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Not-So-Speedy Dressage

From Endurance to Dressage

How Many Breeches do I Need?

10/30/2014

12 Comments

 
Probably just four: two for schooling and two for showing.

Someone started a blog hop about the number of breeches that we all own. I don't generally participate in blog hops, not because they aren't interesting, but because I am too lazy to figure out how to add my URL to the list. But this topic, the number of breeches I own, is timely since I just added four new pair to my already ridiculous pile.

I should start with a short story …

When I first started riding endurance, back in 1996, I thought breeches were only for jumpers. After doing some conditioning rides in jeans, I discovered that ANYTHING other than jeans would have to be more comfortable. Since online shopping wasn't quite as easy back then, finding breeches was a little challenging. 

Instead of breeches, I opted for leggings from Target. They were black and far more comfortable than jeans, but they didn't last very long. They tended to get pretty thin and see through. Once I got to know a few endurance riders, I discovered that there were endurance vendors who sold riding tights geared for endurance. I was hooked.

My favorite pair were a super loud giraffe print. I had plenty of others in all kinds of wild colors and prints including electric blue, copper, shiny burgundy, and a cool pair of hot pink paint splatter (down below). I also had many pairs in standard black and brown.
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I wouldn't wear them now, but in my late 20s and early 30s, they were fun!
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These were BRIGHT!
I share this so you get a feel for my love of riding pants. I still own four pair of endurance tights, three of which are made by a company that have long since gone out of business. 

I answered my question from above: how many pair of riding breeches do I need. The more important question should be: how many pairs of breeches do I own? The simple answer is too many. Why I have so many pair is a mystery to me, especially since I like to wear one pair over and over. Somehow, being filthy makes them more comfortable.

Since I added a few new pair to the collection, I needed to empty out my two drawers set aside for breeches so that I could make room for the newcomers. Here is what I found.
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Three pair of new Piper Breeches ...
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Three pair of Carousel pull on tights - two with padded knees and bum, one pair with padded knees only. I ADORE the pair on the far right. I'll weep when they're gone.
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Top - one pair of Ashley full seats which I HATE and NEVER wear; bottom left - one pair of Sticky Seat breeches, and bottom right - one pair of Platinum breeches (both of which I like but save for winter riding as they are a bit thick.
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Four pair of Irideons - the top two are the Cadence pull on, bottom left are polar fleece, and the navy pair are the regular Irideon pull on tights. The Cadence breeches are okay for winter, the polar fleece are usually too warm, and the tights are my least favorite of the bunch.
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This is my go-to pile; they get the most use. I have four pair of Ovation low rise breeches - top row, and two pair of the thick waist band, Euroseat Ovations. I love all 6 pair and wear them the most.
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I keep my show breeches in the trailer, but this pair happened to be at home because they need a small repair, but there are two other pair in the trailer which brings the show breech count to three.
I certainly don't need all of these breeches. As it is, I wear the same pair most of the week. And even though I ride five to seven days a week, it would still take me almost three consecutive weeks of daily riding to get through the entire pile. There is nothing else in my life that I hoard. As a general rule, I am frugal, conservative, and hate waste.

I guess we all have that one thing … So what was my total count?
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Twenty-two pairs of breeches (two not pictured)
I would really like to know how many pairs you all own. Is your count anything like mine?
12 Comments
Tracy link
10/29/2014 11:27:33 pm

Oh man! I don't own that many, but I do have more than I need... probably around 10 or so? LOL

Reply
emma link
10/30/2014 12:23:48 am

nice collection! i'd LOVE to see the giraffe print tights get broken out for a dressage schooling show lol - they'd def get some attention :)

Reply
Lauren link
10/30/2014 12:51:53 am

Jealous of your breech riches! I don't have many pairs now since I've been paying off debt, but next year shall be 'the year of the breeches' I think!

Reply
Sarah link
10/30/2014 04:01:03 am

OMG what a collection! =D

Reply
Jan link
10/30/2014 04:29:59 am

What an incredible collection!

I have too many, and of course I only wear 2 or 3 on a regular basis, and I also repeat uses before washing. I like the cadace irideon breeches (not full seat) and FITS (the regular full seat ones, I forget their name).

I think I have 7 pairs of irideon (most have seen enough wear and tear I don't use them much anymore, and the rest aren't as comfortable or are for show use only), and I have 4 full seat FITS (2 for show use only).

My black FITS have seen the most abuse and rivil my black irideons for wear and tear! Yet they are both my favorites so I keep on wearing them.

Reply
jenj
10/30/2014 05:23:07 am

Wow, that's quite a collection! Next time my husband says I have too many, I will point him to this blog entry... :D

Reply
Appydoesdressage
10/30/2014 07:41:35 am

I have 13 schooling breeches (3 winter breeches, if that makes the number any better?!?) and 4 show breeches. I regularly only use probably 3 pairs of schooling breeches, why so many more? Can't help it!

Reply
Bakersfield Dressage link
10/30/2014 09:24:24 am

Oh my goodness … I am so embarrassed! I thought I was maybe in the middle of "number of breeches" owned. I am definitely CUT-OFF until I start wearing some of these suckers out and the number is thinned down. :0)

Reply
AareneX link
10/30/2014 01:01:41 pm

I own exactly ***mumble mumble mumble* number of pairs of breeches. Oh, plus those mumblemumble sets of polar fleece breeches. And I guess this other mumble sets count too?

Final answer: More. Than. You.

How embarrassing.

Reply
bonita link
10/30/2014 08:51:40 pm

Six. One white pair dedicated to showing, two for when I'm pregnant/fat and three for when I'm not carrying all the baby weight any longer. The preggo ones are getting a hard work out with two little ones already, and a third on the way!

I wish I had a few more pairs, but I'm the same as you ~ I tend to wear the same dirty ones over and over again, because somehow clean breeches are like a clean horse; just not comfortable until they are covered in muck! ;D

Reply
Austen link
10/31/2014 05:36:41 am

Wow! That's a lot of breeches! I have 4 pairs of schooling full seats, one pair of white show breeches, and 2 pairs of knee patch breeches (in the process of selling these...). I also have a really old pair of tights I need to just throw away at this point (holes in the knees!), and a pair of full seat polar fleece. Oh! And a pair of winter full seat pants, that I actually bought as ski pants. :)

Reply
Ashley G
11/2/2014 11:48:49 pm

I have 2. I wish I had more. :,( I have one set of TuffRider Ribbed lowrise KP which I love but are thinning in the lady bits and a pair of Devon-Aire X Wear Sensation Tights that I HATE. :( I'll take your worn out hand me downs.

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    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.
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    ​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.
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    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.
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  • Home
  • About
  • My Horses
    • Horses
    • Imperioso
    • G Ima Starr FA
    • Sunshine
    • Nakota and Gideon
    • Corky
    • Sassy
    • Montoya DSA
    • Mickey Dee
    • Sydney
  • Show Results
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    • 2015
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