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In addition to the obvious belt loops hold a belt to keep your pants up our breech product descriptions mention belt loops. Why? In equestrian sports, belt loops run through with a belt are the most classic turnout a rider can present for schooling, lessons or showing
If you will be riding in formal lessons, clinics or competition, your breeches should have belt loops, and they should be threaded through with a belt. If you remove a top layer, such as a vest, or if show jackets are waived due to heat, your riding shirt should be neatly tucked. Empty belt loops reflect poor rider turnout.
Compression
Compression fabrics are woven with built-in stretch in such a way as to provide a very snug fit. Breeches or riding tights made with compression fabric hug the rider's skin and support the muscles, which in turn helps reduce muscle fatigue and swelling, and can smooth out the look of the rider's legs
If you wish to smooth out the look of your skin and curves, compression tights or breeches are a good choice. They are also a smart choice if you will wear your breeches for long periods. The compression will help reduce vibrations in your muscles and thus, help to prevent muscle fatigue.
Covered waistband
Inside the waistband, fabric prevents the back of the closure hardware, such as a snap or hook-eye clasp, from touching your skin.
A covered waistband could be helpful to you if you have sensitive skin or if you do not wear your riding shirt tucked inside your breeches.
Full seat
Faux suede, genuine leather, silicone grip or some other grippy textile runs along the seat, inner thighs and down over the insides of the knees. Most full seats cover the area entirely to provide consistent contact and grip, but some have segmented panels intended to enhance the rider's freedom of motion. Regardless of the cut, the full seat provides the dressage rider with "stick".
A breech with a full seat is called a full-seat breech.
If you are working in dressage while wearing knee-patch breeches, consider trying a breech or riding tight with a full seat. The extra grip it provides, once you become accustomed to the feel, should help you maintain a deep and secure seat, which in turn helps with the execution of subtle aids. Many three-phase event riders also wear full seats in the cross-country phase for extra grip.
Knee patches
A layer of faux suede, silicone grip, some other textile or even self-fabric is placed in "patches" along the inner aspect of the knees. The patches offer grip and/or add durability to the breech for those riders who need to maintain two-point or jumping position.
A breech with knee patches is referred to as a knee-patch breech.
If you are a hunter, jumper or hunt rider, a knee-patch breech is your classic choice. Three-phase event riders also favor kneepatch breeches for jumping. If you enjoy pleasure riding in an English discipline, the comfort of a knee-patch breech or riding tight is also a perfect choice for you.
Pull-On
Pull-on styling means the breech has no front zipper, similar to a tight. The elasticized waistband may or may not have belt loops
For the comfort of a riding tight and the classic features of a breech, consider a pull-on style with belt loops.
Riding tights
The equestrian equivalent of yoga pants, riding tights are exceptionally comfortable, sporty, economical and easy-care. They are available in full seat and knee patch styles and for women, teens and kids. Soft, stretch jersey fabrics may provide moisture wicking, UV protection and breathability.
Riding tights can feel so comfortable and unrestrictive you may forget you're wearing equestrian apparel. If you ride every day, keep to a strict budget, love the comfort of yoga pants or fashion leggings, then riding tights are for you. If you love color, look for the many colorful styles of tights.
Rise
Rise refers to the distance from the middle of the crotch seam to the top of the waistband front. It usually ranges from 7" - 11", and it determines where the breech sits on your body.
Rise is important as it can alter your figure visually, making you look your best or compromising your waistline for the worst. Generally, low rise sits below the belly button, midrise is near the belly button and high rise is above it.
In breeches, the term "modified rise" refers to a low or lower-midrise that comes up higher in back for complete coverage in the saddle.
Consider your proportions in choosing a rise. If you have an average build and are fit, you can probably wear any rise with success. However, if you plan to compete, you must consider how your show coat will look when paired with a low-rise breech, and most likely opt for a mid or high rise. These rises often work best with the waistline of show coats.
If you are short-waisted or petite, a highrise breech may sit uncomfortably high and work to further shorten the look of your torso. Try a mid or low rise. Conversely, if you have a long torso or shorter legs though you're of average height, a low rise will make you look out of proportion. Try a mid or high rise.
