Jeans or riding pants?

[KarinUS]

Hello,

I wanted to see if anybody is riding in riding pants (breeches)?
I've just been wearing jeans and paddock boots. I've always been getting two round bruises on the inside top of my calves from where the stirrup leathers pinch/rub me, so I bought some half-chaps to go over my paddock boots.
I need to be bruise-less by July to wear a shorter dress for an outdoor wedding... ;)
The chaps won't fit over my jeans. I either have to buy a more tapered pair of jeans or actual breeches. Breeches sound like fun, but my instructor mentioned they might be more slippery than the jeans would be. Is she correct? I am just an awful adult beginner. Will breeches make it even more difficult to keep my leg still? Or are there better breeches and worse ones?
Thanks!

[horselover]

I used to always ride in jeans b/c i learned western. But an english saddle and jeans do not mix well :p . i have scars on my legs where the stirrup leathers pinched my jeans in and rubbed on my legs!

So, I used chaps, but my riding instructor gave them to me, so they were free. They were a $150 pair, which I never would have bought on my own. I use them in the winter, and in the summer, I wear breeches and tall boots.

They are definately more slippery than jeans, but it does help your balance b/c you aren't depending on anything to hold you on. Chaps and jeans tend to babysit me :o Since you have half- chaps, you would have the stability you need in your lower leg. You might want to look into full-seat breeches that have leather on the inside of the legs and the butt.

[Silvia]

Bruiseless? In that case better stop riding for now! I have never been bruiseless since I started to spend my time with horses! :D
Or just wear a long skirt for the wedding.

[schimmer]

I just got a pair of cotton and lycra breeches with fake-suede patches. They're much more grippy than nylon blends; I don't find them slippery. If you're worried about costs, these are the ones I got (JHL county breeches):

http://www.frogpool.com/acatalog/Online_Shop_JHL_Breeches_73.html

They even have a pocket.

[Tammy]

I found that Cotton Naturals pull on breeches are less expensive than jeans, more comfortable and less slippery. For added "grip" get the "full seat" version; I have just the regular ones with knee patches. They machine wash and even machine dry if you allow for a bit of shrinkage. These are great for western as well. They are widely available but I ordered mine from the Dover catalog.

I sound like an advertisement....

[Mossy]

Hi I wear chaps or long boots regardless - English riding - but I get terrible problems with the centre seam of jeans if I wear them riding for any length of time. Soft cotton trousers or riding trousers are much less painful.

[floppy]

if you get breeches or joddies with a full seat of leather or veloour (is that what its called? immitation leather) then you wont slip slide anywhere...
but if you like jeans for riding you can buy jean riding pants that look like and fit like breeches but are made out of stretchy denim. they have knee rolls but also made out of denim...

[clip-clop-oops-crash]

im with you on this one silvia! i went to a party recently and got so many 'concerned' friends kindly asking if everything was alright at home that i think i ll keep my battered body under wraps for a few more years!! :D

[Jaz]

*Laughs* reminds me of when I was about 15 I had this pet rabbit who was a little lively and under handled. I was trying to get her used to been handled and ended up with hundereds of red nasty looking scratches all down my arms.
Well there was this boy at school who I had a huge crush on :) I was sat in an english lesson one day and he came up to me I was like wow he's gonna speak to me :D
he came over all concerned and asked me why I had tried to slash my wrists open:o


anyway I'd recommend Breeches if you are riding regularly they are a good investment and are comfy. Since they are designed for riding work well.

[Katie_85]

Gee Maci, how embarassing! And I was worried about people asking why I was walking funny a day after my lesson. Kinda puts things in perspective...:D :rolleyes:

[fionahogg]

Eh? Did Maci post on this thread? Nothing written by her on my screen?!
Anyway, I'd definitely get jodhs or breeches if you're riding english regularly! Jeans and english saddles don't go together well!

Fiona.

[Wally]

Try each, then decide what you prefer.

Can't say I've ever had bruises like you describe wearing jeans. Do you have your leathers twisted? this can pinch.

[floppy]

i think wrnagler actually make a jean of jenas that is also comfortable for riding in..all you have to do it make sure your trouser fit you properly and the inside seam isnt bulky but i fyou want to invest in riding trouser there are literally hundreds to choose from.

[horselover]

Floppy, Wranglers actually are a cowboy jean, and they are much more comfortable to ride in than any other jeans. the thick inseam is on the outside, rather than the inside.

Wally- my stirup leathers aren't twisted, but my jeans also aren't supertight (i can't stand that, even for riding), so they would always get pinched in unless I wore chaps, and even then, they still sometimes would! Ouch! Now that it is summer, I am wearing shorts and skirts and my scarred, beat up legs look a little funny. But I am dang proud of those scars and I never try to hide them! :D

[KarinUS]

I rode in my riding pants (Aquator) and half chaps and it was wonderful. :D <br>I am not going back to jeans. My breeches have extended suede kneepatches that go all the way up and my half chaps have suede on the inside, so I am pretty much sueded (read: "velcro-ed!") all over...
Even Liz (my instructor) remarked that my leg didn't come off <u>once</u> during the lesson. I also didn't get my usual bruises on my inside calves ;)! <br>Plus-of course- I look supercool (like somebody who could actually ride- what a fraught!)

[Katie_85]

fionahogg don't worry, you're not daft, loony, out of your head or going blind. I am.:rolleyes: Maci didn't post on this thread, Jaz did. Oh yeesh I can't believe I did that!:o :o :eek:

[fionahogg]

LOL :)!

[appaloosagal]

Wearing jeans and riding english can prove to be very painful - - the stirrup leathers pinch your legs and the jeans ride up and you'll have huge chafe and bruise marks. I ride in some cotton/lycra 4-way stretch breeches with fake-suede knee patches and they r very grippy. I wear jeans when I ride western, but I wear a slim fitting pair with a very smooth inseam to minimize chafing. I also always wear boot socks so the stirrup leathers dont pinch, even when I ride western, to minimize jean chafing. Hope that helps!