Cob Jockey

I wrote last weekend about how I was underdressed for the clinic because Tucker escaped:

His favorite place, the vent.

and I had to slide tackle him in my only pair of tan breeches in order to recapture him.  Husky owners will understand my pain.

So since I wasn't a fan of my old breeches anyway:

Let's just say they did nothing for my figure...

and I was even less of a fan with them with a new hole and some grass stains, and since I only wear breeches for clinics and shows, (aka, a few times a year), I decided to splurge on nice ones that will last forever.

Of course, part of that decision was made when I realized that it's next to impossible to find good breeches used/for cheap, and if I would have to spend $90 on mediocre breeches, then dammit, I'm spending $139 on amazing breeches.  Enter the Tredstep Rosa Symphony No. 3 Full Seat breeches:


The weirdest thing happened - I put them on and immediately wanted to put on a collared shirt, a belt and school in my show boots for my lesson.  So I did.

If you are not familiar with them, these are the breeches that repel everything - the TS Evolution Fabric.  It sounded like something my coffee-spilling self should invest in.



Likes:
- The "Motion Fit Definition Waistband."  I have a 24" waist and 35" hip, so every waistband gaps on me, and these things only gap the tiniest bit.  Big improvement from my Dressage phase breeches, the white TuffRider full seats, and I am already hankering to replace those with a white pair of the Tredsteps.

But let's be honest, it's going to take a lot more than a gapping waistband to get me to part with my money for show apparel.  These TuffRiders are going to stick around another 20 years, mark my words.

- Sock bottoms.  Totally comfortable - in fact, the first time I've felt okay putting my socks on the outside of my breeches, which is the only way I feel like it looks okay without half chaps or tall boots.  I know that's weird.
- Construction.  If I paid that much for them, they better feel solid, and these deliver.
- The everything-repelling fabric.  Apparently you don't have to wash them as often; at the very least, my Stockholm Syndrome dog jumping on me didn't leave dirt stains at the barn.

Stockholm Syndrome: this dog has it, for me.

- Cute details.  Although I feel weird liking a ribbon detail on the inside of my waistband that only I am going to see (I'd say my husband might see it too, but he thinks breeches are the antithesis of an aphrodisiac.  Can't say I blame him, really.), it's just a fun detail.

Photo courtesy of EquestrianStylist.com.

Dislikes:
- If I leave my fly down, people are going to NOTICE.  See the above picture.
- The usual "pulling at the crotch in the saddle" problem with full seats.  I've yet to have a pair of full-seats not have this problem, though my trainer says that FITS has it figured out with the unattached crotch/butt full seat panels.  Unfortunately, $225 breeches are out of my budget, even for forever breeches, so I'll deal with what I can afford.
- They felt bulky, but then...they're breeches, and I only ever ride in tights.  I don't feel like I'm in a position to judge closeness of feel very accurately.

To be honest, I just got full-seats to fit in with my people.  I don't feel that much stickier in them.  Should I?  Oh well, I AM AN EVENTER!  And my butt (that should be out of the saddle more often) now says it's so.

That nametag sticker has been on my mirror since high school freshman orientation, when I was an 8th grader.  2002-ish.

L. Williams, where you at?  I wore a belt and a polo and breeches to a lesson!