In the equestrian world, your horse riding equipment is not complete unless you have the perfect riding outfit on to wear as well.
The best horse riding outfit requires you to pick just the right color of breeches, and to accessorize them with tall riding boots, a great riding shirt, gloves, a riding helmet,, and a body protector (optional).
Choosing the best riding breeches that are most suitable for your riding needs isn’t as simple as slipping into your favorite jeans.
Riding breeches come in several styles, with exceptional features. There are tons of choices available for purchase, but we’ve narrowed down the search to the top five best riding breeches on the market in 2022.
Overall Best Riding Breeches
1. BALEAF Women’s Horse Riding Pants
They are made with lightweight and super soft material that permits optimal movement. This brand is also a perfect choice when it comes to summer riding.
A comfortable and elastic mid-rise waistband with belt loops means you don’t have to worry about your pants slipping and bunching while riding. These are a comfortable option for riding lessons or evening rides.
The non-slip silicone grip design means that your legs can be held comfortably in your paddock boots without worrying about slippage.
Pockets on both sides of the breeches are convenient for stashing your phone or some treats for your horse while riding.
These breeches are sold in seven different sizes, so you don’t have to worry about finding the perfect fit. Inseams that might have caused friction against your horse with older style breeches have been remodeled by KOBALEAF, so you don’t have to worry about bruising your horse while riding.
Pros
- Comfortable and lightweight
- Stretchy
- Value for money
- Side pockets
- Elastic waistband with belt loops
- Affordable
- Not transparent
- Fits to size
Cons
- Material can feel too thick to some
Best Full-Seat Riding Breeches
2. HR Farm Women’s Full Seat Silicone Grip Breeches
You don’t have to worry about tears in these breeches because they are sturdy and durable.
The silicone-filled seat offers a very sturdy grip while riding which is a major plus. This feature is handy especially when you’re riding on a leather saddle, which can cause irritation.
Features like 4 zip-up pockets in the front and back mean that you have ample space for your phone, horse treats, and whatever you might need to carry during your ride.
For riders who aren’t very comfortable with the very high waist on some riding breeches, HR Farm’s breeches have a more comfortable middle-rise waist fit. This custom design is great for both cold weather and general style.
The cotton blend knit fabric offers different color choices and styles, so you don’t have to compromise on a quality look. These breeches also feature an elastic lycra sock bottom that provides a streamlined, comfortable fit.
Pros
- Silicone grip full seat
- 4-way zip-up cell phone pocket
- Middle rise waist
- High-quality stretch material
- Breathable fabric
- Affordable and comfortable
- Fit to size
Cons
- May become too stretched out in the long run
Best Knee-Cap Riding Breeches
3. TuffRider Women’s Ribb Regular Knee Patch Breeches
A combination of 92% polyester and 8% Spandex makes these a great option for daily riding. The ribbed fabric guarantees a perfect fit that allows for ample leg movement and comfortable wear.
The easy-care machine washable fabric requires warm water and mild detergent for easy cleaning. These can then be tumble-dried.
Designed with durability and comfort in mind, TuffRiders’ UltraGripp knee patches also add riding stability. The sock bottoms fit rather smoothly inside of boots, and are available in a range of several colors.
Pros
- Machine washable
- High-quality ribbed fabric
- High waist with belt loops
- Contoured sock bottoms
- UltraGripp knee patch
- Daily use perfect
- Fit to size
Cons
- More suitable for tall boots
Best Budget Riding Breeches
4. Willit Women’s Riding Tights Knee-Patch Breeches
The addition of UPF50 fabric means you don’t have to worry about sunburn or harmful damages from UV rays as this material keeps you protected from the sun’s rays.
These breeches are breathable and moisture-absorbing. They are also multi-functional, making them perfect for other sporty uses.
These breeches are a beautiful mix of fashion and class, and you can choose between 5 different shades of black and grey. The silicone knee patch is made from high-quality material that guarantees non-slip.
They come with two zippered front pockets for horse treats, wallets, and keys. Belt loops complement the wide-waist fit, and a sock-accommodating style bottom allows for easy wearing when you slide into your boots.
Pros
- High-Quality silicone knee patch
- Deep Zippered front pockets
- Colour variety
- UPF50 UV rays protection
- Affordable
- Fit to size
- Value for money
Cons
- Some customers state the material can be slippery when riding
Best Comfortable Riding Breeches
5. HORZE Active Women’s Horse Riding Silicone Grip Full Seat Breeches
These riding pants are breathable and comfortable. They are designed to be worn comfortably over a long period of time, and are particularly suited for casual riding or training purposes.
The brand of breeches is both comfortable to wear and easy to care for. They are machine washable and come with a single front zippered pocket for horse treats.
A polka-dotted silicone grip in the sitting area provides extra security and control when you’re riding. These quality breeches also come with elastic leg bottoms so your riding boots won’t keep sliding off.
