Horse riding outfit help please!
June 25, 2011 11:47 AM Subscribe
Ouch! Western saddles are freaking HARD as a ROCK! Help me survive the guest ranch vacation experience!
Ok, so I'm going to a guest ranch for a week in September where I plan to do A LOT of riding. Like all day every day riding. So I'm doing things now to get in shape, including (gasp) riding.
Since it might be relevant, I'm a gal.
I've discovered western saddles are freaking hard as a rock (at least the ones I'm likely to use). And my bones and other things down there aren't very well padded. So, I need your advice on how to make the whole thing more comfortable.
I see there are saddle seat pads available -- and I definately will be getting one. Which one? gel? foam? fleece? The thing doesn't need to last very long, just a week of riding, but it needs to be ultra cushy; whichever one makes me feel like I'm riding on a feather bed for 6 hours a day will be worth its price. Thoughts?
Also, I'll probably wear jeans, but all my jeans have that annoying four way seam right in the middle of the crotch. Ouch. Are Wrangler jeans any better than any other jeans in this regard? Should I just get chaps and forget about jeans? Chaps (the cheap ones anyway) seem to be less expensive than I thought, now that I look online. Or should I just get those english britches with the suede seat?
What about bike shorts/tights with padded seat? Are the right parts padded? I'm hurting on the insides of the lower hipbones, not on what I would call my "butt bones". There seem to be lots of varieties - which offer the best padding?
Any other thoughts? The ranch suggests wearing panty hose under jeans to help prevent chafing, which seems like a good idea, although panty hose aren't exactly what I consider "vacation comfortable" - hate wearing them at work even. I'm thinking running tights or the aforementioned bike tights might be more comfortable?
Any other random advice about long days in the saddle in the mountains (boots, check, hat, check, gloves, check, long sleeves and sunscreen, check) are appreciated too.
Thanks in advance!
Ok, so I'm going to a guest ranch for a week in September where I plan to do A LOT of riding. Like all day every day riding. So I'm doing things now to get in shape, including (gasp) riding.
Since it might be relevant, I'm a gal.
I've discovered western saddles are freaking hard as a rock (at least the ones I'm likely to use). And my bones and other things down there aren't very well padded. So, I need your advice on how to make the whole thing more comfortable.
I see there are saddle seat pads available -- and I definately will be getting one. Which one? gel? foam? fleece? The thing doesn't need to last very long, just a week of riding, but it needs to be ultra cushy; whichever one makes me feel like I'm riding on a feather bed for 6 hours a day will be worth its price. Thoughts?
Also, I'll probably wear jeans, but all my jeans have that annoying four way seam right in the middle of the crotch. Ouch. Are Wrangler jeans any better than any other jeans in this regard? Should I just get chaps and forget about jeans? Chaps (the cheap ones anyway) seem to be less expensive than I thought, now that I look online. Or should I just get those english britches with the suede seat?
What about bike shorts/tights with padded seat? Are the right parts padded? I'm hurting on the insides of the lower hipbones, not on what I would call my "butt bones". There seem to be lots of varieties - which offer the best padding?
Any other thoughts? The ranch suggests wearing panty hose under jeans to help prevent chafing, which seems like a good idea, although panty hose aren't exactly what I consider "vacation comfortable" - hate wearing them at work even. I'm thinking running tights or the aforementioned bike tights might be more comfortable?
Any other random advice about long days in the saddle in the mountains (boots, check, hat, check, gloves, check, long sleeves and sunscreen, check) are appreciated too.
Thanks in advance!
Best answer: They make jeans especially for riding. Even when I rode multiple times per week I wouldn't ride in regular jeans. Just...ouch. You could also get a gel pad for the saddle.
posted by biscotti at 12:05 PM on June 25, 2011
posted by biscotti at 12:05 PM on June 25, 2011
I ride in long, loose gaucho pants (they are orange! They are all-cotton! They are wonderful!) and high boots. The high boots give me enough leg protection for an all-day ride through thick brush, and the gaucho pants are thin enough to keep me cool and don't have heavy awful seams. You might want to consider a similar arrangement.
