Breeches (riding trousers)

Breeches are riding trousers cut so that the inside of the knees and thighs have no thick seams or folds that would chafe while riding. They are stretchy, close-fitting and usually have grip patches of leather, suede or silicone on the inside of the knees or across the whole seat, which improves adherence to the saddle.

By grip they divide into knee-grip breeches, which show jumpers often prefer for freedom in the light seat, and full-seat (full-grip) breeches, favoured in dressage for a more stable seat. Riding leggings are a more comfortable sports version for training. Under tall riding boots breeches with a thin hem are worn, and with short boots and half chaps jodhpurs also work.

At competitions the colour is set by the rules: in show jumping white or light beige breeches are worn, in dressage, according to the SJF Dressage Rules, white or beige.

Practical tip: when trying them on in the fitting room, squat or take a position as in the saddle. Breeches must not pull at the knee or bunch up under the calf. If you are just starting to ride, comfortable leggings without thick inside seams are enough for the first lessons, as a riding instructor in Bratislava and the surrounding area will also tell you.