to ride a pony in jogging suits or jeans, it is now time for him to start wearing his riding uniform. Without wanting to talk about the various fashion effects that are sweeping the equestrian world and depend on everyone’s tastes, we will talk in this article about adaptation to your riding practice. Cut, materials, uses… We will thus approach the various essential characteristics which will enable you to find the riding pants adapted to your needs.
Cuts, height, and finishes of the riding pants
As you suspect it, we did not test all the riding pants within the framework of the drafting of this article, the goal is more to give you keys of reading – to allow you to realize an optimal purchase.
The height
As far as the size is concerned, it’s quite simple, you will find everything you want, there is something for everyone: high waist, low waist, even half-low…
The cut
Regarding the cuts, on this subject more and more manufacturers are making efforts to innovate in the “design” of our breeches. We find nowadays slimming pants, leggings type, with visible seams, without seams … So, there is a wide choice of cuts now.
Obviously when we talk about cuts, we immediately think of Horse Pilot, one of the most innovative French equestrian brands in the textile market today, which sell shaping or sheathing cuts.
The brand Starzup makes water-repellent pants for competitions and training that have a very particular cut with X seams, which particularly flatter the silhouette.
Finishing touches
For the finishing touches, we will talk here about everything that is detail and product customization. Many manufacturers now offer to customize your products with your colors or add the embroidery of your choice. This is really an interesting idea, especially in the case of a gift, but obviously it costs a little more.
In addition to that, some manufacturers develop models of pants with more details like buttons, rhinestones, leather inserts … They are often more expensive, so it’s up to you to see what you prefer. Our only advice will be to pay attention to -everything that is added on the back of the pants and that could rub on the seat of the saddle and thus damage it (like buttons or pockets for example). And everything that will be added at the level of the folds of the pants when you are in the saddle, in particular the rhinestones or pearls which disappear very quickly when you ride regularly.
Choose the right size for your riding pants
A riding pant size is classical, there can be particularities according to the brands, especially according to their nationality (for example the Italian brands cut differently from the French ones), but otherwise we advise you to take your usual pant size. Obviously do not hesitate to try, it is still safer.
A little tip to know if the pants will fit you without trying them on you just must put your forearm in the pants (closed), at the waist, between the two sides where your hips are supposed to be. If the pants fit well on your arm, normally they will fit you at the waist! Now you just must try the legs.
But don’t worry, whether it’s in a store or online, most brands/boutiques have their own size guide that will make it easier for you to find your way around.
Choose the right material for your riding pants
For the choice of the material, there are two schools: the supporters of the lycra stockings and the supporters of the scratch stockings. It is a question of feeling and well-being once again.
As the name suggests, the bottom of the legs of the scratch bottom pants closes with a scratch, so you can adjust the size of the ankle. The advantage is that you can have the tension you want at this level, and you can also pull up your pants by opening it completely. The disadvantage is that if you wear high socks in your boots (like 80% of the riders) sometimes it will stick or move, and you potentially end up with a bump and a big discomfort at the joint. Cases of velcro not holding up well in the wash and not lasting very long are also common with some low quality pants.
Velcro pants are more often replaced by its competitor, the lycra pants. The lycra is a very flexible and elastic material which will compose the bottom of the legs of your riding pants. The size can vary according to the pants but in general the lycra starts at mid-calf. So nowadays we say “lycra stockings” to generalize, in fact many brands do not use lycra but another type of elasticated textile, it is really the elasticity which will change in fact according to the fabric used.
This material allows to gain in comfort and to be used without high socks, but impossible to roll up the pants, nor to adjust them. It is therefore a choice to make.
There is – however – not a huge difference in the fit for these two finishes. The components of the other parts of the pants can be more interesting – on the other hand.
To find a riding pant corresponding to its practice
In general, we will often advise to choose his pants according to the frequency of use to which it will be subjected. That is to say, the frequency with which you ride your horse in time. From that will depend on the resistance and the durability of your pants, and the choice of the materials used to manufacture it.
So, when you are going to buy it, ask yourself the question of the use you are going to have of it: how often do you intend to wear it? For example, if you ride every day, we can imagine that you can afford to invest in high-end technical gear that will last a long time. On the other hand, if you ride occasionally to have fun on vacations, you don’t need to invest 500€ in your riding pants, the first price can do the trick.
Be careful also, if you are looking to equip your children, there again, except to please him, useless to buy an expensive pants when your child will still grow and will not wear it the next season.
Recent innovations in riding pants
We all vaguely remember our first little Decathlon riding pants, often two-tone (with improbable colors), sometimes ribbed, completely elastic, that our parents bought us for our bronze pony lessons. Since then, the pants have evolved and now combine technology and innovation to optimize our sports performance.
We will try to list here the main useful features of our horse pants:
Pants with a skin bottom
Used by dressage riders especially, it allows a better fixing of the rider in the saddle, associated with a skin lining of the seat of your saddle
Pants with a gel bottom
All pants have a more or less extensive gel padding in the crotch area, which, like the skin lining, improves the rider’s posture in the saddle.
Pants with water repellent treatment
Already mentioned above with the brand Starzup, the manufacture of a riding pant in a water repellent material makes it very resistant because it is difficult to stain and hard to wet, very practical for competition pants
Waterproof pants
It is still very appreciable to stay dry when riding, thanks to a membrane covering the outside of the pants water does not penetrate the fabric
Fleece interior
The pants are simply lined with fleece inside to not be cold when riding in winter or just when it is very windy
Pants with integrated physiotherapy
Seen only at Horse Pilot so far, their pants integrate taping bands from physiotherapy to support the rider’s muscles during the effort
Pants without belt
Leggings type, the pants do not close at the top, they are completely elastic and stick to your skin like tights would
Pants with compression stockings
The small novelty of these last times it is well that, the technology of compression integrated in the bottom of the riding pants at the level of the calf thus to support the blood circulation, the oxygenation of the muscles of the lower leg, as well as the recovery after the effort
