Bakersfield Dressage
  • Home
  • About
  • My Horses
    • Horses
    • Imperioso
    • G Ima Starr FA
    • Sunshine
    • Nakota and Gideon
    • Corky
    • Sassy
    • Montoya DSA
    • Mickey Dee
    • Sydney
  • Show Results
    • 2022
    • 2021
    • 2020
    • 2019
    • 2018
    • 2017
    • 2016
    • 2015
    • 2014
    • 2013
    • 2012
    • 2011
    • 2010
  • Dressage Organizations
    • Dressage Organizations
    • Memberships
    • 2019 Dressage Tests
  • Local
    • Shopping List

Not-So-Speedy Dressage

From Endurance to Dressage

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.
Picture
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.

Bakersfield Dressage link
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!

Bakersfield Dressage link
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.

Bakersfield Dressage link
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!

Bakersfield Dressage link
10/7/2018 03:49:44 pm

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


Comments are closed.

    About the Writer and Rider

    ​I am a lifelong rider. 
    I began endurance riding in 1996 where I ultimately completed five, one-day 100 mile races, the 200-mile Death Valley Encounter, and numerous other 50, 65, and 75 mile races. I began showing dressage in 2010.
    ​Welcome to my dressage journey.
    Picture
    Photo by Lori Ovanessian

    About Speedy G

    ​Speedy went from endurance horse to dressage horse. After helping me earn a USDF Bronze medal in the summer of 2020, he is now semi-retired. Speedy is a 2004, 15'1 hand, purebred Arabian gelding. His Arabian Horse Registry name is G Ima Starr FA.
    Picture
    July 2020 (PC AJSK Photography)

    About Izzy

    Izzy was started as a four-year old and then spent the next 18 months in pasture growing up. I bought him as a six-year old, and together, we are showing at the lower levels. He is a 2008, 16'3 hand warmblood gelding. His Rheinland Pfalz-saar International (RPSI) name is Imperioso.
    Picture
    March 2021 (PC Tess Michelle Photography)

    Picture
    Bakersfield Dressage approved!
    Picture
    My favorite breeches!
    Picture
    FOR THE SMALLER EQUINE ATHLETE
    Picture
    I love her stuff!
    Picture
    Watercolor Artist and Friend

    National Rider Awards

    Picture
    USDF Bronze Medal - 2020
    Picture
    USDF Second Level Rider Performance Award - 2018
    Picture
    USDF First Level Rider Performance Award - 2015
    Picture
    USDF Training Level Rider Performance Award - 2013

    State Rider Awards
    Picture
    CDS Ruby Rider Award - 2018

    State Horse Awards
    Picture
    Speedy G - 3rd Level Horse Performance Award - 2020
    Picture
    Speedy G - 2nd Level Horse Performance Award - 2018

    Working Towards:

    CDS Sapphire Rider Award
    Third Level: 63.514%
    Third Level: 62.105%
    Fourth Level:
    Fourth Level:

    2023 Show Season

    Show Rating
    (***) CDS/USDF/USEF 
    (*) CDS
    (s) Schooling
    (c) Clinic
    (r) Ride-a-Test Clinic
    2023 Show Schedule
    TBD

    ​2023 Completed …
    Pending

    2023 Qualifying Scores 

    Regional Adult Amateur Competition (RAAC)  
    Qualifying Training Level
    3 Scores/2 Judges/60%:
    Score 1:
    Score 2:
    Score 3:

    Archives
    ​By Topic

    All
    Abscess
    Art
    Arthritis
    Awards
    Books
    Cabin
    California Barn Life
    Captain Awesome
    CDL Class A License
    Centerlinescores
    Championships
    Chiropractor
    Clinics
    Clothing
    Cushing's Disease
    Defeating The Demon
    DIY
    Dogs
    Double Bridle
    Dressage On The Trail
    EHV-1
    Endurance Photos
    Farrier
    Find Your Joy
    First Level
    Fluphenazine
    Flying Changes
    Fourth Level
    Fox Hunting
    Freedom Feeder
    Frustration
    Gizmos
    Grooming
    Half Pass
    Headshaking
    Horse Maintenance
    Horses Are Expensive
    Horses Are Expensive 3.0
    Horses Are Expensive II
    Hunter/jumper Stuff
    Imperioso
    Introductory Level
    Izzys Leg
    Just For Fun
    Lessons With Chemaine
    Lessons With Lois
    Lessons With STC Dressage
    Local Stuff
    M.A.R.E.
    Memberships
    Micklem Bridle
    Mt. Self Doubt
    Musings
    My 5 Things
    My Horses
    Nesting
    On The Levels
    Photos
    Pivo Pod
    Platinum Performance
    Poles
    Polls
    Pulley Rein
    Raac
    Retirement?
    Rider Fitness
    Riding Figures
    Right Lead Canter
    Road ID
    Saddle Fitting
    Schooling
    Score Sheets
    Second Level
    Shopping
    Show Costs
    Showing
    Sitting Trot
    Sliding Side Reins
    Soldier
    Speedy's Leg
    Tack
    The Elephants
    The Jar
    The Warm Up Ring
    Third
    Third Level
    Tips From A Pro
    Toys
    Trailering
    Training
    Travel
    Ulcers
    Vet Care
    Video
    Videos
    Weird But True
    Year In Review


    Archives
    ​By Date

    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011


Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Home
  • About
  • My Horses
    • Horses
    • Imperioso
    • G Ima Starr FA
    • Sunshine
    • Nakota and Gideon
    • Corky
    • Sassy
    • Montoya DSA
    • Mickey Dee
    • Sydney
  • Show Results
    • 2022
    • 2021
    • 2020
    • 2019
    • 2018
    • 2017
    • 2016
    • 2015
    • 2014
    • 2013
    • 2012
    • 2011
    • 2010
  • Dressage Organizations
    • Dressage Organizations
    • Memberships
    • 2019 Dressage Tests
  • Local
    • Shopping List