Best Riding Breeches: Here’s Your Ultimate Guide
From classic beige riding breeches to vintage earth tone breeches and sporty riding tights, these are the best riding pants for spring.
A brief personal history: when I started riding again after a decade-long break, I was horrified to discover that women’s riding breeches all featured a low-rise waist. It was so strange to me – in life, everyone was wearing high-rise jeans or a chic mid-rise tailored pant. Yet somehow, at my local tack shop, the only options were low-slung riding pants and one lone mid-rise Tailored Sportsman navy pair in a size too small. I took the risk and decided to squeeze. When I was a teen rider I was devastated by the opposite problem: we wore low-rise jeans and loathed to wear our up-to-your-bra riding breeches. A quick google search later proved the unthinkable – riding pant trends were a decade behind fashion trends.
I needed to get my hands on the best riding breeches the market had to offer (I’m a fashion editor by training, so it’s in my blood). After dedicated research and a few trial and error purchases, I had finally settled on a select handful of equestrian apparel brands that could do the business. Below you’ll find nine pairs to try for spring – chosen specifically for their performance and style. From chic navy to the return of vintage earthy tones, these riding breeches will be a pleasure to slip on for your next lesson.
Ariat Prelude Riding Breeches
Ariat is usually not the label inside our most well-worn favorite breeches. But the new Prelude style does a lot for its very reasonable price point, and it’s choc-full of pockets – front pockets, a concealed zip back pocket just like my favorite workout pants, and an unassuming side zip pocket on the left side for your phone. Because even at the stable you are somehow always on your phone. These fit as mid-rise breeches, which I found to be more wearable than a lot of the popular low-rise styles, and the four-way performance stretch, double-weave twill fabric is comfortable and allows for full movement. Bonus, they come in cocoa and tan, and the full seat version even comes in navy.
Buy now: Ariat Prelude riding pants with knee patch, $100, ariat.com, or full-seat, $110, ariat.com.
Romfh Sarafina Riding Breeches
The Sarafina riding breech from Romfh is one of the best-rated breeches at just about every retailer that carries them. I’m convinced it’s because the brand’s founder is a trained equestrian and fashion designer. Sporty fabrications meet classic tailoring, yet it’s the fit that riders rave about. Oh, and the colors. These breeches – both the full seat and the knee patch – come in every chic color you can imagine, and we live for the contrasting colors. From essential white, beige, or “sand” to navy, rust, and a light teal dubbed “glacier,” we’re obsessed.
Buy Now: Romfh riding breeches with full seat, $162, horse.com, and with knee patches, $180, amazon.com.
Struck Riding Breeches
Struck’s whole ethos is that riding is a sport, and we should dress like it. The knee patches on their riding breeches often look too sporty and shiny for my liking, but the brand’s 50 series – their most popular – strikes the right balance between classic and sport. Struck’s trademarked fabric offers durability and stretch, is stain and fade-resistant. These breeches come in 11 super-chic colors, so, go ahead and collect them all.
Buy now: Struck riding pants, $299, struckapparel.com.
Kerrits Performance Riding Tight
I have not tested riding breeches from Kerrits in a long time, but I tried their Performance Tight this spring, and it is great, especially for the price point. Why do I like it? Well, for one, I never had any issue with the waist slipping or falling, as I do with many riding tights. They are flattering, comfortable, and come in great colors, from slate grey to the color featured here pecan. There is no pocket, which might be a non-starter for some, but my time at the stable is really my time away from my phone, so . . . no complaints here.
Buy now: Kerrits tights, starting at $52, statelinetack.com.
Tailored Sportsman Riding Breeches
I understand the desire to try new riding apparel labels, but Tailored Sportsman is so reliable it would be a disservice not to include them. While I love Alo Yoga and Lululemon (and riding breeches that feel like workout pants), for showing, I prefer to wear more classic riding breeches and not something I’d wear to the gym. The Vintage Patch Mid-Rise Breech and the Straight Mid-Rise Breech feature four-way stretch and 2 front pockets. A chic, classic suede knee patch pops against the navy-hued riding pant. These are great everyday riding breeches that can withstand wear and tear.
Buy now: Tailored Sportsman mid-rise riding pant in multiple colors, $189, amazon.com.
Goode Rider Breeches
I usually err on the side of minimalism when it comes to what I wear, but these Goode Rider pants caught my eye. When your other riding gear looks a bit tired, the contrast piping and horse-bit detail on this pair’s pocket are exceptionally attractive. Flattering and comfortable, they are called the vogue riding breech for a reason! We also recommend the lower price point signature style, here.
Buy now: Goode Rider Riding Pant in navy denim, $189, amazon.com.
Callidae C Breeches
Callidae is one of the other new equestrian apparel labels that I am very excited about. The Callidae C breeches feature a wide waistband and four-way stretch, a zip pocket, and tone-on-tone suede knee patches. The fabric used in their riding breeches feels supportive and well-crafted. The color of this riding breech – a deep sage – is not something you can get elsewhere. The breeches also come in a slate grey that is equally appealing. Note: like other colored clothing, be sure to wash separately until they rinse clean.
Buy now: Callidae riding pants, $310, callidae.com.
Equiline Riding Breeches
There’s always an exception to the rule. This pair of Equiline riding breeches feature a low-rise waist. I purchased them because I loved the croc trim on the pocket, and the tobacco hue. While I am still not a big fan of a low-rise waist, I found that these were flattering and my shirt stayed tucked in. If you do not mind a low-rise breech, these are a great option to invest in. [Editor’s Note: These are sold out, but we also recommend the Ericiekh, which has a mid-rise.]