A Western saddle shouldn't be that uncomfortable in my experience. Any chance you could trade saddles with someone and see if maybe yours isn't right for your build/height/weight? If you can ask your stable for a different saddle, do so. I'm a huge fan of hybrid saddles, if they have them-- all the comfort of an English with all the stuff to hang on to of a Western.
posted by WidgetAlley at 12:11 PM on June 25, 2011
A Western saddle shouldn't be that uncomfortable in my experience. Any chance you could trade saddles with someone and see if maybe yours isn't right for your build/height/weight? If you can ask your stable for a different saddle, do so. I'm a huge fan of hybrid saddles, if they have them-- all the comfort of an English with all the stuff to hang on to of a Western.
posted by WidgetAlley at 12:11 PM on June 25, 2011
Best answer: Your first layer should be bicycle shorts. Real, actual bicycle shorts (not short exercise tights) have padding and a chamois (or synthetic chamois) layer for wicking. The compression helps support your muscles, too. They are designed to solve exactly the problem you have.
posted by workerant at 12:46 PM on June 25, 2011
posted by workerant at 12:46 PM on June 25, 2011
Lately I've been riding in stretch shorts with chaps over them--this is also what I wore when I was a guest on a ranch doing all-day riding for a week. (I had a lot of fun! I hope you do too.) Probably not as relevant for all-day riding, but one of the bonuses of chaps is that you can shuck them as soon as you dismount, which is nice in heat. What's the terrain like at this ranch? Will you be brushing up against vegetation and so on? Chaps are good for that, even the "cheap" ones.
If you're not going to need protection against spiky things trying to tear the skin off your legs, breeches are just excellent for any sort of riding. They're tight so they reduce chafing, they're cooler than jeans or chaps, they're lighter too. Many of the endurance riders (50 mile, 100 mile races) wear boot-cut breeches with a special leather[ette] patch made for riding trail for hours. Look for "endurance patch" breeches.
In my experience with English saddles, foam seat pads are durable, comfortable, and less likely to slip around underneath you. I recommend against foam pads between saddle and horse but if you're going to put one on the seat, foam seems like the best choice--unless you want to go for quilted suede or genuine sheepskin with exposed leather for grip against the saddle's seat, which are much more expensive but would be excellent choices.
Western saddles do vary a lot in comfort; some have thick foam under the leather of the seat, some have quilted suede seats, some have built-up seats so they don't feel quite so broad and hard, etc, so the one they set you on may be more comfortable than you're expecting.
Are they going to be providing you with water & food on the ride? Will you need your own canteen for carrying water between rest stops? Are you going to want to carry something like granola bars for snacking on the ride?
Are you going to need a rainjacket? Some places you can be pretty sure it won't rain, but others you can't. You could get one that rolls pretty tight and can be stuffed in a saddlebag or tied directly to the saddle.
You're surprisingly high off the ground on a horse; a fall off a horse just standing still is enough to cause massive head trauma. No matter how casual the riding experience, it can be a good idea to wear a helmet. If you're worried about sun, they make these.
Make sure your boots are well-broken in beforehand! If you get chaps, you'll want to break them in, too.
FWIW, "hybrid" saddles are often made on a hybrid tree (Western trees are very different from English trees), and those are terribly designed for the horse's back.
posted by galadriel at 1:10 PM on June 25, 2011
If you're not going to need protection against spiky things trying to tear the skin off your legs, breeches are just excellent for any sort of riding. They're tight so they reduce chafing, they're cooler than jeans or chaps, they're lighter too. Many of the endurance riders (50 mile, 100 mile races) wear boot-cut breeches with a special leather[ette] patch made for riding trail for hours. Look for "endurance patch" breeches.
In my experience with English saddles, foam seat pads are durable, comfortable, and less likely to slip around underneath you. I recommend against foam pads between saddle and horse but if you're going to put one on the seat, foam seems like the best choice--unless you want to go for quilted suede or genuine sheepskin with exposed leather for grip against the saddle's seat, which are much more expensive but would be excellent choices.
