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Womanly-sized riders, unite!

Off Course
#21

Equissentials make custom breeches that fit (and they’ll take 'em in for free if/when you lose weight).

The non-custom that have fit me the best are Tropical Rider (their winter tights are the absolute best and no “orange peel”). Both of these companies have stellar customer service (I order directlky from them, and not via the catalogs).

I was less impressed with Saddle Bums. Good customer service, the material is cool and, um, concealing in teh “spandura” fabric, but they just don’t fit me as well as the Tropical Rider winter ones or “Enduracool” summer ones. I have a fairly small waist, but huge butt and thights. I’ve found that the lowrise TRs are very flattering on me, and have my Equissentials made with a lower rise (not super low, just not as armpit-high as most companies seem to think we all want them) too.

The justchaps.us link has intrigued me, but the XXLs are really short compared to the other sizes, and I am not. But I would dearly love a pair of fringed half chaps.

Right now I have a pair of Ariat All arounds that I’ve had for years and that have stretched out so that they slide down if I’m in tights, but new ones are pretty darn tight if I can get them to fit at all. (Curse my athletic high school and college days!)

#22

You betcha! I was so impressed with his attention to detail regarding measurements. There are 15 or so that you need to do, on each leg, plus two different tracings of each foot. He called when they arrived and wanted to go over all the measurements again since he wanted to make sure that my legs really were two different lengths from ankle to knee (they are!). Tom. Very nice man. Can’t wait for the boots!

#23

I’ve got a pair of Tally Ho boots on order too. Thomas has email/called me several times to check on a measurement and should be starting my boots this week. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that they’ll fit. I ordered a pair of semi-custom boots once (from someplace else) for about the same price and they were horrid.

#24

Sounds abfab! I’ll be looking for you to tell us how the boots are when they arrive :yes:

#25

I know exactly how you feel. I didn’t realize how much of an outsider I felt like since I couldn’t find anything that fit. The best part is that when they come in the mail you will be prepared for the typical let down when you try to squeeze them on and they are too tight. These won’t be. Mine came. I took them out of the package and they zipped right up and fit like a glove. They are a little big around the foot/boot area and I don’t know if they will last for years. But I didn’t pay much for them, so I can buy more when I wear them out.
I have bookmarked several of these sites and can’t wait to buy some pants! Thanks.

#26

I love the Trainer’s Choice breeches - I ride hunters and jumpers and the knee patch Rene sytle work great for me - I typically get the 34L or 36L - you can sometimes find them on eBay or VTO has them. If you find them on eBay they are usually about 1/2 price NWT. I have them in green, beige, taupe, black and gray and find they wear well - toss in washer - line dry and good to go. Most last me about 18 months. These are front zip and not lo rise.

I also find that my long wide legs fit in the Ariat close contact half chaps to give me a field boot look when combined with my Ariat Hanover laced paddock boots - have a wide foot and the laced Hanovers are the most comfortable boots I have ever had - laces, elastic sides and zippers in the back. I lace up once and then use the zippers on a daily basis. The Hanover style is for the C width toe area. Great boots.

Other than that the RJ Classic coats fit me well and seem to run in regular sizes. Again you can find good deals on eBay once you know your size.

Hope this helps.

#27

I’m just in love with Irideon’s plus size breeches. To be comfortable I have to order two sizes larger than my street clothes size (holy crap it’s depressing to order a size 3X) But then they’re comfortable and have just a little extra material so I don’t have to peel myself undressed. :winkgrin: I have their winter ones, summer ones, and corded once (which are the only ones I don’t like, FYI) I was so excited to try their new show breeches before I found out they didn’t go about a 34 waist… So apparently they want our money, but don’t want to see our fat asses in the show ring? :mad: :mad:

I just bought a mens Pikeur Dressage Coat on eBay for $86. woot! I’m going to have it tailored down to fit my curves.

#28

Does anyone have any suggestions for where to buy a larger sized dressage coat? I am not crazy about 1824 and can’t seem to find anyone else who carries a size 22 or 24 jacket. Or does anyone know any custom jacket makers?? Thanks

#29

I’ll 2nd CurlyLindsay’s vote for Irideon breeches.
I LOVE LOVE LOVE the wind-pro kneepatch for winter riding here.
Warm, and comfy. Can’t wear the fullseats in the same size though,
they’re not stretchy enough. My only beef is that I wear out the
inner thighs in about a year. Yes, I have too much of them rubbing
together when I’m not riding I guess… :frowning:

#30

You know what I want is a pair of riding jeans that are dressage patch and a little stretchy but that for the most part don’t look like riding pants. I am thinking of having my Mom sew on a leather seat to a pair of WalMart specials. What do you think?? Why can’t riding pants fit more like pants instead of tights? I don’t’ mind riding in jeans especially if they have a little give. But I do like the leather seat.

#31

I have Cotton Naturals feel seat breeches and Iredion (sp?) tights. I also wear Boinks tights. I have two pair of half chaps from http://aretesaddlery.com and their Prometheus dressage saddle. I need 19" half chaps too ;).

Here is a place that sells off the rack plus size boots and very affordable custom boots:
http://www.ridersmall.com/main/boots/Tall_Boots.htm
I do not have these boots, but I found them doing a search. My current custom boots are not holding up as well as I’d like, and I just don’t like the quality of their craftsmanship. So, before I start showing again (next year likely), I’ll be in the market for another pair.

