a page or two back (?) someone answered my question about Equissentials being supportive and concealing enough… the answer was YES.
Can’t help with the puke green colour. Though I do loff and covet the green tea shade.
Equissentials here I come…
Ok, so many people had so many great things to say about equissentials that i am giving them a whirl. I love that they will take in the breeches for free if needed later on. I have always been very happy with my on course full seats, but I have longed for more colors so I have ordered a pair of Plum breeches and I can’t wait to get them!
So why is it that your favorite riding jeans start dying at the same time as they’re just getting comfortable? What a PITA.
I know there have been mixed responses to Nittany field boots… mine came today (ordered on Jan 13), and they’re wonderful. I’m no field boot expert, but these seem pretty nice. The leather is nice, doesn’t feel plastic-y. And they FIT. Well, the foot may be a touch on the big side, but I really don’t care. I can wear an extra pair of ankle socks under my boot socks. But my big fat calves actually FIT into them! They’re technically semi-custom, as I has to get them made shorter than normal (usual height for my size is something like 19", I had them made 17.5"… Probably would have worked with a 17", but I opted to get them a little bit taller, so they wouldn’t drop too much). I think they make my legs look pretty nice, too 
. They are worth every cent of the $160 I paid (including shipping!).
Thank goodness for Nittany boots!!! And the customer service is awesome.
pp - Are these the XXW calf Effinghams? I just got mine from State Line. I tried them on quickly, and have to try them on again over the weekend and see what I really think. At first glance, they look really big through the ankle and lower part of the calf, instead of nicely contoured. They seem to think that if you have large calves, you have mutant ankles (I don’t even mean big ankles, I mean mutantly big ankles!)
Let me know what you think of yours.
3HN,
Effinghams aren’t made any more–are you thinking the DevonAires or Dublins? I LOFF my dress boot Effies, they are my first ‘grown up boots’ and literally took me two years to purchase–seller was very kind and managed to be patient through my sagas and then just plain damn forgetting to mail the check… so they have ‘history.’ But the foot is too long–I don’t think I’ve ever HAD a pair of boots with the correct foot size because I have to go up for the calf size.
The Field Boots from Ebay are OK. Not as contoured as the dress boots in the ankle (which doesn’t make sense–don’t the laces allow for putting on/off? wouldn’t they be slimmer through the ankle then?) OTOH, the more straight cut makes them more optically slimming, I think. I have a pair of Ovations from TOTD which I’ve yet to actually wear because the zippers suck, but, the calf looks HUGE in comparison to the Effies because the ankle is SO slim. Do you know what I mean? So try them on and really look in the mirror–or better yet, have someone grab a few photos ON HORSE… I just have this feeling that a leg that is a bit boxier in the ankle makes the whole leg appear slimmer than a more contoured leg. (Look at Koenigs and Petries, for example) I might be way off base.
[QUOTE=amastrike;2294336]
I know there have been mixed responses to Nittany field boots… mine came today (ordered on Jan 13), and they’re wonderful. I’m no field boot expert, but these seem pretty nice. The leather is nice, doesn’t feel plastic-y. And they FIT. Well, the foot may be a touch on the big side, but I really don’t care. I can wear an extra pair of ankle socks under my boot socks. But my big fat calves actually FIT into them! They’re technically semi-custom, as I has to get them made shorter than normal (usual height for my size is something like 19", I had them made 17.5"… Probably would have worked with a 17", but I opted to get them a little bit taller, so they wouldn’t drop too much). I think they make my legs look pretty nice, too . They are worth every cent of the $160 I paid (including shipping!).
Thank goodness for Nittany boots!!! And the customer service is awesome.[/QUOTE]
after reading all the negative stuff about Nittany boots, I was really freaking out. I ordered mine about three weeks ago; they were supposed to be here within a week but the shipped to the wrong state–they are on their way here, but I still don’t have a tracking number or anything that guarantees and arrival. I have a show on Saturday and if they don’t fit, I’m screwed 
Mountain Horse now makes a dress boot, so I ordered those as a back-up, but the manufacturer had a “snow emergency” so they could not ship them. I’m hoping one pair or the other will show up (and FIT!) by Saturday. If neither of these options work I think I’ll call Devonaire and see if I can get the XXW calf boot. I have ANOTHER show weekend after next, and really hope I don’t have to scratch because of my PITA big, hard to fit calves. GRRRR!
