Breeches

Breeches

A pair of trousers that are worn for horseback riding or other horse-related activities. They can be made from a wide range of fabrics. Typically, breeches are tighter fitting than jeans or other trousers and have added padding for riding. They can be made for men and women. They can be fashioned into different styles, including jodhpurs and full seat breeches.

The term breeches is generally used to refer to a man’s lower outer garments, but has been applied to various types of pants or trousers for both men and women through the centuries. Earlier garments referred to as breeches include the shapeless linen pants or drawers worn by medieval European men, and the long, tight-fitting trouser legs referred to as culottes, which were commonly worn by lower class revolutionaries in the seventeenth century. The more formal style of breeches that replaced the tight culottes was called a doublet, although it is sometimes referred to as a breechcloth.

In the eighteenth century, a type of longer upper hose called Venetian breeches became fashionable for men and boys. These baggy, knee-length garments were narrowed at the ankle by a strip of fabric, and were controlled with straps fastened just above the knee. They were worn with a doublet or a cravat and tied around the waist by a belt or cord, which could be adjusted to fit snugly or loosely.

Later, shorter versions of breeches were popular with men and boys. They were called galligaskins, gally hose or gascoynes (French) and slops or slopppe (Dutch). These breeches had the same general appearance as the voluminous Venetians but did not have any extra padding at the knee. They drooped slightly over the knees and were held in place with a knee-band of gathered or cartridge pleats.

By the early nineteenth century, pantaloons and trousers had largely replaced knee breeches for everyday wear with boots. However, these lower garments continued to be required as part of the full dress for men’s full ceremonial court dress for some time.

Currently, there are a number of different styles of breeches for both casual and dress attire. For example, there are jodhpurs, which are tighter-fitting breeches that are designed for horseback riding and other equestrian activities. They have a patch of suede or leather on the inner thigh and seat area to provide grip while in the saddle. There are also a variety of other types of jodhpurs that are tailored for specific riding disciplines, such as show jumping or dressage.

Generally, a man or boy will not be allowed to ride in jeans or other pants that do not meet the proper standards for a breech, so he will not be able to step into the breach. This is because he will not be able to fit into the appropriate size of the breech, and this can lead to injuries that are dangerous to both the rider and the animal. Breeches are often expensive, but they will not restrict movement or cause discomfort while riding. They can be washed regularly to remove dirt and sweat.