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The Guide to Riding Breeches
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What you wear when you are in the stable and on horseback is important for your comfort and freedom of movement. The riding breeches are a key player when it comes to the rider's riding equipment. Perhaps one of the most important parts of the rider's wardrobe, even. On this page we will guide you right in the jungle of riding pants, riding leggings, riding tights and explaining common concepts, talking about fit, sizes and different models.
Riding Breeches 101
Here are some common concepts you may encounter when looking for riding breeches:
Full seat means that the breeches have reinforcement in some material (usually suede, leather, faux leather, PU, silicone) along the legs (sometimes all the way down to the ankle, sometimes the reinforcement ends a bit below the knee) and the seat in the places where the pants will touch the saddle. The reinforcement in the breeches is sometimes sewn on top of the other material of the breeches, sometimes it is sewn "directly" without lining underneath. This reinforcement can have several functions, but in general it is there to give the rider a better grip in the saddle and to protect the breeches against wear on the saddle-close parts (which experience friction when sitting in the saddle).
Knee patch means that the breeches are reinforced at the knees. The reinforcement itself sits around the knee area on the inside of the pants, on the part that rests against the saddle as you ride. There are also variations of this like 3/4 seat or half seat breeches.
Fabric reinforced means that the breeches have a reinforcement in fabric. Sometimes this reinforcement is made in the same fabric that the breeches are made of, sometimes the fabric reinforcement is in a stronger fabric. Fabric gives no extra grip in the saddle, but makes the breeches stronger in the areas most exposed to wear (which has contact with the saddle).
Saddle cut is a term for a riding breech which is either reinforced with fabric (full seat with fabric) or that the seam goes just over the butt, as it would have looked like if the breeches had a full seat reinforcement. This type of cut makes it comfortable to sit in the saddle because there is no uncomfortable seam on the pants where you sit. Often, a saddle-cut riding breech is combined with a knee reinforcement. Basically, all riding pants are saddle-cut, with or without reinforced parts.
Saddle reinforced means that the riding breeches are fabric reinforced at the seat. A riding breech that is "full seat" in fabric is a saddle reinforced riding breech.
Knee reinforced means that there is a knee patch at the knee. This is what manufacturers usually call riding breeches with fabric reinforcement at the knee. Riding breeches with leather, suede, silicone or synthetic material at the knee is usually called knee patch breeches instead.
Silicone seat / silicone print means that the breeches have a silicone print in some areas. This type of "seat" is usually printed on the fabric, with strips, dots, patterns or other shaped prints in silicone material. Silicone seat riding breeches have a print along the entire saddle cut (over the entire seat and the inside of the legs below the knee, full seat) or only at the knee (knee patch with silicone). The dots, pattern or strips with silicone print are either strategically placed where the breeches have the most contact with the saddle, or they cover almost the entire surface where the breeches have extra grip. Silicone printing gives a firm grip on the saddle as the silicone does not slip over the leather. Many people find that silicone seat provide the best grip in the saddle - while others think the grip is too good and would rather have a full seat riding pant in other material.
Pull-on riding breeches are a common term for riding breeches for children or riding breeches that do not have fastening in the waist, just elastic. This model is pulled on (hence the name) without zippers, buttons or hooks. Riding leggings and riding tights are often of this model.
Mobile phone pocket is a pocket that is strategically placed and designed so that it can hold a mobile phone. Some models of breeches have a phone pocket on the outside of the thigh so that the phone is not in the way when you sit in the saddle.
Thermo riding breeches are warm riding pants in a material with good thermal insulation or inner lining. Thermo riding breeches are sometimes referred to as winter riding breeches. These can be lined on the inside with fleece or other material, padded or made in soft shell. Are available in full seat, knee patch or without reinforcements.
Riding leggings are a type of riding pants made in leggings model. Riding leggings often lack a button, hook, or zipper at the waist and instead have an elasticated waistband. Some riding leggings are very similar to classic riding breeches in both model and material, while others are more similar to gym / workout leggings. Leggings are often stretchy and flexible so you can move freely in the saddle and on the ground.
Riding tights is another term of riding leggings, and vice versa. Modern, often a little thinner in material compared to riding breeches. Riding tights can be made of a full-stretch material that resembles gym tights / yoga pants, sometimes they have full seat or knee patch. Often riding tights and riding leggings are covered with silicone print because the material is so elastic that a suede or reinforcement in other material would not work.
Competition breeches / show breeches are usually white breeches or light beige breeches (for showjumping, dressage, eventing), or are specially designed for competition within a certain discipline. In many disciplines you need a specific color riding pants when competing.
