Womanly-sized riders, unite!

[pintopiaffe]

qhgirl1, have you tried Shapely’s? I’m now VERY pear shaped, never was before. HUGE ghetto booty. :yes: The On Course Cotton Naturals fit me fairly well. You can find them up to size 38 if you look hard. Worth trying a knee patch pair. I had a pair of Millers too that I showed in just once, they were not as generously ‘curvy’ cut as the Cotton Naturals. (most major catalogues, including Dover, carry them)

I like the Irideon Cadence Cords even better. They are stretchy enough to give where needed, yet still supportive and (I think? ) fairly flattering.

The Kerrits in 2X fit me ok, and have a drawstring waist. Cheap on Ebay if you are patient. Don’t seem like the hardest wearing material for the $$, but then I’ve not even ridden in them yet. :lol:

I would definitely stick with kneepatch though. I have never, ever found a pair of fullseats to fit me right. Loose, tight, just right… doesn’t matter in the SADDLE they feel like yuck, and I think that’s just too many curves, really.

My long, long time standard was cotton/lycra leggings. I buy on sale or clearance whenever I see them, regardless of if I NEED them. (can’t ever FIND them if I NEED them!) 92-93% cotton the rest lycra is the ideal. More lycra and they tend to be a little slick, but tall boots or glycerine bar on the saddle help with that. :yes: More cotton is OK, the newer cotton weaves (knits?) are very stretchy and slightly sticky. I never pay more than $10, and have a half dozen pairs or so. Look in the excercise clothing area mostly, but occasionally you’ll find them on fashion racks (WallyWorld had some really cute ones this summer with a tailored front/elastic waist–$10 or so.) For winter riding I even use the tapered leg sweatpants from Just My Size. Get a snuggish size and you’re good to go.

[twnkltoz]

I was so proud…I wore my white full seat breeches last weekend at a show for the first time! They actually fit!

[Coreene]

@honeydoozy;2723729

Okay, I should have mentioned that I HAVE some of those…and I hate them. :no: They are way way way too roomy around the ankles… like I’m wearing bags on my legs (LOL).

I was (am) really hoping that maybe the TredStep or Mountain Horse lines stretch stretch stretch… but I don’t want to fork over the big bucks until I have a better idea.

(but thanks for the tip, anyway!)

The 3X ones are not poofy at the bottom. Or you can get the leather ones.

[Coreene]

PS on custom breeches. I can’t remember the name of the gal, but there is someone on eBay who does custom full seats for a reasonable price. If you do a search for “full seat breeches” you might find her. I’ll check and see if I have it bookmarked on my other computer.

[Coreene]

Thanks for the tip on those Wally World vests, I just got two online.

[Camelot]

Walmart vest

@Coreene;2730103

Thanks for the tip on those Wally World vests, I just got two online.

I ordered one online too. Total cost was under $15.

[citydog]

Half Chaps

ProChaps. Waaaaay nicer (and more expensive) than the Aretes. I have an old pair of Ariat all-arounds in XL that stretched (out) with me , but new ones are too tight. The ProChaps XL is super stretchy, and they come in an XXL and up to a 19" tall *wahoo!!!). Nice and slim at the ankle. They were heartily recommended elsewhere on CotH, too.

[spiffy]

half chaps

I’m pretty pleased with my treadsteps, and I actually had to get a size smaller than I measured for (soooo glad I went to a store instead of ordering online like I normally would), because they were so stretchy. But they really fit well all over, no baggy ankles!

[bewitchedarabians]

Found these “Equestrian Pants” at Sierra Trading Post; passing along in case anyone wants to try a pair…I might/would like to order a pair, but as I’ve spent way too much recently, I may just have to pass…

http://www.sierratradingpost.com/p/,19454_.html

They’ve also got Women’s Carhart stuff (which is what I’ve already spent too much on, lol—I ordered a few pairs of the Carhart Women’s Double Front Jeans/Dungarees, and I really like them so far…always some good deals on STP if you have time to dig around, and often can get lucky on finding the size you need…

[honeydoozy]

@Camelot;2730685

I ordered one online too. Total cost was under $15.

Okay… I just went over to my neighborhood Wally World and tried 'em on for myself.

Here’s the interesting thing… the XL and 1X essentially fit me, but the 1X is just a smidge roomier in the lower waist/hip. So… if you’re on the fence in this size range, but you’ve got extra cushion in the hip area, go with the 1X.

