How many pairs of breeches do you own (of what brand) and how long do you expect them to last? How much are you riding per day and per pair? I was recently disappointed that two of my trophy hunters fabric wore out after 3 years of two day a week three horse a day use for each pair but I am thinking that maybe I am being unreasonable.
If you rode 6 horses a week every week for three years, that is almost 1000 rides! if you got almost 1000 rides out of a pair of $170 breeches, I would say that is pretty awesome!!
My ROMPH breeches finally ripped after about five years BUT I just ride one horse and haven’t ridden consistently due to my kids taking over the riding on my horse for two out of those five years.
I’m embarrassed to say last count was around 53 pairs. But to my defense, I have them in three sizes from various stages of fitness! Since I have so many, it’s rare they wear out. I just keep rotating them. And what brand DON’T I have would be an easier question. Hmmm…I have about one of most brands as long as they fit!
I’ll second Limerick. I think those breeches have done right by you.
The breeches I ride in (4x weekly, one horse) are all of the sub-$100 variety (Ovation, Smartpak Piper, On Course Cotton Naturals). I expect them to hang in without falling apart for about two years given this level of use, but not to be show-worthy by any stretch of the imagination. I have three pair in the rotation right now, though I don’t love the fit of my Pipers and could stand another pair that fits well.
I keep a pair or two of aside for showing and Sunday hunts. If I wore them to the barn, they wouldn’t stay nice for long, no matter what the price tag.
I have 5 pairs of breeches. I can’t really “afford” schooling breeches so when my show breeches begin to look a bit raggedy they are retired to schooling, needless to say they are all boring tan. It’s funny though I have like a breech pyramid going on right now starting from a few years ago. From oldest to youngest, I have TuffRider, Devon Aire, Tredstep, Animo (got them for under $140), and Tailored Sportsman. I would love to get the new neon Tuffrider breeches or just any fun breech, TS came out with a hunter green I’m lusting after, and I’ve seen some lovely burgundy with a contrasting patch 
I usually ride pretty hard 5-7 days of the week. My pair of Tuffriders are still going strong though.
I, too, have more breeches than I really need (though not as many as Paradox).
I have 7 pairs of DevonAire Versailles for summer use. (They are thin.) It is extremely hot here, and I tend to ride more in summer, so I sweat through a pair a day, and all 7 are going strong–the oldest are about 3-4 years old. One pair of Tropical Rider cool tights are included in the summer schooling rotation.
I winter I wear a variety of brands for schooling–I have a couple pairs of Tuffrider ribbed, a couple of Tuffrider shapely, several pairs of Ariat sport breeches (discontinued), one pair of DevonAire ribbed breeches, one pair of RJ Classics, three pairs of Trainers Choice, and one pair of denim breeches by Horze. I ride one horse 3-4 times a week. The breeches are of various ages; the only pair getting a bit worn out is the RJ pair; they are about 4-5 years old. I expect my breeches to last that long.
For showing I have 5 pairs of carefully hoarded Ariat Pro Circuits in 3 sizes depending on my weight, which fluctuates a bit. I also have a pair of rust Custom Riding Apparel breeches which don’t fit quite as well, and one nice pair of Pikeurs I found recently on a consignment rack.
So that makes 24 in total if I added correctly. I was kind of afraid to add them up. :lol:
My problem is that I am extremely picky about breeches, and what I like (regular rise, curvy fit, no euroseat) is hard to find these days. When I find something I like, I feel as though I have to buy it (though I can see from the above list that I probably have enough to last the rest of my riding life, since I am 60).
This thread makes me want to go out and buy more breeches.
I have two for showing-TS and Ovation (found on sale)
6 for schooling-Tuff Riders (ride in them unti I wear the seat out, about 2 years), Pipers(thankfully I fit in them and never pay full price), Ovation Taylored (holding up really well on year 2)
3 for winter-Rideon (headed for the trash, have worn them out after 4 years), Kerrits (on year 4), ovation (on year 2).
How long they last depends on which are my go to favorites at the time. I also have purchased a few, decided I didn’t like them and then put them on ebay:)
I gave up on Ariats because they kept wearing out in the seat and now I stick to Pikeur Ciaras for showing and TuffRider Sierras for everyday and sometimes showing. I’ve tried all sorts of other brands but what I really like is Schoeller (or a facsimile, which is the Sierras) fabric because it is flattering and wears incredibly well.
So, I have five or six show pairs and…um…seven or eight everyday pairs. I ride 1-2 horses 5-6 days a week, and my everyday breeches last about 2, sometimes 3 years on average before they start looking kind of crappy. I try to get a week’s wear out of each pair but in the summer sometimes that goes out the window.
The Sierras are extremely tough, have a lowrise waist (which is a normal waist for me because I have a very short torso), front pockets for me to jam my hands and treats into, and keep their shape for years, so now I just look for sales and scoop them up randomly when I see them in non-obnoxious colors.
I should have mentioned that of those 53 pairs, I don’t think I paid full retail for any of them. I’m an avid bargain hunter. I shop consignment sales and consignment shops and buy lightly-used breeches online. 
I have 5 pairs of TS, 2 pairs of Pipers, and 1 pair of Kingsland. TS are of an undertermined age to 1 year old- I buy used for the most part, plus one pair of tan show breeches (new with tags secondhand!). My oldest Pipers are 3.5 years old. Kingsland are my “newest” and are a year old. I’ve added breeches to the collection, but they’re all used/second hand so who really knows the age.
The collection has been through riding 1-2 horses, 3-6 days a week.