Jodphurs / jods is a type of riding breech that is flared or straight in the legs, often with an elastic loop under the foot. Jodphur breeches are sometimes called Icelandic breeches as it is a popular model among Icelandic horse riders. Jodphurs are intended to be used with riding boots (low riding boots, sometimes also called jodphurs) or other low riding shoes. The riding pants themselves go over the shoes, they are not stuffed into shoes or boots. Other riding breeches are often tight all the way down as they are intended to be used under tall riding boots (so the riding boot shaft sits outside the pants). Jodphur model breeches is common as a thermo riding pant because the thicker thermal material rarely fits inside tall riding boots.
Jeans breeches / Denim riding pants are as it sounds like riding breeches in jeans material. Some are made of denim, others in jeans-like material. Denim breeches can be full seat, knee patch or no reinforcements, tight or flared.
Different models and fit
There are a variety of breeches and riding tights on the market and several different models to choose from. It is common for riding pants to have a high waist and sit high on the hips or even all the way up to the waist. Some models are slightly higher at the back, which may prevent a gap at the back when riding, or that the pants will fold uncomfortably in the front. But there are also models that have normal waist or low waist. What you prefer is entirely up to you. Some people think that high waisted riding breeches provide more stability when sitting in the saddle, as they can lightly support the abdomen and back. Others believe that a lower waist model is more comfortable and gives greater freedom of movement. Different design choices or details of riding breeches can be infinitely varied and this is something every rider has their own idea of. You may prefer a pair of riding pants or tights without "unnecessary" belt loops, pockets and buttons - or you want a multi-pocket model to fit your cell phone, keys and horse treats.
If you want your pants to sit firmly in place, a belt can be a good accessory; but make sure the breeches have the right size loops for the belt. With a belt you can reduce the risk of gap at the back when sitting in the saddle. The belt is also good if you have a pair of riding breeches that are a little too big at the waist. But not all breeches have belt loops. And those who have this can have loops of different sizes. Make sure you find out the size of the belt loops if you plan to buy a pair of riding breeches and use them with a belt.
Some use riding breeches mostly when sitting in the saddle, others wear them in the stable for activities such as mucking out and other things as well. This is something to consider when choosing a model of riding pants. If you want to wear the breeches on the ground and in the saddle - make sure the breeches are comfortable, stretchy and do not have stitches in uncomfortable places. Are you to wear tall riding boots or low riding shoes with your breeches? Many common models of riding breeches are made for the boot shaft to go over the leg, and then they can have an elasticated leg or thinner material at the bottom so that you can easily put on and take off the pants - without compromise on whether the boots can fit over or not. Some models of breeches instead have Velcro fasteners, buttons or other leg closures - think about this if you are going to use tall riding boots. Sometimes Velcro fasteners on riding breeches can be uncomfortable if you want to use them with tall riding boots. If you are going to wear low riding shoes, or low shaft boots (jodphurs) with the breeches, you can consider a pair of breeches in the jodphur model.
The look of the riding pant is important to many. You may want to match your riding breeches with your other riding clothes, or with your horse's equipment? Fortunately, there are riding pants in all sorts of colors and patterns. Details such as embroidery, bling, emblems, glitter, contrast stitching, pockets and decorative stitching can adorn a pair of riding breeches. Some classic colors are beige, navy and black but you can find breeches in most colors nowadays.
Sizes
In Scandinavia and Germany you usually see European sizes such as 34, 36, 38 and so on. Junior breeches / children's breeches can have sizes such as 134/140, 146/152 and so on. But different manufacturers use different size tables. Sometimes you can find a manufacturer's size chart on their website, or on the patch in the breeches. Otherwise you can count on "standard sizes" and you choose the size you usually have in other pants. Riding breeches from other countries can have different sizes, so you can find the corresponding size with the help of an international size chart. Below is a table of European / Swedish / German, British, Australian, New Zealand, American and Italian clothing sizes you can use to see what the sizes correspond to in EUR / SWE sizes.
Riding tights and Riding leggings
More modern riding breeches and tights are constantly coming out on the market. Riding leggings and riding tights are two newer models that have taken many riders by storm. Imagine a nice, stretchy pant in a lightweight material - like a pair of gym tights - that can withstand horseback riding. This is what the riding tights and riding leggings are made for. They often have a wide, elastic waistband and are easily worn without buttons or zippers at the waist. Some riding tights / leggings have belt loops, but more commonly you see this model without belt loops. A pair of riding tights can be great as everyday pants to wear in the stable because they are comfortable to carry out stable chores in, while they work great in the saddle too. Riding breeches in leggings model or tights model can be, for example, full seat, knee patch or knee reinforced. Silicone print / silicone seat is most common as this material is flexible and works well on the stretchy material of the tights.