Western saddles do vary a lot in comfort; some have thick foam under the leather of the seat, some have quilted suede seats, some have built-up seats so they don't feel quite so broad and hard, etc, so the one they set you on may be more comfortable than you're expecting.
Are they going to be providing you with water & food on the ride? Will you need your own canteen for carrying water between rest stops? Are you going to want to carry something like granola bars for snacking on the ride?
Are you going to need a rainjacket? Some places you can be pretty sure it won't rain, but others you can't. You could get one that rolls pretty tight and can be stuffed in a saddlebag or tied directly to the saddle.
You're surprisingly high off the ground on a horse; a fall off a horse just standing still is enough to cause massive head trauma. No matter how casual the riding experience, it can be a good idea to wear a helmet. If you're worried about sun, they make these.
Make sure your boots are well-broken in beforehand! If you get chaps, you'll want to break them in, too.
FWIW, "hybrid" saddles are often made on a hybrid tree (Western trees are very different from English trees), and those are terribly designed for the horse's back.
posted by galadriel at 1:10 PM on June 25, 2011
Study your posture riding. I haven't ridden in 20 years, so my memory is fuzzy, but I believe you are going to have a bit of grip in your thighs which helps you sit up straight. When you do this it will raise parts of your anatomy up so your weight is not resting on those, um, parts. Be conscious of where your weight it, you don't want to just be a sack of flour on your horse's back, riding is using your body more physically than people initially believe. Have a trainer give you some feedback on your posture (kinda like ballet, string up your center)
posted by Vaike at 3:22 PM on June 25, 2011
posted by Vaike at 3:22 PM on June 25, 2011
Response by poster: Awesome answers everybody, Thanks!!! And keep the ideas coming!
posted by bluesky78987 at 4:42 PM on June 25, 2011
posted by bluesky78987 at 4:42 PM on June 25, 2011
Sheepskin saddle cover. I know endurance riders who swear by them.
posted by rdc at 5:02 PM on June 25, 2011
posted by rdc at 5:02 PM on June 25, 2011
Best answer: I used to ride endurance. The sheepskin saddle cover isn't a bad idea. Forget about jeans though: go get yourself a pair of leggings (jeggings, maybe?). They can be the padded bike kind or not, the saddle cover should help in that regard. Also, the insides of my knees were the worst victims of chafe, because, as Valke mentions, you use your thighs to grip. Breeches with suede in the knee may help, but I was always more comfortable in a regular old pair of leggings. If the inner seam bugs you, just twist it to the front of your leg a bit. Western style chaps don't do much for the insides of your upper legs. They are there more to protect you from cactus, etc. English chaps go all the way to your crotch, but the cheap ones can negatively effect the aforementioned thigh grip. Chaps are really best when custom fitted.
All of this depends greatly on the saddle itself. Does the saddle have some suede in the seat or the fender (the part that holds the stirrup), or is the saddle well used and shiny from wear? These things make a big difference. Given that the saddle is probably well worn, I would go with the suede seat breeches.
One more thing: a good ranch always always fits the saddle to the horse first, so unless you are on the same horse every day, don't expect to get the same saddle every time.
Keep your heels down! Have fun!
posted by LyndsayMW at 9:10 PM on June 25, 2011
All of this depends greatly on the saddle itself. Does the saddle have some suede in the seat or the fender (the part that holds the stirrup), or is the saddle well used and shiny from wear? These things make a big difference. Given that the saddle is probably well worn, I would go with the suede seat breeches.
One more thing: a good ranch always always fits the saddle to the horse first, so unless you are on the same horse every day, don't expect to get the same saddle every time.
