Do full chaps improve your riding?

minkersmum

minkersmum

Active Member
Aug 4, 2009
1,118
0
36
Scotland
I bought some mountain horse over trousers to see me thru the winter but after wearing once the stud popped off so have had to send them back and they've now been away for a whole month. Not pleased and very cold:(

So for todays lesson i dug out my old suede full chaps. They are pretty funky looking and i do feel a bit of atit but they really keep your legs snug.

I haven't ridden in them for ages but i have to say i felt very comfy in them. My RI not one for the compliments but today she said 'oo your canters have been much better today'

So i reckon its been the chaps. I did say to her it must be the 'cheating chaps' as i know years ago one RI did say to me 'ah they are cheating'! So do they really make such a difference?

I am now wondering if i keep wearing them will i get better and better and learn to be in a better position which they seem to help with (today i never once had a problem with stirrups etc as i usually grip with my knee if i'm trying to nudge them on/stay on:rolleyes:) Or will i become dependant on them to ride well and go back to being rubbish when i take them off?

Today was great fun. Was cantering for quite a bit without stirrups which i love and was super easy as felt extra secure. I have cantered before without stirrups(and without the chaps) and on the whole (or should i say on a big wide pony) it is fine, i almost prefer it as it keeps my legs where they should be. Stirrups seem to get in my way:confused:

So does anyone have an opinion on this. Do you think it'd be good to ride in them for a bit to get used to riding in this better position and then maybe it'll just become habit if you know what i mean OR do you think wearing them would only be good for the times when i'm wearing them and not help in the long run. Or maybe i should just ride without stirrups all the time:D:D
 
poohsmate said:
iv'e always felt i ride better in half chaps than long boots... and it just feels more comfortable.:D
Click to expand...

Me too - seems I just stay where I should be leg wise when I have my half chaps on - without my old legs seem to have a will of their own - sort of windmill like attitude with 'em!!!!:D
Maybe it just confirms what a totally crap rider I am?:o
 
i really did feel they helped. i'd love to just think i was having a good day but i feel i'd be kidding myself!

i also feel like sometimes my legs are disconnected from my brain, when i canter i feel balanced enough but for some reason my legs don't do what i ask them. Its like i have to really try hard to send the signal from my brain to my legs. With the chaps they definitely felt better, maybe its because they are quite stiff so harder to move my legs so they were just THERE, QUIET AND UNMOVING!!!
 
I always ride in my leather full chaps (because they are super cool!) and feel a bit naked without them so try and have a 'practise' without my chaps before competitions. I'm not sure they make me ride better or worse but the weight of them feels different to ride in and my leg always feels a little more 'free' without them!
 
Sofi P said:
I always ride in my leather full chaps (because they are super cool!) and feel a bit naked without them so try and have a 'practise' without my chaps before competitions. I'm not sure they make me ride better or worse but the weight of them feels different to ride in and my leg always feels a little more 'free' without them!
Click to expand...

Any pics?? i'd love to see them. Do they come right down to your heel the way your jeans would? Think my chaps may be a little short for me as thet stop just above my ankle. So mine don't look cool at all but they are cosy and seem to velcro me onto the pony!:D
 
P1000390.jpg


There you go! (This was at camp, the bunny ears made sense at the time!)
 
minkersmum said:
Now they are really cool, chaps lovely too:D:D

No seriously bunny ears reallly finish the look nicely!

Love the chaps, where can i get some??
Click to expand...

I wore those bunny ears for three days straight, these things are the norm at summer camp!

The chaps were custom made from www.customchap.com, the guy is based in australia but you send all your measurements off with the details of what you want and the guy only added postage charge after he'd had them weighed, and as you can see, so worth it!
 
Cortrasna said:
Now these chaps are the real thing!!!! Handmade to match the show tack - I'm so vain sometimes!

DSCN0161-1.jpg
Click to expand...

now i would be happy to wear something like these but mine are black suede with a forest green trim. Not very cool but very comfy and velcro-y:D

Might have to invest in some cool ones cos they definitely improved my riding and who is it on here always says look like a diddy ride like a diddy they'll know your a diddy. Look the part and they'll think you're havin an off day. I def looked like a diddy today, but i rode good and was warm as toast!


You look really good here, love the tack! I love the stripey saddle pad/ numnah thingy (not sure what the dif is or what is what sorry:confused:) But looks really nice.:)
 
I love riding in full chaps and I do swear they make you sit better! I had a pair handmade for me when I worked in a yard where we broke in a lot of yearling racehorses in the winter. Not only were the chaps so much warmer, but being suede, they stuck you to the saddle so you could cope with the naughty youngsters!
 
Luna Corona said:
I love riding in full chaps and I do swear they make you sit better! I had a pair handmade for me when I worked in a yard where we broke in a lot of yearling racehorses in the winter. Not only were the chaps so much warmer, but being suede, they stuck you to the saddle so you could cope with the naughty youngsters!
Click to expand...


They definitely do stick you to the saddle. Even if thats all they do, its enough to make my riding slightly better so i love them. Makes me feel i could sit out any naughtiness thrown my way too!
 
I found it really hard to go from rubber long boots, to joddy boots and then back again...

I now have a synthetic saddle, and that glues my backside down!!! It doesnt make you ride better as such, but helps you to relax more as there is more stability and grip :)
 
I guess that the chaps could provide more support for your leg and therefore more stability in your riding. Keep riding in them if they are helping.
 
Hehe...I love this thread!
I've got a pair of DISGUSTING mouldy green suede full chaps with matching mouldy grey fake sheepskin lining which are a good 2 or 3" too short for me; I can't bare them, and look like a complete clown in winter when I'm forced to wear them but they really do glue you to the saddle and they make me feel so much more secure.
Think I'll invest in some new ones but can't seem to find any that are reasonably OK looking, in suede for a decent price!
I do wear my magic (I've had them since I was 8 and they seem to have grown with me as they fit perfectly!) half chaps with joddy boots constantly and they have a suede panel, keeping my inside leg secure. Love them.
 
i ride better in half chaps and short boots then i do in long boots.

never rode in full chaps so cant comment there

but the only full chaps i have are waterproof so would be slippy imo.
 
newrider.com
Top Bottom