Pros
- Button closure
- Polka dot silicone grip
- Jersey feel fabric
- Breathable fabric
- Machine washable
Cons
- Some customers state that they are not as durable
- Not suitable for cold weather
Types Of Horse Riding Breeches
Riding breeches are English equestrian riding pants that are designed to help riders stay comfortable while in the saddle. To achieve this purpose, they’re made to fit snugly around the seat, the thighs, and the legs.
Breeches are designed to allow your horse to feel every movement of your legs. They are designed to fit snugly and to not cause friction to the horse while you’re riding.
Riding breeches are typically made from stretch fabric that allows for extra freedom of movement. They also let riders sit most comfortably in the horse’s saddle.
Riding breeches are made from comfortable fabrics that offer either a two-way or a four-way stretch. Breeches can be made from cotton, synthetic fabric, denim, or stretch corduroy. These fabrics can also have bonus features such as stain- resistance or the ability to soak up moisture.
There are 2 types of breeches for horse riding: knee-patch breeches and full-seat riding breeches.
Knee-Patch Breeches
Knee-patch breeches come with a layer of faux suede, silicone grip, or some other type of textile in “patches” along the inner section of the knees. These patches offer extra grip and add durability for riders who need to maintain a two-point or jumping position.
This feature makes knee-patch breeches the preferred choice of hunter/jumper riders and hunt riders. They are mostly worn by event riders in the jumping phases of three-phase horse trials. Beige, khaki, grey, and darker colors are worn for the hunter riding style, while white is commonly worn for those engaged in jumper riding.
Full-Seat Riding Breeches
Full-seat breeches utilize silicone grip, faux suede, high-quality leather, or some other grippy textile along the seat, inner thighs, and down to the knees.
Most full seat designs cover the area entirely for a sturdy and continuous grip, while some have segmented sections for enhanced free movement.
This style helps the rider maintain a deep and stickier seat, which in turn helps the rider stay seated securely while riding.
While any color can be worn for everyday use, dressage riders commonly wear white breeches or light-colored breeches during competitions.
Color And Range Of Riding Breeches
For horse riding competitions the color choice has remained conservative, however, there are several fun colors to choose from for casual riders.
You can choose different patterns, embellishments, and contrast stitching. They also come in different sizes to suit all body types.
Modern beeches vary in type and construction so that they can suit most individual preferences. The inclusion of narrow and wide waistband pull-on style, elastic waistband, low, mid, or high waist, side/ front zippers, and leg pockets mean your riding breeches don’t have to be boring.
Most breeches are now made from thick and nontransparent fabric to minimize any discoloration. These materials are also breathable and can absorb sweat and UV rays.
How To Maintain Your Breeches
Although made from quality materials and designed for strong use, your breeches can be ruined accidentally by wearing or washing them improperly.
Here are a few wash and care tips to preserve and maintain the quality of your horse riding pants:
- Always turn your pants inside out before washing; this is even more important for pants with a silicone sitting grip. This protects the silicone, reducing the possibility of anything sticking to the pants.
- Coldwater washes only: using hot water will not only shorten the lifespan of the silicone seat, but will also damage the spandex fibers in the fabric.
- Be careful with the use of bleach; try to avoid frequent use of it
- Wash light colors separately. Modern fabrics and eco-friendly fabrics have a high rate of absorbing color easily from other garments.
- Dry away from direct sunlight to minimize fading.
- Do not tumble dry.
- Avoid washing with other garments if you can.
- Use leather conditioner on washable leather apparel if or if your leather pants become hardened.
- Roll clean leather breeches in a clean towel to mop up excess water and dry them faster without the risk of excess hardening.
How To Avoid Color Change In White Or Light Colored Breeches
You might notice your white or light-colored riding breeches having a yellow tinge, and you’re not sure why. Here is a list of things not to do if you want to avoid discoloration.
Chlorine
While chlorine bleach is great for cleaning and disinfecting, it can cause yellowing if overused. When used on white synthetic fibers like nylon, microfibers, polyester, spandex, bleach can also cause color changes. The bleach weakens the pants fibers, which then reverts the synthetic polymers back to their original yellow color.
Fabrics made from natural fibers such as cotton and tencel can turn yellow when they are exposed to too much chlorine bleach. Bleach overuse can also cause white clothes to turn yellow when hung in the sun to dry.
Water
Dirt deposits or a direct water supply containing metals such as iron or manganese will react chemically with white or light-colored fabric, causing yellowish-brown stains.
Detergent/Softener
When you use too much detergent or fabric softener without rinsing it completely, the high heat of the dryer can cake residue into the pant fibers, allowing them to turn yellow.
To Have The Best Riding Experience, Wear The Best Riding Breeches
Comfort is key when horseback riding, and selecting the right breeches is an important step in that direction. To maximize your riding experience and performance, choosing a suitable pair of breeches based on your own style and pattern preferences is key.
We’ve narrowed down your possibilities by sharing the best ones available for purchase today. However, if we had to choose the single best riding breeches on the market, our top choice is the BALEAF Women’s Horse Riding Pants. They are comfortable, offer good value for their price, offer UV ray protection, and are breathable.
If you’re looking for more reviews on riding gear, be sure to browse through our website for more helpful riding content!