Jodhpurs are specialized pants for horseback riding, with a close fit to the knee and flared hips. They have a heavily reinforced seat and knees, gussets for comfort, and are stitched differently for better comfort. They are named after Jodhpur, India, and are used in various riding disciplines.
Jodhpurs are specialized pants designed for horseback riding. They are meant to be durable and comfortable, and are used in a wide variety of disciplines, including show jumping, dressage, and eventing. Jodhpurs are sometimes confused with trousers, another type of trousers frequently worn by jockeys, but the style of trousers is somewhat different, and in competition jockeys often wear one style or another. Many riding-supply stores and catalogs stock accessories, and it’s a good idea to try a pair on before buying to verify fit.
The pants are named after Jodhpur, a large city in North India. Legend has it that men in the city wore trousers styled much like riding jodhpurs, leading British colonialists to name the trousers after the city wearers. It is also possible that the pants were developed in Jodhpur, and that the name was adopted into English as were many Hindi and Urdu words, thanks to diffusion through colonial employees.
A pair of jodhpurs is characterized by a close fit to the knee, with flared hips. The slim fit in the lower leg accommodates riding boots, especially the Jodhpur boot, a style of riding boot that extends to the leg area just above the ankle. The flared hips allow the rider to move freely and promote a comfortable fit for long rides. By tradition, jodhpurs are usually white or cream, although other colors can be found as well, and are often made of a stretchy material.
Various other embellishments set the pants apart from regular pants, making them instantly recognizable as horse riding gear. The first is a heavily reinforced seat, which is designed to reduce wear and tear on the saddle. The seat is often a slightly different color, and is made of a thicker, stronger material than the rest of the pants. In addition, the knees are often heavily reinforced as well, as riders use their knees to point at their horses and get a firm grip on the saddle.
The gussets on the jodhpurs make them more comfortable, and the pants are also stitched differently than regular pants for better comfort. Since the inside seams can be very uncomfortable rubbing against a saddle during a long day of riding, jodhpurs are stitched on the outside, and the seams are often curved so they don’t come in contact with the saddle. When the fit is correct, jodhpurs should feel like a second skin, allowing the rider to move freely and comfortably throughout the day.
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