This thread is great–so many wonderful tips!
For future reference, the technical term is “Kankles.” Or, what we used to call a dear friend…:lol: He grew out of the kankles though. And really is a good guy…:yes:
I really like the Mtn. Horse boots though. I saw a lady at a barn I was looking at, who had a pair on. She said she liked them.
Yes, it’s the Devon Aires with the giant ankles I just got from SLT. I’ll have to try them again. I wonder too if, as they break in and the ankle falls, the cankle ankle won’t be as noticeable. On the bright side, I wore a new pair of the Ariat half-chaps (the ones that are nicely contoured, with the higher top) today and they looked really good. All cleaned up, with a nice pair of clean paddock boots, they look like boots from a distance.
I got a pair of the Mountain Horse boots with the wide calf, and the calf fits nicely. I checked the size charts carefully, because the wide calf on some of them is wider than the wide calf on other MH models. The foot is small on me, because I have enormous feet, and that’s the biggest women’s size they make. I can go up to the men’s size for a bigger foot, but they don’t sell the wide calf men’s in the U.S. They sell them in Europe, and I’ve looked into getting them there, but with the exchange rate and the shipping, the price would be outrageous.
I do have some Effinghams that were made semi-custom for me before they went out of business. The fit has always been a little funky. I think it’s hard to get a good fit when you have really big calves but not giant ankles.
Does anyone know if the new Mountain Horse dressage boots come with a zipper? And are they sized (calf-wise) like the other Mountain Horse? I have gotten so use to zippers that I don’t think I could go back to boots without them. Also, although the size charts indicated the XW were 16" they fit my almost 17" calf and I wondered if the dressage boots would fit the same way??? And I really wish they came in half sizes. Thanks
Hunter Show Ring Appropriate Breeches
Anyone have brands that work well for them? Everywhere I go I see hunter trainers/riders who no longer have the svelt body and they are finding good show breeches. Why can’t I? Am I looking in the wrong place. Tailored Sportsmens come just shy of fitting. If they had elastic in the waist band I’d be set (they fit great everywhere else). I can pour myself into my Ariat Sport Side Zips (but I have a wedgie for the first hour or two until they stretch out a bit).
My On Course Natural Side zips fit wonderfully (and I can go down a size) but they’re not really nice enough for the show ring and the material tends to lean towards the heavy side and then my boots have to be coaxed on.
Everyone has been raving about the Equissentials breeches, but they don’t seem really approriate for the show ring.
I know that usually we post here about clothing, but I thought I would ask for help/advice/suggestions about finding a saddle that might fit me. I am a womanly sized rider with a bad back and I am learning dressage.
Here is my problem: my trainer’s dressage saddle hurts my back because it puts my legs in a correct dressage position. My back feels better when I can have my legs a little in front of me. I can do this in my trainer’s all-purpose saddle, but since I’m more womanly sized it feels like I’m trying to ride on a postage stamp! I feel most secure in my western saddle, but I really want to continue learning dressage.
Do any of you have recommendations for English (preferably dressage saddles) that have a wider fit (not a wider tree, just a wider seat, I guess) that offer a more secure feeling than a postage stamp and that allow a bit of freedom as to leg position? I don’t need knee and thigh blocks to hold my leg in a “good” position, I need freedom to move my legs a little forward, yet enough of a seat to make my womanly sized seat feel secure.
For my chubby butt, an old plain Passier was heaven. 
I don’t really like terribly “restricting” saddles. I only rode in it once, but can say it was so comfy I “forgot” about it, if you know what I mean…(instead of focusing on the saddle and how it was affecting me, I just rode…):yes:
I’ve actually been wondering about the Mountain Horse boots. How much do the gussets stretch? Anybody want to share calf size that fit in a Mountain Horse boots? I just love the Mountain Horse style and I’ve thought that a zipper would definitely make it easier to get them off and on as I’m not quite as flexible as I used to be. I tried on a pair 2 years ago and they zipped up. But that was then and this is now. Anybody?
Pam
Not a dressage saddle, but I do ride dressage in my Pessoa A/O. I feel too constricted in my dressage saddle.