~Barb

#32

Boots

Here is a company that makes an XXWide calf.
http://www.nittanyboots.com/index.html

They look nice and are quite affordable. What I like most is that they have a shaped leg, and trim ankle, and neat little touches like gussets and punched toe caps.

I bought 2 pairs, because I thought the first pair would wear out quickly and I would have a cheap back up. The first pair, however,is still going strong!

#33

I’ve got breeches from Equissentials that they custom made for me and they are very comfortable, although they look more like tights than breeches. (They also last forever.) I actually fit into an off-the-rack size that they sell, but they custom made me a pair (at no additional cost) because the waist was too high on me on the off the rack ones. I also ordered a Casel Equi safety vest from them, again, custom fit to me at no additional cost.

I have several pairs of the On Course breeches in full seat and knee patch, and the full seat is always kind of baggy (I think because the fake suede material is stiff). I also have Boinks (try their winter breeches – the ones that are smooth outside and fleece inside) and bought a pair of the Irideons last winter but didn’t get to ride in them (their sizing was ridiculous, I had to buy an enormous size).

Things are definitely better than they were 15 years ago, when I was a size 14 in street clothes and could only find one pair of breeches to fit me!

I have a Devon Aire dressage coat that fits pretty well, and a few plus-sized show shirts I got on ebay. My boots are semi-custom from Effingham (which no longer exists) and it was hard to get a good fit. Because my calf is so big, the original pair of boots they made for me had a baggy spot under the highest part of the calf. I sent them back, and they re-cut them for me.

I have Ariat half chaps that fit (the XL in the suede styles is pretty big and stretches quite a bit) but have never found socks that fit over my calves to wear under my tall boots or half chaps.

I used to order from 1824 all the time and liked their stuff, but when they became Equestrian Collections the service went way down hill. At the beginning of LAST year, I was excited to see that they had the Romfh shirts in plus sizes. I ordered one in January of 2005, and it never showed up. They said it was on backorder, and then never bothered letting me know it would never come. Same thing with a pair of white breeches I ordered at the same time.

Great topic, thanks for starting it! I’m sure I will think of more to add later.

#34

Been there, done that, got burned too by Equestrian Collections…

I clicked on a couple of the above mentioned boot links… I dont know about you, but “instant break-in” isnt something I look for in a boot. Instant breaking in means the leather is soft and breaks down easily. Sorry, but I cant afford new boots every year or so. Especially in PNW winter weather…

I’d rather pay $400 & up and get something that will last for years.

and the hipstars, stay away. They have that chevron design on the ankle area to prevent dropping. The only problem is that your boot will crease ABOVE that area and drop there instead because the leather is thin and cheap…

Also beware that your boots come from Pakistan. LOL You get some interesting looks from the mail man on that one! Customs opened the box, inspected it… You know, the new way to send nuclear bombs is in Dressage boots!

#35

Try the men’s big and tall dress socks. They will be too big in the foot, but they fit great up to my calf! Also, Just My Size makes dress socks that go up to your knee in “plus sizes”. I have also worn plus size knee highs (opaque ones) with thin Cool Max ankle socks and that worked great too!

~Barbara

#36

Big neck?

Does anyone have a source for show shirts with extra room in the neck? –

#37

I have a pair of “Zocks” that I wear under my tall boots. I barely crammed my calves into a Devon Aire Xtra Wide. I am getting zippers put in them right now to make it a little easier.

Jmaie :slight_smile:

#38

[QUOTE=BybeeGirl;1835856]
Here is a company that makes an XXWide calf.
http://www.nittanyboots.com/index.html

They look nice and are quite affordable. [/QUOTE]

Their customer service is great. I ordered a pair of XXW field boots, and they were actually too wide :eek: when they came–more like an XXX wide. (Very strange sensation after years of squeezing painfully into boots that were too narrow!) They’re making me a new pair, but told me to hang onto the pair I have until the other pair comes. The quality is way better than I expected for the price ($200), and man oh man is the foot part comfortable.

My boots are semi-custom from Effingham (which no longer exists) and it was hard to get a good fit. Because my calf is so big, the original pair of boots they made for me had a baggy spot under the highest part of the calf. I sent them back, and they re-cut them for me.

Tell me about it. I have a pair sitting unused for that very reason, but they went out of business before I could send them back.:mad:

This really is a great thread. I hate that riding apparel is such a hassle. I don’t have trouble finding street clothes, and am not a “plus” size in jeans and such. Tack shops sure can make a gal feel porky. :frowning:

#39

I have a pair of Zocks and they fit just fine.

#40

I think one of the reasons that none of the socks fit me is that I have really big feet too, so with the tube sock style socks, a lot of the sock is taken up by my foot, leaving not much for my calf (they come up to the bottom of my calf). The socks that are sized in the foot and then have a lot of length for the calf usually have elastic that is way too tight to go over my calves.

One thing I’d like to be able to find in my size is the nice Romfh or Ariat polo shirts. Some of them are really nice looking. I know I can buy a polo shirt anywhere, but I’d like to have the Romfh shirt that is like a polo shirt but you can attach a stock tie for showing.

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