Breeches FAQ

Three female riders with different types of breeches stand in front of a building

1. What are the advantages of breeches?

Breeches are perfectly adapted to the requirements of equestrian sports. The robust material, the trim and the cut are important to achieve maximum comfort in the saddle without impairing the aids and the rider’s seat.

2. Can I also ride in normal jeans or leggings?

Many beginner riders shy away from investing in breeches during their first riding lessons because they don’t yet know whether riding is for them. Of course, riding is possible with conventional trousers, but if you decide to take up equestrian sports, breeches are a sensible purchase. Beginners in particular do not yet have a well-developed riding position and therefore sit uneasily in the saddle, especially at faster gaits. Wearing breeches with a full-seat improves the support considerably.

In addition, conventional trousers often have thick seams on the inside of the legs. These can be extremely annoying when riding and can even lead to pressure or chafing points.

3. Which breeches are suitable for beginners?

Full-seat breeches – either with grip or synthetic leather – give beginners more security and the necessary support in the saddle. This way, inexperienced riders can better concentrate on riding and developing a correct riding seat.

4. I am pregnant and would like to continue riding. Which breeches are best for this?

If an experienced and trained rider has a carefree pregnancy without complications, she can continue riding into the last trimester of pregnancy. The body undergoes major changes during pregnancy, and from the 3rd month at the latest, every woman reaches for maternity fashion in everyday life. There are only a few manufacturers who specialise in maternity breeches. But in many cases, special maternity breeches are not necessary at all.

Since riding, and especially mounting and dismounting, causes many pregnant women increasing problems in advanced pregnancy, most voluntarily give up their beloved hobby in the final weeks. Therefore, it is important to find a solution for female riders with the first pregnancy-related changes.

The following tips have proven successful for pregnant riders:

– If your bump is growing, try using a hair tie to hold the buttonhole of your breeches in place and then tie the hair tie to the button. This improvised technique allows for a few centimetres of leeway. With a slightly longer top, you can hide your bump perfectly.

– Many women like to wear leggings during pregnancy because they are elastic and do not leave pressure marks on the growing belly. Riding leggings are also a good alternative to special maternity trousers. The advantage – they fit the body individually and are guaranteed to fit even after pregnancy! If the belly is already very pronounced or the figure has changed due to water retention, you can try riding leggings one size bigger.

5. How do I know whether I need a short, normal or long size?

As a rule, you go back to your usual clothing size for riding breeches. If you can manage with the standard sizes for everyday trousers, a special short or long size is not necessary. However, if you have particularly long or short legs, it is worth checking whether a special size would be suitable. This can be easily determined by measuring the side length from the waist to the sole of the foot. If you look at the size chart in our catalogue or in our online shop, you will find out whether you need a normal or long size.

6. How do I wash my breeches?

Before washing:

1. Follow the care label

2. Close zips and hook and loop fasteners, as these will be affected when open during washing.

3. Remove rough dirt and animal hair with a soft brush.

4. Turn breeches inside out

Washing cycle:

1. Set the wash cycle according to the care label (usually at max. 30°C, delicate wash cycle).

2. Ideally, use a mild detergent for sports textiles

3. Never use fabric softener (it sticks to the functional fibres).

After the wash cycle:

1. Hang to dry immediately after the wash cycle.

2. Most breeches are not suitable for the tumble dryer.

3. Iron inside out

7. Why do you put the socks on over your breeches?

The eye-catching knee-high socks with the checked pattern have become part of a rider’s classic look. Although other trends can now be seen, the socks are still traditionally worn over the breeches. Why is that?

Primarily for practical reasons:

– They make it easier to get into the riding boot

– Knee-high socks are warm in winter

– Sweat is better absorbed by the socks and does not penetrate directly into the breeches.

8. How do I combine my breeches?

Breeches can be combined in different ways. Usually the riding style, the occasion, but also current trends and your own taste influence the choice of riding outfit. In addition to white competition breeches, competition riders go for the classic competition shirt with a competition jacket – dark leather riding boots complete the look.

Leisure and trekking riders prefer the casual style. In variable weather, the layered look is ideal for riders who spend a lot of time with the horse. With the combination of a T-shirt or long-sleeved shirt, a riding jacket or a riding coat appropriate to the season, you can regulate your individual warmth requirements at any time. Knee socks and riding boots or riding ankle boots complete the outfit.

9. Are riding jeans more robust than normal/regular riding trousers?

The material of riding jeans offers many advantages for riders due to the weave and the strength of the fabric. Denim is twilled- the yarn is laid out in a kind of zig-zag pattern, which makes the material particularly robust and tear-resistant. As a result, denim is now not only used in western riding, but is also popular with riders of the traditional English riding style. However, classic breeches are also still suitable to meet the demands of equestrian sport. Robust materials, a high stretch content for more comfort and durable trim made of artificial leather meet the high standards of riding. Only the riding leggings, which are currently very trendy, need to be considered separately. The extremely thin nylon material, which is reminiscent of sports leggings, has the advantage of being very stretchy, but it gets the short end of the stick when it gets caught on sharp or rough objects, for example, and suffers wear and tear more quickly than stronger materials.

10. The trim is wearing out. What can be the reason for this?

Riders know that most products used in equestrian sports are subject to heavy wear and tear. Unfortunately, riding breeches are also part of equestrian clothing, and for this reason they have to be replaced sooner or later. With conventional full-seat breeches, it is relatively rare for holes to actually appear due to friction. As a rule, the material simply becomes thinner over time. When the new type of grip trim conquered the breeches market, the innovative silicone grip was often said not to be durable enough. What was partially confirmed with the „first generation“ grip breeches is no longer true for current models. Over time, manufacturers have been able to improve the quality of the silicone trim and adapt it to the needs of riders. It is important to note the care of the grip breeches – be sure to follow the washing recommendations on the label!

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