I think I have the following:
2 - SmartPak Pipers. I’ve had them for 4 years (?) and they used to get ridden in twice weekly (rotating pairs) on at least 1 horse (though sometimes more). However, the past year, I have moved onto Ariats, and I much prefer them.
2 - Ariats. I’ve had them for under a year, however both were bought gently used from a barn mate. I ride at least once a week in these, and I generally ride one horse though sometimes more.
1 - Equine Couture Denim. I’ve had these for GOSH 6+ years? They were one of my first “big girl breeches” purchase. For multiple years, I rode a number of horses in them. However, the past three years they have become “last resort” breeches. I’ve possibly gained some weight, so they just don’t fit amazing anymore. :lol:
1 - Tuffrider Neon. I’ve had these for a few months. I love them, but they aren’t always appropriate. I like to lesson in these, so I would say they are used 2-3 times a month, depending on when I feel like wearing them.
1 - Neddys Breech. I’ve had these for 7+ years as well. They were my fox hunting breeches when I was a WS. They were also my horse show breeches. I rode multiple horse per day about 4+ times per week. I also showed in them every few weekends for about 2 years. Again, I have sort of grown out of these. I also wish they were a wider waistband, however you will have to pry them out of my cold, dead hands. They look practically brand new despite one little snag from a barbed wire fence…
2 - Horze Grand Prix. These breeches are new, about a week old. They will mainly be a show breech, if I can get them to fit right.
I think that is everything?
ETA: I am not nice to breeches. I wash/dry with the rest of my clothes.
Ummm way too many. I own 3 pairs of tights, 4 pairs of Pipers, 4 pairs of cheapy ones that wear like iron, 2 pairs of cotton which look like crap but are lovely in the summer, 1 pair of full seat show breeches in the requisite white, and 1 pair of show breeches in tan side zip
Sooo 15
I own 4 pair of your run of the mill side zip TS. I ride 6 days a week, one horse, sometimes a second two days a week.
All these breeches are over 4 years old… And 3 years ago I was riding 3-4 horses a day every day. They’re well worth their price. Only problems I’ve encountered are the zipper tabs break off so I have to pull them up by the broken zip.
For whatever reason, my French Blue pair still look brand new. Not sure if it’s the color or a particularly good batch of material
I probably own 12-15 but I have a habit of choosing one or two favorites and using them until they disintegrate, then buying another pair of the same. So I have pairs I haven’t used in years or decades but of course won’t get rid of…
I have a pretty Motley assortment. My absolute favourite are a pair - can’t remember the brand - made in Germany about 35 years ago. I think they’re immortal. Real deerskin kneepatches, great rise, fit like they were made for me.
I have a bunch of Decathlon brand breeches for schooling- some cotton, some a more technical blend; Some great ones from Lidl in Sweden; plus a super fun pair from Buckwild Breeches that I think may cause full heart failure the first time I wear them at my new and fancy H/J barn.
Probably 12 pairs in all. In the market for some with slightly newer styling. No matter how badly I treat mine, they never seem to die.
I have 6 schooling pair of TS’ and 2 pairs of show TS’. I think they wear like iron bc I am NOT kind to mine. Until recently, I was riding three horses each time I rode. I usually sell them after a year or two for half what I paid. Mostly bc I am lusting after another pair and I have a STRICT, one in, one out policy for my closet. I recognize the hoarder in me and do everything I can to keep her under control!
Oh geeze…6 tresteps – they’re my favorite and a good price. 3 ariat. 2 romfh. Some lesser known brands.
OMG, what a lot of replies! Since it’s my thread, I figure I should play.
Show Breeches:
TS Trophy Hunters, Front Zip, Tan - 2 pairs. I just retired two tans that I mostly schooled in that wore out (and I feel a lot less bad about it now that Limerick pointed out it’s ~1000 rides each - wow!). Could use a couple more the next time I see them on consignment.
Schooling Breeches:
Trophy Hunters - 4 Pairs. One brown pair in side zip, tan side zip that are stained, a front zip pair in blue and another in purple.
Tredstep Neros - 1 Pair, tan. I like these but they show dirt like crazy and the cotton stretches out by the end of the day. I would buy again given that I bought them for $20, though.
Piper Knit Breech, Knee Patch, dark blue - I like these, they don’t fit as well as my other pairs but they are a super comfy fabric, they don’t show dirt, and I got them on sale so I can’t complain.
Piper Breech (the original ones!), Knee Patch, brown w/Black - I LOVE these. I REALLY didn’t like my 2 pairs of Piper Shows (which I used for schooling only) but these have a higher quality fabric and are much more comfortable. Also don’t show the dirt!
Let me just pick my jaw up off the floor after reading how many Paradox has.
Okay done.
This thread is making me feel seriously underbreeched. Deprived even. I have two pairs of Kerrits tights that I wear when it’s hot, a pair of Piper knit breeches, and a pair of warm tights. However, I just started re-riding just over a year ago, so I’m guessing I’ll gradually add more. I also only ride one horse 3-4 times a week.
I have probably an inappropriate amount, but for years I was riding 5-6 horses a day every day, so I needed lots.
I have 15 pairs of schooling breeches that I can think of at the moment–mostly Pikeurs, some Aristas, a few from Horze, a few FITS, a pair of Montar, and 2 pairs of Pipers. These are all full seat and the Pikeurs and Aristas last forever–the cheaper ones not so much. (To be fair, I’ve always paid less than half retail of the expensive breeches.)
I have 3 pair for fox hunting…those last a while too because they only get worn once or twice a week for only part of the year.
As for white full seats for dressage shows, I have, I think, 5 pairs.
Oh, and then I have 3 pairs of winter breeches.
Which makes 26 pairs total, which makes me cringe a little.