Side zipper
Side-zip breeches (for hunter/jumper disciplines) are somewhat rare these days but are available. As a fashion trend, most breeches have a front-zip closure. A side-zip breech has a flat front and usually, angled front pockets.
Hunter/jumper riders have the option to wear a side-zip breech as a matter of personal taste. Both side-zip and front-zip closures are appropriate for schooling or showing in the hunter/jumper disciplines. Choose the look that is most flattering and comfortable on you.
Silicone print
A silicone application is applied as a full seat or knee patch on the outer surface of the breech or riding tight to provide grip against the saddle. The print pattern varies according to manufacturer. Silicone is flexible and stretchy, which may provide a feeling of less restriction to a rider.
If you are looking for enhanced "stick" in either a full seat or a knee patch breech, a silicone print style is worth a try. The silicone print will give you more stick and more flexibility. Without the layer of extra textile as the seat or patch, the fabric in the area will feel thinner and put you in closer contact to the feel of the saddle; some like this, some don't. It becomes a matter of personal taste.
Soft shell
Soft shell is a woven, matte-finish outerwear fabric that is smooth, resilient and somewhat soft. It sheds light water, but is not considered waterproof, blocks wind and sun and provides stretch for mobility. It is often bonded to microfleece on the inside surface to offer light insulation next to the wearer's body.
Soft shell breeches present and maintain a classic look. For winter riding, soft shell breeches with bonded microfleece inside help keep you warmer. For formal lessons and clinics, soft shell breeches may be your best choice for maintaining a polished look without sacrificing warmth.
Sock bottom
Also called sock-style bottoms, stretch cuffs, stretch panels, contour panels and related terms, sock bottoms on breeches are an alternative to the classic hook-and-loop ankle closure. The breech leg hem is replaced all or in part with a stretchy fabric or mesh that conforms to your lower leg and ankle. The design provides a smooth, seamless, bulk-free fit inside boots or half chaps.
For some people, a stretchy sock bottom makes all the difference in comfort when worn inside a boot or half chap. It is a matter of personal taste, a sleek fit and functionality rather than fashion or tradition.
Winter tights
Riding tights are available in heavyweight fabrics that may block wind and have either a fleece or microfleece lining for warmth.
Winter riding tights are a practical, cozy choice when long hours are spent at the barn in winter and for riding in cold temperatures. The fleece serves as insulation and wicks dampness away from your skin.
Which Breech is Right for Me—or Do I Need Tights? Riders wear breeches in English riding disciplines for daily riding, training and showing. Once you’ve ridden in a pair, you’ll feel how much more comfortable they are than riding in jeans—even for those leisurely trail rides. Why? Breeches are athletically-inspired pants designed to help you stay comfortable and be effective in the saddle. They’re made to fit snugly throughout the seat, thighs and legs without bunching or shifting. Pant legs end in hems that remain neat, prevent the pants from rising up or twisting and feel free of bulk when tucked in tall boots or half chaps.
All breeches and riding tights are made of fabrics that provide either two-way or four-way stretch. Built-in stretch is necessary to give you full mobility and unrestricted freedom of movement, despite the close fit. Fabrics, features and price points are where riding breech designs begin to diverge. Breeches can be made of some type of economical cotton blend knit, finely ribbed synthetic fabric, stretch denim fabric or a highly technical microfiber with advanced properties, such as water- and stain- resistance, moisture wicking or thermoregulation.
Breech colors for competition remain conservative (as described in the United States Equestrian Federation Rulebook), but for schooling or pleasure riding, anything goes from classic to bright colors and plaids to eye-catching trims. Contrast top stitching, embroidery, crystal embellishments or color blocking can please the most fashion-conscious rider, while plenty of breeches maintain a traditional look for timeless performance.
