Some folks around here refer to breeches as britches. I call then breeches, and since I’m the one in this household who orders them and pays for them for Christmas and birthday presents, they are breeches. :winkgrin:
[QUOTE=Howlin’Wolf;7388316]
Somewhat O/T but.
Crupper. Croo-per or cruh-per? 
[/QUOTE]
Cruh-per.
Croo-per
Crup-er
Britches
I wish I had a dollar for every time my mom said somebody was too big for their britches. The first time I saw the word “breeches” I wasn’t sure how to say it because I didn’t realize it was the same word.
[QUOTE=TheJenners;7388393]
I don’t think I’ve ever said britches before in my life! :lol: Obviously, breeches.[/QUOTE]
Same here! Always been breeeches to me.
Britches.
I pronounce the three words this way:
Breeches
Crewper
Jod-pur
Britches
Cruh-per
Jod-phur
It’s curious what areas people hail from (how regional pronunciations can be very local). I’m a NYer, but downstate. So downstate that anything north of Westchester is “upstate.” 
But trublonki (who posted above) is upstate and we’re completely opposite.
[QUOTE=AliCat518;7388685]
Breeeeeeeches. Although after hearing a few people around here say britches, I tried saying it like that a few times :lol: It didnt last long.
What about Jodhpurs? This one seems SO obvious to me, but I actually got in an argument with someone about it recently–both of us have ridden since we were teeny tiny! JodFurs or JodPurs?[/QUOTE]
The h comes before the p. It makes no sense to say jodfurs. If it was spelled jodphurs, then yes. But it’s not. The h is essentially irrelevant to the pronounciation. Plus, they’re named after the city in India so I feel pretty good pronouncing it jod-pur.
Very interesting to see “local dialect” coming thru in the spelled pronounciation of words!
Use of word also may be local. Britches for us, was any kind of pants, not RIDING clothing. Jeans, slacks, bib overalls you might be wearing during the day.
I didn’t get “proper breeches” (said BREEE-CHEZ) until I was in High School. Some relative found a pair at Goodwill, bought them for me. Antiques, with button legs, but felt SO COOL wearing them. Saved up money to buy tall boots and cap after Mom got me an English saddle at a yard sale, $5. Got a Goodwill tweed jacket from Men’s section, $1. So I had the outfit, could ride in English classes, look like the kids in Library stories! Never did wear those breeches out, tough material.
I’m from CA as well and have never heard anyone call them britches. In my area (central to socal), we all say breeches. The only time I’ve heard or used the word britches is when something like “you bet your” is in front of it.
Around here
everyone and everything, kids, dogs and yes, even horses, can get too big for their britches (means pants here)
But I ride in breeches.
Funny, I saw this thread and was like, how could there be TWO PAGES of replies to what is a black-and-white issue?! I had no idea that “britches” is not the universal pronunciation. Go figure. :lol:
Cruh-per and jod-pur.
I said breeches until I was around irish riding instructors/horsemen who said it like britches. That just got stuck in my mind enough to confuse my tongue ever since so now it’s anyone’s guess which way I’ll say it.
Admittedly I say jod-furs, even though I know it isn’t right… I have to focus to say it with the p. Although in India I never mispronounced the city, so that’s weird!
So with those I typically say ‘jods’
The other one would be either crup-per or croo-per, normally crup-per though.
My (raised in Washington state) mom would always give me a hard time, joking that ‘hoof’ must be pronounced ‘hoooooof’ since I say ‘roooooof’ and not ‘ruff’ like her. to which I’d say, “what’s the top of a dog house? The ruff ruff ruff!”
Breeeches! (in PA)
Britches are either a reference to pants, or something worn back in the colonial days :lol:
I grew up with “breeeeeches” in VA… Then when I moved to CT I now hear people call them britches. I still say breeches.
If they were supposed to be call britches, wouldn’t it say britches in the catalogs websites, etc instead of breeches?
I haven’t heard anyone use the terminology I grew up with. It was neither britches or breeeches, it was pronounced breeeks. I still call them that.
[QUOTE=Sargentmajor;7392726]
I haven’t heard anyone use the terminology I grew up with. It was neither britches or breeeches, it was pronounced breeeks. I still call them that.[/QUOTE]
Perhaps a bit of Scot in that. How are your bairns?
“Too big for your britches” evokes a little brat in farmer dungerees to me.
Little Britches rodeo is for kids.
Breeches is a bum strap on a driving harness.
I call my riding pants “britches” but don’t know why.
