What is a breech? It is a pair of pants that are designed to fit under tall horseback riding boots. The fabric of the riding breech is tapered below the knees so there is no extra bulk under your boot to rub your legs. Equestrian breeches either have Velcro just above the ankle, or elastic to hold the breech down so it will not ride up your leg while you put on your boots. We suggest that you wear thin tall boot socks over your breeches to make it easier to fit your boots over your breeches.

Correctly fitting English riding breeches must first be comfortable to wear. The knee patches should be at your knees, the waist should not gap at the back and the seams at the calf should be below the knee. Breeches are available in many types of fabrics and styles. You should choose your breeches based on a few criteria.

First, what are you using these breeches for schooling or training your horse or are these breeches for a horse show? Breeches that are proper for showing your horse usually come in a limited color variety. Correct horse show breech colors for hunters and equitation are usually tan, beige, gray, and occasionally rust. Dressage riders compete in white. Ariat offers many choices in breeches. Color-coordinate your breeches to your show coat. Tan breeches are best paired with navy, black, brown or green show coats. Light gray or charcoal show jackets match better with gray breeches.

Schooling breeches, that are ideal for practicing for shows or just trail riding your horse, come in any number of colors, and may be worn with half chaps and paddock boots. Many horseback riders like to show their personality in their riding apparel while schooling their horses.

Secondly, you must consider what style you want your breeches to be, form fitting like tights, or looser like pants. Breeches are also available in low rise and regular rise. The rise is the distance from the crotch of the pants up to the waistband. Relaxed fitting breeches can be very flattering. We carry brands of breeches that can be tailored to improve how they fit. You can tell if your breeches can be tailored by turning them inside out. Extra fabric in the seams indicates that the breeches can be tailored. Breeches made from four-way stretch fabric usually cannot be tailored. Schooling tights on the other hand are always more form fitted and many are available in styles that pull on without a zipper. Comfortable fitting breeches for schooling your horse are the key.

Thirdly, what season will you be in these breeches? Do you need lighter weight for summer, or fleece for winter? Breeches come in cotton blends and synthetics. Though cotton breeches can be very soft and comfortable, synthetics and blends are far more efficient at wicking away perspiration. Some brands such as Irideon manufacture a fabulous wind-proof breech line available in beige for formal wear and black for schooling. We also carry long underwear designed to fit under breeches for an extra layer of warmth during fox hunting or a cold winter indoor horse show series.