Construction features vary to suit every rider’s taste, including low, mid or traditional/high rises, wide or narrow waistbands, pockets front and back, stretchy cuffs or hook-and-loop ankle closures, front-zip or side-zip and more. Regardless of fabric, brand, style features and price point, two main types of breeches exist: knee-patch or full-seat. The type that is right for you depends on your main riding discipline.
Knee-Patch Breeches This type of breech has a layer of faux suede, silicone grip or some other textile in “patches” along the inner aspect of the knees. The patches offer grip and add durability for those riders who need to maintain two-point or jumping position. This functionality makes knee-patch breeches the classic choice of hunter/jumper riders and hunt riders, and they are often worn by event riders in the jumping phases of three-phase horse trials.
Full-Seat Breeches This type of breech has faux suede, genuine leather, silicone grip or some other grippy textile along the seat, inner thighs and down to the knees. Most full seats cover the area entirely for consistent grip, but some have segmented panels for enhanced freedom of motion. Regardless of the cut, the full seat provides the dressage rider with “stick.” It helps the rider maintain a deep and secure seat, which in turn helps with the execution of subtle weight and seat aids. Many event riders choose full-seat breeches for the dressage phase of three-phase horse trials and may also wear them cross-country for extra grip.
Where Do Riding Tights Fit In? The equestrian equivalent of yoga pants, riding tights are exceptionally comfortable, economical and easy-care—perfect for pleasure riding or schooling, but not for competition. They come with either knee patches or a full seat, so you can choose a tight to fit your discipline. They also come in an array of stretch knits from summer-weight to all-season/mid-weight to fleece-lined. The comfort and ease of riding tights makes them a staple of many riders’ wardrobes across disciplines and a favorite of beginning riders.
Appliqué A piece or pieces of fabric sewn onto a garment to create a picture or pattern.
Breathable A fabric woven in such a way as to allow air to pass through the weave.
Ballistic nylon A tough, synthetic fabric that was originally developed for use in World War II military jackets to protect the wearer from flying debris. Its durability makes it popular for use in horse blankets.
Cadence™ Fabric Exclusive to Irideon®, this is a synthetic, corded fabric comprised of 92% nylon and 8% Lycra. It is light in weight, breathable and offers four-way stretch; it can be machine washed and dried.
Chamisoft™ Found in full seats and knee patches in the Irideon breech line, Chamisoft is a grippy, durable synthetic suede comprised of 55% nylon and 45% polyurethane.
Channel Rib™ A stretchy, lightweight synthetic fabric that conforms to the body.
Clarino® Clarino is the brand name for a synthetic material that resembles leather. It can look like either suede or top grain leather; it is machine washable.
CoolMax® A wickable, synthetic fabric particularly appropriate for athletic use as it is designed to move perspiration away from the body to the exterior surface of the fabric where it can evaporate. A garment made of CoolMax is wickable.
Cordura® A nylon fabric often selected for use in high performance gear and sporting apparel because of its extreme durability.
Denier A unit of weight by which the thickness of nylon, silk or rayon yarn is measured. It is measured by mass per length of 1 gram per 9,000 meters of yarn. The higher the denier, the thicker the yarn and therefore the heavier the textile.
Dri-Lex® A patented moisture transportation technology that can be used with many fibers such as cotton, nylon and polyester. This technology can be knitted in different ways to produce different qualities: warm and dry, cool and dry, extra cushiony, extra strength and super soft to the touch.
Dryskin A softshell fabric created by Schoeller Textiles of Switzerland, Dryskin is designed for use in athletic pants and jackets as it is durable, lightweight and stretchy. It is made to be both breathable and wickable.
Elastane A synthetic fiber known for exceptional elasticity. Spandex is another name for elastane; Lycra® is a brand name for elastane. Elastane is often used in the making of athletic clothing because of its stretchiness.
FabriSuede Tactel® A lightweight and breathable synthetic fabric with four-way stretch; wicks moisture away from the body and resists pilling.
Fleece Fleece in clothing may refer to either natural fleece, typically from sheep or goats, or to a soft, synthetic fabric that usually has a deep pile.
Four-way stretch A fabric that is knit so that it stretches both horizontally to the right and the left and vertically up and down.
