No, you’re not imagining it– this summer really is hotter and longer than the ones you remember growing up. According to Drexel University’s Urban Health Collective, “UHC researchers noted an increase in the duration of seasonal summer heat: the seasonal average being 30 days longer than it was decades ago. In other words, summers are getting hotter and longer.”
Summers used to be prime time for equestrians. Show season for many sports typically runs from March to October, with the majority of competitions between May and September, depending on where you’re located in the United States. Now, times are changing. Soon it may become too hot to show all summer long. If we want to keep our horses in work over these hot months, we have to get a little creative, not only with when and for how long we work our horses, but also with our clothing.
Traditional equestrian breeches were made from thick material that wasn’t all that breathable. If you were a fan of full seat equestrian breeches, you could expect an additional layer of leather or suede added to your already hot summer breeches. But now, times have changed. As the weather has gotten more extreme, we’ve come up with new breeches to help compensate for the heat.
Choose Silicone Over Leather Full Seat Breeches
Those bulky leather full seat breeches I just mentioned? It’s time to add those to your Goodwill, or other clothing donation, pile. Now silicone full seat breeches are becoming the norm, with more and more equestrians saying goodbye to leather full seat breeches and welcoming silicone full seat riding breeches to their wardrobe.
Silicone full seat breeches are ideal summer riding breeches because they reduce the bulk and increase your grip in the saddle. Instead of adding an entire additional layer of fabric to your summer breeches, silicone full seat breeches have dots or patterns of silicone with breaks in between from the seat of your pants all the way down to your mid-calf.
Take a look at the HKM Tampa Silicone Full Seat Riding Breeches. Crafted from a blend of nylon and elastane, these breeches offer breathability and create a cooling effect to keep you comfortable during long rides. Almost like morse code, these breeches feature silicone in a series of long and short dashes that are perfectly spaced to help you sit the trot on even the biggest-moving and bounciest horse in the barn.
Now you can have some fun with your silicone summer riding breeches. Dapplebay has broken the mold for silicone full seat breeches by creating fun patterns, like toile and plaid. Check out the Dapplebay Equestrian Toile Essential Tights. Designed with a high and supportive waistband, big front pockets, and no inner seam, these tights will soon become a favorite. Best of all, these tights feature a tone-on-tone toile silicone pattern on the seat. The subtlety of the pattern catches the eye in an elegant way and elevates your standard pair of full seat breeches.
Prioritize Airflow
There’s a reason why Rocky runs in a black trash bag in Rocky II. The lack of ventilation and breathability causes him to sweat more than usual and lose water weight. For the rest of us, who aren’t trying to make weight for an iconic boxing match, we need to prioritize breathability and moisture-wicking in our equestrian breeches to stay cool all summer long.
During the hottest weather, ride in tights instead of breeches. Riding tights tend to be lighter weight than breeches and usually offer more breathability thanks to the thinner fabric. The TuffRider Ventilated Schooling Tights take this breathability to the next level thanks to added mesh. Look carefully at the fabric inset into the sides of these tights and you’ll notice small holes throughout the stretchy cloth. Thanks to this mesh fabric, these tights are extremely breathable and offer essential airflow that will keep you cool, no matter the weather.
Take Advantage of the Latest Technology
The weather may have gotten hotter, but humans are doing what we do best: adapting by creating new and improved technology. The following breeches weren’t made in Silicone Valley, but they may as well have been designed there, thanks to their high-tech athletic fabric designed to keep riders cool.
The Minerva Equicool Full Seat Tights are available in four classic colors that will keep you looking stylish. Soft, comfortable, breathable, and infused with our EquiCool technology, these tights allow for moisture wicking and additional UV protection, unlike other summer riding breeches. With a silicone full seat, you can reap the benefits of intense grip without the added layer of leather in traditional full seat equestrian breeches. Plus, these breeches have mesh pockets– you can carry your phone with you, while also reducing weight and bulk.
Breeches.com: Need We Say More?
There’s a reason why our online tack store is named for our equestrian breeches… With brands like TuffRider, Dapplebay, Equine Couture, and more, we pride ourselves on offering some of the best deals around on high-quality brands. Whether you’re looking for a pair of lightweight summer riding breeches or more traditional breeches for your next competition, you can find what you’re looking for on Breeches.com.