How Riding In a FreexRein Bodysuit Changed My Opinion of the One-Piece

I have to be honest here, I was not completely sold on the idea of horseback riding in a bodysuit when I recently saw a one-piece pop up on the site one of my favorite equestrian clothiers, Free x Rein.

I know plenty of women who live and die by their bodysuits in general, and I understand why – the way they smoothly tuck into high-waisted jeans for that super clean look is pretty irresistible. Personally, I’m partial to a Wolford turtleneck body. But to ride in?

I get the appeal, especially for showing – the last thing a rider needs to be worrying about as she enters a ring is whether her shirt will come untucked as she flies over the first fence and whether everyone in the stands might see. As someone who has always valued comfort, and who refuses to sacrifice aesthetics, the FreexRein bodysuit indeed seemed like a tempting solution.

At first glance, the Free x Rein bodysuit felt nice against the skin, thanks in part to the ribbed (and breathable!) fabrication. Much to my surprise, the closure snaps are positioned forward and higher compared to your average bodysuit – so as not to cause discomfort in the saddle. Minimalists will love that this short-sleeve bodysuit is styled like a henley, with a v-neck and four buttons, and could easily pair with a straight-leg jean from Khaite for an outside-the-barn look. Five minutes into my lesson I forgot I wasn’t wearing a normal t-shirt, and through 15 minutes of no stirrups, sitting trot, two-point, and canter, I genuinely forgot I was snapped in.

Full disclosure: I’m the girl that wears 6 layers to the barn, and it was refreshing to pull off my well-worn sweater and additional top layers to find that I was still well tucked in. So, was I completely convinced? Let’s say I was 99% there. I have a short torso, so the FreexRein bodysuit I tried was a little roomy, but in general – this little gem was a game-changer. Can’t wait to give it a try in the show ring.