Not-So-Speedy Dressage
From Endurance to Dressage
HorseLoverz.com is a great shopping resource, but you have to really know what you want. They run amazing sales, but you often get what you pay for. Case in point: they are having a sale on their Ashley line of breeches. The price was simply too good to pass up so I ordered 5 pairs: 2 pair of the full seat, and 3 pair with knee patches. The total was $111 and some change. Here is what someone else had to say about this brand on COTH: This has pretty much been my feeling about the breeches, and since the fit was barely "okay," I returned them.
I am pretty picky about breeches. I like to have a lot of stretch (these had virtually none), I really like a pocket (okay in that department), I prefer little to no cotton (these were 95% cotton), and I like a ribbed fabric (these were smooth). I couldn't justify keeping five pair of breeches that were a miss in three out of four categories just because it was inconvenient to return them. I kept one pair though. I really wanted them to work, even though they had no stretch, so I used one pair of the full seats during a recent lesson. Once they stretched out a bit (during wear) they were serviceable, but just barely. It was particularly hot and humid that day, and I almost ran back home to change; they were that uncomfortable. I think that they'll be better as winter breeches when I don't need them to fit my sweaty, heat enlarged body. After I got home and stripped them off, I looked over at the rest of the breeches, still in their packaging, and thought, no way I want a drawerful of these things! I'd rather be out the $8.50 it will cost to return them (prepaid shipping label included) than to be stuck with $70 worth of breeches that I don't want to wear. The breeches I prefer are the Tough Rider Low Rise Ribbed Breech at about $40 a pair. I could send the Ashely's back and order at least one pair of the Tough Riders. But since I don't even need breeches right now, I'll just bank the return money for a later day. And besides, there is a pair of show breeches I've had my eye on. I'd rather buy those in a few months than ride around in breeches I hate.
Karen
9/12/2013 12:01:29 pm
Unfortunately, I LOVE breeches, so I own nearly 20 pair! Ack! I go for comfort over style so find that the Tuff Riders meet my needs. I also have a few pair of Irideons, but since they don't have a pocket, I don't use them as frequently as the TRs. I am always looking for other well fitting, comfortable brands, though.
Karen
9/12/2013 12:03:04 pm
A little steep in price for my style of wear. I am hard on my clothes with cleaning stalls, moving sprinklers, and doing other barn chores. :0)
Ah, the allure of discounts and deals! Too bad they were that horrible, no wonder the website is discounting them so much!
Karen
9/12/2013 12:05:27 pm
I have two ventilators. I keep mine white by changing as soon as my tests are over. Same thing with my breeches. This keeps the stains to a minimum. It's a pain to change, but it's easier on clothes. I also wear scrubs over my breeches to keep them cleaner as I tack up. I wash my show clothes in cold water and hang to dry. I think the trick is getting out of them ASAP. :0)
Karen
9/12/2013 12:07:45 pm
They look nice, but I have a hard time shelling out that much money! The Tuff Riders are so comfy and suit my rough and tough barn life. If I didn't do so much work at the barn, I might spring for more expensive wear, but since I am filthy by day's end, the lower priced breeches seem to be the most economical choice. Comments are closed.
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About the Writer and RiderI 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. About Speedy GSpeedy 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.
About IzzyIzzy 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.
National Rider AwardsState Rider Awards
State Horse Awards
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
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