Full Seats v. Euro Seat

10/1/2018

If you ride dressage, you already know who wins. If you do a different kind of riding, you probably like one for some things and the other for other things. I am not one to disagree with your own preferences, but I learned this weekend that for this girl, it's full seats or nothing.

At the start of summer, which lasts a full six months in my neck of the woods, I bought three pairs of the Horze Juliet HyPer Flex Full Seat Tights. It was a smart move on my part as this summer ended up being nearly as brutal as last summer (and it's not over). There were 67 triple-digit days in 2017 and 54 triple-digit days this summer. Our normal is closer to 33.

I rode in nothing but those three pairs of tights all summer long. The only time I put something else on was for shows, and I sweat my butt off. As a side note, these tights wore amazingly well and look just the same as they did when I bought them.

Back when I bought them, but they really do look the same.

Over the weekend, we finally had a small break in the weather (highs in the low 80s). I decided to drag out an old pair of Piper breeches with a euro seat and knee patches. They're cute, and I have a belt that matches perfectly.

As cute as they are/were, they now live in my discard pile. As soon as I sat in my saddle, I realized how slick it really is. With nothing but Polyester and Spandex between my butt and the saddle, I was all over the place. And while my sitting trot has improved tremendously, I still need all the help I can get.

No more Euro seats for this girl. It's full seats every time, all the time. Can I get an amen?

SarahO link

10/1/2018 08:11:39 am

Want to sell some euro seats?? I recently bought a couple pairs of silicon full seats (before my only pair of full seats was suede) and after a number of rides I have decided I don't like them, they are too sticky for me and I feel if I get knocked out of position I can't fix it. My go to old cotton knee pad breaches are falling apart and I am looking for euro seats to replace them with

Bakersfield Dressage link

10/7/2018 03:42:24 pm

I only have the Horze silicone seats because they are more of a sueded feel than sticky. Some of the silicone I have felt have been WAY too sticky for my tastes, so I agree with you on that. :0)

Kristy B link

10/1/2018 09:06:18 am

I haven't gone back to knee patch breeches since I bought my dressage saddle. I think I might slide right off if I did!

I really would like to try some 3/4 seat breeches and see what they are like. I need a little less sticky in certain places and I think they would be ideal.

10/7/2018 03:46:46 pm

So far, I've never had any full seats that were too sticky, but I don't use silicone either. The exception is the Horze tights I found at Riding Warehouse (for summer riding) that have a super soft silicone that's not sticky at all. Perfect in fact. :0)

Carly

10/1/2018 11:05:47 am

I have one pair of (non-showing) full seats and I never use them because I always feel super stuck in my saddle. I'm definitely a knee patch girl myself!

10/7/2018 03:48:13 pm

It is so interesting that riders feel either stuck or loose! Maybe it depends on your saddle's seat. I slide all over the place without full seats.

Calm, Forward, Straight link

10/1/2018 04:23:56 pm

Can't handle the super sticky ones either. Seems to make it harder to adjust my position. Also - once got stuck to the saddle when dismounting on the first day of the only bnt clinic I ever attended - new saddle + new breeches. Super embarrassing.

10/7/2018 03:48:57 pm

Oh, how funny! I like a bit of texture, but not super sticky myself. :0)

Appydoesdressage link

10/5/2018 12:35:53 pm

I HATE the silicone breeches, they sit still while I am moving all around within the breeches. Um no? I like my full seats and avoid knee patches. If nothing else, full seats do much better at withstanding crotch and thigh wear!

10/7/2018 03:49:44 pm

"full seats do much better at withstanding crotch and thigh wear!" so true!!!!!

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Not-So-Speedy Dressage