[QUOTE=ptownevt;2298053]
I’ve actually been wondering about the Mountain Horse boots. How much do the gussets stretch? Anybody want to share calf size that fit in a Mountain Horse boots? I just love the Mountain Horse style and I’ve thought that a zipper would definitely make it easier to get them off and on as I’m not quite as flexible as I used to be. I tried on a pair 2 years ago and they zipped up. But that was then and this is now. Anybody?
Pam[/QUOTE]
Here’s a photo and description:
http://www.planettack.com/servlet/Detail?no=1143
Hard to tell how stretchy they are. If my Nittanys don’t have a promised shipping date tomorrow, I’m hoping to get the Mountain Horse boots .
It looks like they do not have a zipper but an elastic gusset. I have the jod boots and they run quite big. Don’t know if that will be true in terns of the calf size or not. The widths available depend on your shoe size. I’m a size 8.5 and a 17" calf with winter breeches and socks on.
Anyway, if I EVER get either brand of boots, I’ll post a review.
[QUOTE=Wellspotted;2298032]
I know that usually we post here about clothing, but I thought I would ask for help/advice/suggestions about finding a saddle that might fit me. I am a womanly sized rider with a bad back and I am learning dressage.
Here is my problem: my trainer’s dressage saddle hurts my back because it puts my legs in a correct dressage position. My back feels better when I can have my legs a little in front of me. I can do this in my trainer’s all-purpose saddle, but since I’m more womanly sized it feels like I’m trying to ride on a postage stamp! I feel most secure in my western saddle, but I really want to continue learning dressage.
Do any of you have recommendations for English (preferably dressage saddles) that have a wider fit (not a wider tree, just a wider seat, I guess) that offer a more secure feeling than a postage stamp and that allow a bit of freedom as to leg position? I don’t need knee and thigh blocks to hold my leg in a “good” position, I need freedom to move my legs a little forward, yet enough of a seat to make my womanly sized seat feel secure.[/QUOTE]
I love County saddles. I also have a Custom Saddlery (Victory), they both suit the hourglass figure that has all the sand at the bottom…
If you like a western saddle, then look for a saddle with a wide twist. Albion and Michael Stokes come to mind. I don’t know of any low-to-mid range brands which have wide twists.
I use a Fhoenix, which is part-treed. A great option if you can afford it because it will fit almost anything. I was told to stop riding a few years ago or risk my hip injury getting worse and worse, instead I am riding more and at a higher level, and the hip is doing fine. (other things hurt, but not the hip!)
It might help to try a dressage saddle in the same brand as the AP.
The problem is, if you really want to do dressage, you are going to need to adapt to the dressage position. BUT, you can’t do it all at once, you need to lengthen/relax some parts, and strengthen some others. Does your instructor know about the pain? A good instructor should be able to give you excercises to help you attain the right position without pain. Sure–the ‘I rode in a lesson’ soreness, but not PAIN. Lower back pain usually means you are not using the abs sufficiently. Upper back pain usually means you are holding tension in the shoulders/chest/clavicle etc.
[QUOTE=Wellspotted;2298032]
I know that usually we post here about clothing, but I thought I would ask for help/advice/suggestions about finding a saddle that might fit me. I am a womanly sized rider with a bad back and I am learning dressage.
Here is my problem: my trainer’s dressage saddle hurts my back because it puts my legs in a correct dressage position. My back feels better when I can have my legs a little in front of me. I can do this in my trainer’s all-purpose saddle, but since I’m more womanly sized it feels like I’m trying to ride on a postage stamp! I feel most secure in my western saddle, but I really want to continue learning dressage.
Do any of you have recommendations for English (preferably dressage saddles) that have a wider fit (not a wider tree, just a wider seat, I guess) that offer a more secure feeling than a postage stamp and that allow a bit of freedom as to leg position? I don’t need knee and thigh blocks to hold my leg in a “good” position, I need freedom to move my legs a little forward, yet enough of a seat to make my womanly sized seat feel secure.[/QUOTE]
I got a Passier Grand Gilbert and I love it!!! I thought I’d never find a saddle that fit my big butt and long legs, but it’s perfect.
The Thornhill Vienna dressage saddle has a wider seat. How I know this is because I could feel it down in the hoochie koo the first few times I rode in my new one, since the twist is different from my other dressage saddle.
It also comes in “robust” sizes and I love it because it doesn’t have a gargantuan knee roll and no thigh block at all. I got mine from www.netfilly.com - excellent customer service.
