What types of breeches are there?

Breeches are one of the most important pieces of clothing for a rider. Breeches give the rider a safe and comfortable feeling in the saddle. In the past there were a handful of models to choose from, nowadays riders are faced with the question of how to find the perfect pair for themselves from hundreds of breeches.

What types of breeches are there? For whom and for what purpose are they best suited? We explain the differences and help you choose.

Did you know that there are almost 1.8 million riders in Britain? Although women outnumber men, men and especially children are also enthusiastic about equestrian sports and need breeches that are tailored to their respective build and individual requirements. The biggest differences in breeches for men and women can be attributed to the physique. While women tend to have more of a waist and men tend to have a straighter body line, breeches cuts are fundamentally different. Children also tend to have less of a waistline, plus they are growing, which implies quite different requirements, e.g. in terms of material properties. Of course, things like design and details also differ depending on age and gender.

How are breeches cut?

The cut of breeches is essential and should be chosen according to the riding style and riding equipment. Two cuts of breeches have proved particularly popular for both leisure riding and competition riding – the breeches and the jodhpur breeches.

The breeches fit close to the body – similar to skinny jeans. The skin-tight cut makes it possible to wear riding boots or riding jodhpur boots with chaps. Breeches are worn by dressage riders as well as show jumpers and cross-country riders, but most leisure riders also wear a combination of breeches and riding boots.

Jodhpur breeches have a straight cut and, unlike breeches with boots, are slightly flared at the trouser leg. They are worn with riding boots. An elastic ankle strap secures the breeches, as they would otherwise ride up due to the wide trouser leg. Most jodhpurs have a full seat throughout, so that the hold on the saddle flap is given at all times. In the leisure sector, Jodhpur breeches are especially popular with trail riders and Icelandic riders.

The current trend in women’s and children’s breeches is towards riding leggings. Due to the stretchy material, they fit close to the skin and are reminiscent of sports leggings. They are considered particularly comfortable and are suitable for riders with a high training workload to ensure comfort at all times. The particularly light material makes riding leggings perfect for the warm summer months, but there are also thermal riding leggings especially for winter.

Hybrid breeches – stretchy fabric meets classic waistband

Flexible, stretchy material that impresses with maximum breathability and high wearing comfort. Optimally suited for the daily demands of riding – these are the epitome of high-quality riding tights. If you don’t want to miss out on the unparalleled feel of riding tights, but need a little more support in the waistband area, hybrid breeches are the perfect choice.

Hybrid breeches combine the popular 4-way stretch leggings material with a classic button and zip waistband. This offers more support at the waist, particularly important for curvier body types. In addition, the detailed waistband creates a stylish, classic look that highlights the waist – especially with a shirt tucked into the breeches.

What kinds of trimming are there for riding breeches?

The seat plays an important role when buying breeches. On the one hand, it protects the fabric in places that are subject to particular wear and tear, and on the other hand, it gives the rider the necessary support when riding. In the past, the seat was made of real leather. However, since this had to be maintained after every wash in order to remain supple, the seat of most breeches today is made of easy-care artificial leather.

Full seat breeches are reinforced from the seat to the middle of the lower leg. The seat in the saddle area means that the rider sits particularly low and steady in the saddle, which is particularly safe for beginners. However, experienced dressage riders also benefit from full seat breeches, which allow a relaxed seat even when sitting trot and cantering.

As the name suggests, knee breeches are only reinforced on the inside of the knee joints. This type of breeching is best suited for show jumpers and advanced riders. It stabilises the leg position without restricting mobility in the saddle. This provides ideal conditions for overcoming jumps. Advanced leisure riders who have a well-developed riding seat due to their training experience also appreciate the flexibility in the saddle.

An innovation of the last few years is the trim of grip breeches. It is usually made of silicone and is applied to the breeches in liquid form or with the help of a special roller. Riders who are looking for more grip in the saddle swear by the grip version. Depending on the model, the grip varies – in some breeches you literally „stick“ in the saddle. Grip breeches are in principle suitable for all riders, although a more adhesive grip is more effective in dressage or for inexperienced riders. For show jumpers or advanced riders with a trained seat, a less pronounced trim is recommended.

Which riding breeches for which purpose?

Thanks to the different disciplines and possibilities offered by equestrian sports, the requirements of riders are very diverse. As a result, the demands on riding breeches also differ. When buying a pair of breeches, you should therefore ask yourself for what purpose you need them. Leisure rider or competition rider? English riding style or Western? Is a heated riding hall available or not?

In competition riding, there is a traditional dress code that is obligatory for riders. In addition to a competition jacket and shirt, light-coloured competition breeches in combination with dark riding boots are part of the classic appearance. While elegant white is a must in higher classes, riders in lower classes can also compete in darker colour shades such as Ivory or a light shade of beige. If in doubt, check the specifications directly with the show organiser. Competition breeches are no different from conventional breeches for leisure riding – they are available in different types of trim, fabrics and with various fashionable details.

Not everyone can accommodate their horse in a stable with a heated indoor arena, some even have to do without an indoor arena altogether in winter. Unfortunately, the temperatures and the weather in such cases often make training in pleasant conditions impossible. Winter riding breeches, along with warm jumpers, functional winter riding jackets and winter riding boots, can make riding in frosty temperatures more comfortable. At first glance, they do not differ from „all-season breeches“, but they are usually made of water- and wind-repellent soft shell material on the outside and a fluffy, softly roughened inside that also insulates against heat loss. Pull-on models offer the possibility of wearing the conventional breeches underneath, so that a double layer principle is possible in combination with the conventional breeches and the pull-on breeches can be taken off if necessary.

Depending on the riding discipline, riding breeches can also look quite different. The western riding jeans from western riding are not recognisable as classic riding trousers at first glance. However, they are by no means just conventional jeans that we know from everyday life. Nowadays, the design and manufacture of riding jeans is specifically designed for western riding. A high stretch content, flat inner seams to prevent chafing and a comfortable waist height preventing the trousers cutting in uncomfortably while riding are among the most important features. The way you want to wear your western boots also influences the choice of riding jeans. Many riders wear their western boots classically under their trousers – here you should go for a bootcut with a flared leg so that the boot fits under the trousers. In the meantime, however, the trend towards close-fitting cuts has become established – in this case, the western boots are worn over the trousers.