These vests are a little poofy… not as trim and stylish as say the Ariat Woodside vest, or even the Cabela’s vest… these are workmanlike, but not necessarily “pretty”. For what it’s worth.

That said… I bought two, because the price was right, and the colors were pretty.

[Camelot]

Thanks for the first-hand size info., honeydoozy. My local Walmart is in the midst of moving to their new Super store and it is quite bare at the moment. No point in trying to see if they had the vests out on the floor. I went with the 1X size and am glad to know your experience proved out my hunch. I got mine for working outside so function trumps form. The red berry color made me smile so that helped a lot too. :lol:

[tullio]

Has anyone had any experience tracking down a protective vest for eventing in a generous size? I am really working on fitness before starting to event later this year (I’m a hunter person, but it’s time for an adventure) but I doubt it’s going to change my shape much… or (ahem) make the girls any smaller. Is custom the only option? Anyone had experience with this? I am steeling myself for a trip to the tack store to try them on… if they have ANY that fit.

[Highflyer1]

I think it depends on how generous a size you need, with the protective vests. I’m an 18 on top, with a big chest. I have the Tipperary Eventer in the XL, and it fits me, but there’s a pretty good gap in the laces–so I compensate by not lacing it through the top hole on either side. This actually makes it a lot more comfortable since it’s tightest over my boobs and if it’s laced properly it tends to ride up. I have sort of a long torso and should probably have a custom anyway, but my old secondhand custom was destroyed in a fire and I needed something right away.

I originally bought the Flexrider in XL? (I think) online, and it was too big, and also too long and just sort of like riding in between a pair of boards. Every time I jumped it came up and hit me in the chin. I did borrow an L one for a week or so, and while it was a squeeze boobwise it was better than the XL everywhere else. I just didn’t like the design at all.

A lot of it comes down to personal preference, as to whether you just want something that fits, whether you want the most comfortable, or whether you want the safest (which the Tips are not.)

If you’re getting a Tip Eventer and can wait, I’d definitely get the custom.

[tullio]

Thanks Avra… I may end up with a custom anyway, since (forgot to mention) I also have a very, very short upper body. I know a lot of people like the Tipperary and it looks like that one has the best chance of actually being able to fit. I hate spending so much on ONE item for a new discipline, but I figure I can wear it on new/young horses, out on trails, etc etc so it’s okay.

I don’t need it to be much bigger than the listed sizes… like, about 1 - 2 inches in each measurement (other than length, of course). I am hoping the lacing of the Tip can make that adjustment but I don’t want to have the big gaps. I am resigned to looking like a cartoon character bursting out of a barrel, but I still want it to be reasonably … protective! Thanks for sharing, that helps.

[pintopiaffe]

Tullio, I am a 38DD and probably 40DD (or Enell 3 :lol: ) at the time I did wear the Tipp XL. You can get it in short, which is not custom but a special order.

Glad to help on the vests. I must not be alone in my addiction. >evil cackle<

[tullio]

Pinto - may the universe smile on you for sharing that information! Thank you!!! I have been staring at the chart, willing the numbers to change. One of the larger sizes will probably work, but it would come down to roughly my knees. A SHORT will probably be just right, and a special order would be better than having to customize it.

I cannot be the only pear-shaped wanna-be-eventer in the world. It’ll be a barrel of fun to go try these things on in person, I’m sure. :eek:

[Murphy_s_Mom]

No luck at the local Wally World for me. The largest size they had in those vests was a medium. I might try ordering online.

I second the recommendation for Tipperary vests. Very comfy! I lucked out and got mine on Tack of the Day for a fraction of the cost.

[canadianbacon]

Rodney Powell can also do custom sizes in the event vests if you are looking for something that is approved… They carry them at VTO and equestrian collections. My charles owen rides up and it drives me crazy, so I’m hoping to order the RP one in the spring. Anyone have any experience with them?

CB

[citydog]

A friend of mine just got a custom (size and color) one that is the highest safety standard that she ordered from the UK, and even with the scarily weak dollar was about the cost of a custom Tipp. Says it’s pretty comfy!

I’ll ask her, or maybe she’ll come out of lurkerdom and post it herself.

[tullio]

citydog - i would be very interested to hear about that! thanks!