Keep your heels down! Have fun!
posted by LyndsayMW at 9:10 PM on June 25, 2011
Oy, long hours in the saddle? Drink tons of water and don't be shy about peeing in the bushes. Wear chapstick with sunscreen. Reapply frequently. I always had trouble with my feet going numb after the 10th or 12th mile. It's ok to get off and walk for a bit. It gives your horse a break too. If you are feeling comfortable/safe, take your feet out of the stirrups and stretch your knees/ankles. Do both at once though because taking just one out at a time shifts your balance and can be dangerous.
While you are keeping your heels down, let go of the horn. Holding on to the horn doesn't make you any safer and it messes with your center of balance which can make you more sore in the end.
posted by LyndsayMW at 9:25 PM on June 25, 2011
While you are keeping your heels down, let go of the horn. Holding on to the horn doesn't make you any safer and it messes with your center of balance which can make you more sore in the end.
posted by LyndsayMW at 9:25 PM on June 25, 2011
Best answer: very good advice above!
I spent two weeks in Mongolia last summer, riding 7 hours a day everyday. I was the only one who didn't suffer from any inconvenience long rides may cause. The reason? I bike A LOT. And trust me, biking every day on a hard saddle (you know, the racing bike ones) with jeans tans your skin like nothing else. And during long cycling sessions I use a "reconstructive barrier cream" (mine is called Bariederm, it's a french brand) and it does wonders. This cream is used by runners and gymnasts to prevent blisters and chaffing. I'm sure it might help while horse-riding.
Enjoy your ranch vacations!
posted by OrangeCat at 6:12 AM on June 26, 2011 [1 favorite]
I spent two weeks in Mongolia last summer, riding 7 hours a day everyday. I was the only one who didn't suffer from any inconvenience long rides may cause. The reason? I bike A LOT. And trust me, biking every day on a hard saddle (you know, the racing bike ones) with jeans tans your skin like nothing else. And during long cycling sessions I use a "reconstructive barrier cream" (mine is called Bariederm, it's a french brand) and it does wonders. This cream is used by runners and gymnasts to prevent blisters and chaffing. I'm sure it might help while horse-riding.
Enjoy your ranch vacations!
posted by OrangeCat at 6:12 AM on June 26, 2011 [1 favorite]
Best answer: I ride regularly, too, and the one time I rode in jeans was very, very bad. If you don't want to look like an English rider, you can get riding breeches in navy or black, and in full seat or knee patch versions. I'm not sure how the jeans designed for riding stack up, but breeches are super comfy.
They make gel pad underpants (JellyPantz) which are supposed to reduce chaffing in the crotch area. If you try them, let me know if they work well.
Don't hold completely still. Drop your stirrups for a little while, put more weight in your stirrups for a little while. If you know how to post and are trotting, do that some of the time. Adjust your stirrups by one hole for part of the day (up or down, whichever is more comfortable).
posted by anaelith at 6:18 AM on June 26, 2011
They make gel pad underpants (JellyPantz) which are supposed to reduce chaffing in the crotch area. If you try them, let me know if they work well.
Don't hold completely still. Drop your stirrups for a little while, put more weight in your stirrups for a little while. If you know how to post and are trotting, do that some of the time. Adjust your stirrups by one hole for part of the day (up or down, whichever is more comfortable).
posted by anaelith at 6:18 AM on June 26, 2011
Response by poster: So here's a followup question.
If I wore breeches, would I just wear them inside my (western) boots? That would look pretty silly, no? Oooh, or maybe half chaps! Thoughs on breeches with western boots (already have) and half chaps? Galadriel mentions "boot cut breeches" - I will take a look online for those.
Another question: If I were to spend a lot of time on the exercise bike at the gym prior to the trip, would my body get accustomed to bearing weight on that part of me? I think so, after reading this blurb, but what do you all think?: (found here: )
"This is the primary problem for new cyclists. They simply are not used to sitting on a bike seat. The crotch and inner buttocks are not acclimated to supporting a significant amount of your body weight. These tissues are generally soft and sensitive. In Europe, the vernacular used to describe the process of acclimation a cyclist goes through is called “getting your seat”. This means allowing adequate time for the density and sensitivity of the tissues that contact the saddle to gradually adapt to the load. It does not happen overnight. Cyclists usually start to adapt to sitting on a bike seat between 400 and 600 miles of riding over a period of moderate, consistent rides that may take months. It is always better to do a series of shorter rides than a limited number of long rides. For very new cyclists rides should be under an hour in duration and include all the good habits of saddle comfort such as excellent quality shorts, no underwear and use of chamois lubricant/anti-bacterial cream."