Hook-and-loop closure A closure system consisting of tiny fabric hooks on one surface that catch fine loops on the opposing surface when the two are pressed together. Velcro® is the registered trademarked name for this type of fastener.
Lycra® A highly elastic synthetic fiber (spandex) used in fabrics intended for body-fitting sports clothing; gives fabric the ability to stretch.
McCrown™ Exclusive to Pikeur®, McCrown is a synthetic leather that feels and performs similarly to real leather. It is used for full seats and knee patches for grip and durability, and is machine washable.
MicroCord™ An abrasion-resistant, machine-washable synthetic fabric with four-way stretch. Contains 88% nylon and 12% Lycra.
Microfiber Sometimes spelled microfibre, this term refers to a synthetic fiber that is finer than silk, very resilient and resistant to stains. It is soft, lightweight, breathable and durable. Microfiber is most often comprised of polyester and/or polyamide woven into yarns of various sizes and combinations. It is machine washable.
Nylon Developed in the late 1930's, nylon fibers are made from synthetic polymers and can be manufactured in a variety of weights (denier). Nylon fabrics were originally intended as a replacement for silk, which became scarce during World War II. Nylon is often combined with other fibers in the creation of athletic clothing; it is lightweight and strong. Nylon is a trade name for polyamide.
Polyamide A synthetic material that is naturally resistant to flame and abrasion and is lightweight and strong.
Poly/Polyester
A synthetic, resilient and long-wearing fabric that resists stretching, fading, shrinking, abrasions and wrinkles and can be machine washed and dried.
Powermesh A lightweight, synthetic mesh fabric woven in such a way that small holes make it breathable as air can pass through the weave. It has four-way stretch and is soft to the touch.
Prestige-Micro 2000 Made exclusively for Pikeur by Schoeller Textiles of Switzerland, this fabric is soft, lightweight, breathable, durable and stretchy. It can be machine washed and dried.
PrimaLoft® Primaloft is a registered trademark of Albany International Corporation. It is a synthetic microfiber that provides thermal insulation to the body, making it popular for use in outerwear.
Radiance™ Fabric
Found in Irideon riding shirts, Radiance fabric is a brushed polyester microfiber that is wickable.
Rayon A fiber made from regenerated cellulose derived from wood or fiber crops. Because the cellulose is natural, rayon is not considered to be completely synthetic, such as nylon, nor completely natural, such as cotton. Rayon provides a slight sheen to the fabric into which is it made.
Rhythm™ Fabric Exclusive to the Irideon line, Rhythm fabric is made of 57% cotton and 43% polyester. It is lightweight, durable, soft against the skin and provides four-way stretch.
Ripstop nylon A synthetic fabric that is woven in a crosshatch pattern that prevents a hole from spreading.
Seersucker A thin, woven cotton fabric originally intended to make cool summer garments long before technical fabrics were developed. During weaving, groups of the cotton yarn are bunched together to create a puckered look. The puckers create air flow within the garment to keep the wearer cool.
Soft Shell A woven synthetic fabric that is stretchy, lightweight, breathable and water-resistant. It resists wrinkles and is washable.
Spandex A synthetic fiber that is known for exceptional elasticity. A brand name for spandex is Lycra.
Stretch Ultra™ Used in knee patches and full seats in the Goode Rider breech line, this is a synthetic leather designed to provide grip while being comfortable, stretchable and resilient.
Suede Suede is a type of leather with a napped or raised finish that is the result of sanding the underside of the skin. Suede is softer, thinner and more pliable than full grain leather, but is less durable. Suede may be made from the hides of lamb, calf, goat, deer or swine. For its comfort and grip, you'll see suede in products such as chaps, half chaps and knee rolls on saddles.
Sunbrella® Sunbrella Marine fabrics are made of acrylic fibers to which color pigments are added during the production process. This process makes the fabric colorfast and fade-resistant. A highly durable fabric, it is woven for breathability so that it doesn't trap heat and moisture in order to resist mildew.
