Riding Breeches

Riding Breeches

If you ride regularly, it’s worth investing in high quality breeches. The fit is key to making the riding experience more comfortable - they should be tight enough to support your legs and promote a proper seat, but not so tight that they’re restrictive or cut off blood flow. They should also be able to stand up to frequent washing and drying, to avoid becoming stretched or worn out over time.

Riding breeches are specialised trousers designed to be worn by horse riders. They are fitted to just below the knee and are designed to prevent chafing, help you stay in the correct position in the stirrups, and shed brush if you’re trail or cross country riding. Breeches can be a very stylish garment, with many different styles and fabrics to choose from, and they can be finished with a variety of trimmings such as lace, ribbon, or embroidery.

Historically, breeches were made of thick cavalry-twill with flared thighs (balloon legs) to accommodate the riders’ knees as they sat in the saddle. However, when modern, multi-stretch fabrics were introduced, these bulky styles became less popular and form-fitting breeches or jodhpurs emerged.

In the UK, jodhpurs are the style of choice for most adult male riders, while breeches are more common for women. Both are available in a range of colours and fabrics, with jodhpurs usually coloured in the equestrian colour palette such as navy or dark green, while breeches are often a more natural or cream shade.

Breeches are worn by riders of all levels, from beginners to professionals, and can be found in a wide variety of price points. However, it’s important to remember that quality counts and buying a cheap pair of breeches is unlikely to last long, so be sure to shop around for the best value.

The word breeches comes from the French term brêche, which means ‘thick’, and in the Middle Ages was used to describe garments of this type. It has also been used in English since at least the 14th century as a synonym for knickers, trousers, and culottes.

Small boys wore dresses until they were “breeched”, which was at about age 6 to 8. This was when they would wear men’s clothing, such as a suit with a jacket and tie and breeches or jodhpurs.

A man wearing a wig and full breeches is the stuff of music hall comedy, but breeches are still an essential part of the equestrian wardrobe. With their snug fit and practicality, they are ideal for all types of riding, from dressage to hunting and jumping. Breeches are also worn for exercise, and in particular fencing, where they allow fencers to extend their legs further than is possible when wearing regular jogging pants or tracksuit bottoms. They are often lined to provide extra warmth in cold weather. In addition, a breeches buoy is a device for moving sailors between ships, consisting of two breeches suspended below a pulley.