So far I ordered the jeans that biscotti recommended above, and got some real actual bicycle shorts with the fancy super wicking chamois and better-than-gel pad (half off for being an ugly color though, yay!). The bicycle store had the anti-chafing chamois cream OrangeCat mentioned (different brand though).
So the current plan is:
1. Saddle seat cover (still need input on gel v. foam v. sheepskin).
2. Bicycling shorts (or long pants style if I can find them - at least capri for inner knees)
3. The special riding jeans (they have no inseam) or if they aren't comfotable, dark colored breeches
4. If breeches, then half chaps too, unless I can get boot cut.
5. I will also have thin hiking pants, if I get desperate.
A few additional details in case anybody is on the edge of their seat:
I'm a good rider, although rusty. Used to do english jumping 20 years ago (nothing since). So as far as stability and all that, I know how to do it, although I can probably use some conditioning.
The terrain at the ranch is mountains, probably not brushy. Mostly on trail. Sun is an issue, and I'll have some sort of water supply (in camelback or saddlebag or something).
I will be riding the same horse all week, so probably same saddle unless it is unbearable and I request a switchup.
Thanks all!
posted by bluesky78987 at 4:09 PM on June 26, 2011
If I wore breeches, would I just wear them inside my (western) boots? That would look pretty silly, no? Oooh, or maybe half chaps! Thoughs on breeches with western boots (already have) and half chaps? Galadriel mentions "boot cut breeches" - I will take a look online for those.
Another question: If I were to spend a lot of time on the exercise bike at the gym prior to the trip, would my body get accustomed to bearing weight on that part of me? I think so, after reading this blurb, but what do you all think?: (found here: )
"This is the primary problem for new cyclists. They simply are not used to sitting on a bike seat. The crotch and inner buttocks are not acclimated to supporting a significant amount of your body weight. These tissues are generally soft and sensitive. In Europe, the vernacular used to describe the process of acclimation a cyclist goes through is called “getting your seat”. This means allowing adequate time for the density and sensitivity of the tissues that contact the saddle to gradually adapt to the load. It does not happen overnight. Cyclists usually start to adapt to sitting on a bike seat between 400 and 600 miles of riding over a period of moderate, consistent rides that may take months. It is always better to do a series of shorter rides than a limited number of long rides. For very new cyclists rides should be under an hour in duration and include all the good habits of saddle comfort such as excellent quality shorts, no underwear and use of chamois lubricant/anti-bacterial cream."
So far I ordered the jeans that biscotti recommended above, and got some real actual bicycle shorts with the fancy super wicking chamois and better-than-gel pad (half off for being an ugly color though, yay!). The bicycle store had the anti-chafing chamois cream OrangeCat mentioned (different brand though).
So the current plan is:
1. Saddle seat cover (still need input on gel v. foam v. sheepskin).
2. Bicycling shorts (or long pants style if I can find them - at least capri for inner knees)
3. The special riding jeans (they have no inseam) or if they aren't comfotable, dark colored breeches
4. If breeches, then half chaps too, unless I can get boot cut.
5. I will also have thin hiking pants, if I get desperate.
A few additional details in case anybody is on the edge of their seat:
I'm a good rider, although rusty. Used to do english jumping 20 years ago (nothing since). So as far as stability and all that, I know how to do it, although I can probably use some conditioning.
The terrain at the ranch is mountains, probably not brushy. Mostly on trail. Sun is an issue, and I'll have some sort of water supply (in camelback or saddlebag or something).
I will be riding the same horse all week, so probably same saddle unless it is unbearable and I request a switchup.