Tactel™ A nylon fabric that is machine washable and soft to the touch. It is lightweight, breathable, quick-to-dry and resilient.
Twill The term "twill" refers to a textile weave rather than a type of fabric. The weave produces a fabric with distinct yet subtle diagonal lines.
UltraGripp™ A machine washable, colorfast microfiber fabric that, with its brushed finish, offers the appearance and feel of suede. The texture provides traction and grip.
Velcro® The registered trademarked name for a fastener that has tiny fabric hooks on one surface that catch fine loops on the opposing surface when the two are pressed together.
Water-Resistant A fabric that is described as water-resistant is intended for brief or very light exposure to moisture. It delays water penetration, but cannot repel water in a drenching rain or when exposed to moisture for an extended time.
Waterproof A fabric that has been treated to repel water.
Wickable A fabric that transports moisture (perspiration) away from the body to the surface of the garment so that it can evaporate quickly.
The Easiest and Best Guarantee in The Business
Shop with 100% confidence at Dover Saddlery. If something doesn’t fit you or your horse, return your original purchase within a year, and we’ll make it right with a refund, exchange or replacement.
Our experience as riders and horse owners ourselves is that in most situations a year’s time is fair enough to evaluate proper fit and function. PLUS: For manufacturer’s defects, we’ll extend the manufacturer’s warranty to a maximum of 24 months, regardless of their individual policies. (AND: Manufacturer warranties longer than 24 months will be honored and supported by us as well up to the length of those warranties).
Exceptions: Safety items such as helmets and protective vests may only be returned within 30 days, with their original tags intact. Saddles and riding boots may be returned within the one year period, but are subject to a prorated refund based on usage. Used saddles may be returned for 30 days only. For everyone’s protection, treats and vet meds which have been opened are not returnable, and returned blankets must clean and free of debris.
Special Conditions
To protect all customers and ensure that every return or exchange is handled fairly, we may require a receipt or decline a return in these situations:
• Item was not purchased directly from Dover Saddlery. (It was purchased at a used tack sale or from a retailer or online seller other than Dover Saddlery.)
• Item is missing a label or has been defaced.
• No receipt and no valid identification in our stores.
• Item is wet, dirty or contaminated, or until it has been cleaned. (For health and safety reasons, we cannot accept returns on used, defective or poorly fitting blankets if they are UNWASHED.)
• Item has been lost, stolen, damaged, or misused.
• On rare occasions, based on the nature of prior transactions.
• Supplements have been opened or used.
• Multiple returns of the same item.
• Personalized items may not be returned unless defective.
Security Guarantee
Dover Saddlery understands your concerns regarding online security. We share in your concerns and therefore work hard with experts in the field to maintain a highly secure ordering environment. Along with our comment to security, we offer you a Secure Order Guarantee - this gives you 100% protection for your credit card transactions on Doversaddlery.com.
Our Secure Order Guarantee means that you will never have to pay any money related to unauthorized charges to your credit card account, as long as those charges are a direct result from a transaction on Doversaddlery.com.
How it works: If you experience credit card fraud, the Fair Credit Act specifies that your credit card company can hold you liable for no more than $50.00 in fraudulent charges to your account. Our Secure Order Guarantee will reimburse you for any amount up to $50.00 billed to you by your credit card company for unauthorized charges to your account, if those charges result from an order you placed with Doversaddlery.com. For this protection you must promptly notify your credit card company of fraudulent charges and follow their procedures as outlined in your credit card agreement.
The Tredstep™ Nero II Knee-Patch Breech is designed for the rigors of everyday use. This resilient breech features lightweight, water-resistant fabric that delivers breathability and excellent moisture management. It also dries quickly using the Meryl® ActiSystem comfort technology.
Mid-rise, with the waistband slightly dipped at the front.
Motion Fit waistband flatters your shape and never pinches or binds.
Front zipper.
Euro seat.
Front slant pockets.
Silicone knee patches.
Knitted cuffs with Tredstep embroidered logo.
Imported. Machine wash inside out; hang dry. 92% nylon/8% spandex.
