The pants or breeches
If you are going to ride your beautiful Lusitano in a demonstration event or a competition - either a working equitation test or a traditional costume gala - there are a few details to take into consideration. So let's consider the Amazona costume for riding astride, which is different from the one used to ride side-saddle as described in my previous post.
Photo: Lena Saugen Photography
Now let's get dressed! Starting with the pants or breeches. Many ladies prefer wearing the regular riding breeches or pants with the full seat because they are more comfortable, they don't slip on the saddle and because, well, as they go under the skirt no one will see them.
That is not entirely true. The Portuguese Riding Costume (PRC) goes with the Portuguese Riding saddle and this saddle, with its different design, has a suede seat and flaps which allow a much better grip. Also, the regular riding breeches are designed to be worn inside tall riding boots and when on the horse the skirt will not cover your ankle and foot entirely; which is why attention to detail is so important. It is almost like wearing beautiful lingerie - people won't see it but you know it’s there and it makes you feel confident! Besides, the judge will take this kind of thing into consideration when evaluating your outfit. There are specific designs for the pants of the PRC.
The unisex (and most common) design has cuffless legs which are cut straight and end just above the ankle but are wide enough to go over the boots (tall or short with chaps - I will talk about this in another post). The waistband is high, reaching almost to the lower part of the sternum. The breeches fasten with buttons on the front - the first three buttons are visible and the rest are on the fly. There are also buttons on the inside part of the waistband, to attach braces.
There are other designs for the riding pants specific for ladies that are according to historical fashion. There are variations among these. For example: "button-flapped high-crotched and wide-legged trousers, finished with a cuff that were tightened around the ankles by three buttons on the side seam"* - but all have characteristics that make them a PRC. When designing a PRC the choice of fabrics is a very important part, not only how they look but also how they feel, so it is advisable to choose a fabric with a bit of elasticity for the pants to make you feel comfortable when you ride. I hope this can be useful. If you have questions, comments, or suggestions, I would love to hear them! Thanks for taking the time to read through, and "see" you soon!
*in The Portuguese Riding Costume, Lina and João Gorjão Clara
> Text revised by Peter Cann <
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