Thanks all!
posted by bluesky78987 at 4:09 PM on June 26, 2011
Best answer: The bike at my gym hurts my rear in different ways from riding (I ride English). It seems to use some of the same muscles as posting, though, so if you plan on a lot of trotting then it might be helpful.
My half chaps would not fit over western boots, and even if you sized up enough so that they fit I think the look would be worse. Google shows lots of rich people wearing leggings with cowboy boots, so I think you could get away with it--after all, breeches look fine under normal tall boots. Or you could get jodhpurs (boot cut breeches), and wear them over your western boots (depending on how your boots fit). It might be more difficult to find affordable jods in adult sizes and dark colors.
posted by anaelith at 5:04 PM on June 26, 2011
My half chaps would not fit over western boots, and even if you sized up enough so that they fit I think the look would be worse. Google shows lots of rich people wearing leggings with cowboy boots, so I think you could get away with it--after all, breeches look fine under normal tall boots. Or you could get jodhpurs (boot cut breeches), and wear them over your western boots (depending on how your boots fit). It might be more difficult to find affordable jods in adult sizes and dark colors.
posted by anaelith at 5:04 PM on June 26, 2011
I have spent innumerable hours in the saddle. I wouldn't bother with anything but sheepskin for a seat cover. And if you can, learn to post.
posted by Dolley at 10:40 AM on June 28, 2011
posted by Dolley at 10:40 AM on June 28, 2011
The genuine sheepskin cover is going to be the ultimate Cadillac of the seat covers available. But for a week? I'd buy foam, it'd be good enough.
Half chaps would probably be really uncomfortable over Western boots. To be large enough to fit over them, they'd rattle around on your leg; you want everything on your calf to be securely in place, otherwise it will distract, and bend//grab/pinch, and even confuse the horse by bumping him when your leg isn't moving.
Is there a tack store anywhere near you? You could go try things on and see how they feel walking around in the store. You could even try sitting on a Western saddle with various seatcovers; many tack shops have a sturdy saddle stand so you can sit on saddles to see if you like them, before you take them home on trial. See how the bike shorts interact with a saddle cover beforehand! You could try on various combinations of breeches, jeans, boots, etc and see what you think walking around and sitting in a saddle. You could probably even try something like half chaps UNDER your boots, though if you get ankle-length breeches you'll probably be comfortable enough with just the breeches and the boots you have.
Ah, I remembered another kind of breeches that are boot-cut. They're the kind saddleseat riders use. It looks like they're called "Kentucky jodphurs."
posted by galadriel at 3:45 PM on June 28, 2011
Half chaps would probably be really uncomfortable over Western boots. To be large enough to fit over them, they'd rattle around on your leg; you want everything on your calf to be securely in place, otherwise it will distract, and bend//grab/pinch, and even confuse the horse by bumping him when your leg isn't moving.
Is there a tack store anywhere near you? You could go try things on and see how they feel walking around in the store. You could even try sitting on a Western saddle with various seatcovers; many tack shops have a sturdy saddle stand so you can sit on saddles to see if you like them, before you take them home on trial. See how the bike shorts interact with a saddle cover beforehand! You could try on various combinations of breeches, jeans, boots, etc and see what you think walking around and sitting in a saddle. You could probably even try something like half chaps UNDER your boots, though if you get ankle-length breeches you'll probably be comfortable enough with just the breeches and the boots you have.
Ah, I remembered another kind of breeches that are boot-cut. They're the kind saddleseat riders use. It looks like they're called "Kentucky jodphurs."
posted by galadriel at 3:45 PM on June 28, 2011
This thread is closed to new comments.
I've never ridden english, but your comfort will probably depend mostly on your technique. At walking pace you should sort of actively relax yourself. You'll feel like you're moving your spine a lot because you are. Use the back of the saddle to support your lower back if it's high enough (maybe all of them are?). Anything above a walk, you'll increasingly shift your weight to your legs.
I've never seen anyone use a saddle cushion.
posted by cmoj at 12:01 PM on June 25, 2011 [1 favorite]