Best Horse Riding Jeans

Which are the best horse riding jeans and how do you find them?

The wrong jeans can spoil your day, so it is worth spending a little time to find the best riding jeans for you. Horseback riding jeans need to be hard-wearing, comfortable, well designed, and well made.

There are so many riding jeans on the market that your quest could eat up your time. We have sorted through the choices and selected five of the best, to help you in your search:

1  Wrangler Women’s Q-Baby Mid Rise Boot Cut Ultimate Riding Jean

2  ARIAT Women’s R.e.a.l Mid Rise Straight Legjean

3  Silver Jeans Co. Men’s Craig Easy Fit Bootcut Jeans

4 ARIAT Men’s M4 Low Rise Jean

5. Riders by Lee Indigo Women’s Midrise Bootcut Jean

Riding jeans are a good option when choosing what to wear for riding. They are versatile, come in many sizes and fabrics, usually combining the natural qualities of cotton with the better elasticity of synthetics. But it is most important to be certain to get a perfect fit if you want to ride comfortably all day.

Why wear riding jeans?

Jeans give you another choice if you are not too keen on traditional jodhpurs of riding breeches.

You need long riding pants to protect your legs from chaffing. If you ride in shorts or a skirt your legs will quickly get very sore. Also, you risk getting your skin pinched between the saddle and the stirrup leather. If the seams are bulky or in the wrong place they can lead to considerable discomfort.

Some equestrian pants have no inner leg seam, which solves that problem. Others have flat seams which may be comfortable enough. For ladies, in particular, you need to take care that the crotch seams are neither bulky nor hard. Some manufacturers put the crotch seams on the outside of riding jeans, which reduces the pressures. The seams on most fashion jeans are not designed for riding, and everyday jeans will wear out faster than jeans designed for riding.

Not all horse riding jeans are the same! The best riding jeans are usually of Western-style.

What to look for when buying equestrian pants

Fit – the most important aspect for comfort

Perhaps the most important aspect of choosing the right riding jeans is to get the perfect fit. The jeans should be a close enough fit not to catch on loose branches or slip around, but they should be loose enough that you can mount your horse! Some degree of elasticity in the material will help to get the fit right for you.

Always take great care to check the size charts. Sometimes, the fit seems to change with the same manufacturer over time, and what fits one year might be wrong the next time you buy.

You might want to avoid hip-hugger jeans which are uncomfortable in the saddle. Mid-rise and high waisted riding pants are usually better options, especially for the ladies.

How durable are they?

This is reflected in the material and also in the quality of the sewing. The seams should be flat and/or reinforced in the right places. Flat to prevent chafing and reinforced where wear is most likely.

Which material is best for riding jeans?

How long your jeans will last depends to a large extent on the quality of the material used to make them. The basic fabric in jeans is cotton with additions of some elastic material like spandex and polyester. You will need to take into account how tightly woven the cotton is and its thickness. It is worth spending a little extra to get good quality jeans which will last you longer.

Comfort  – does it matter?

If you are spending a day riding or around the stables comfort is important. A great fit, slightly elastic material, and the requisite thickness according to the weather are all factors to take into account. And check that the seams are not likely to cause pressures or discomfort. And, naturally. You want to look good no matter how long you have been in the saddle.

Style – a personal choice

This is so much a matter of personal taste. You can wear many of the riding jeans for a night out in town with confidence. 

You might like the bootcut riding pants, both stylish and popular, but be a bit puzzled as to the best way to wear them with long boots. This little video demonstrates how to put long boots om with bootcut jeans:

How to look after your horse riding jeans 

Jeans are usually machine washable – but sometimes the color bleeds so they might need to be washed separately. The label will tell you.

Are there any disadvantages of jeans for riding

Jeans are very versatile and adaptable for all seasons, and they can be worn in town as well. You might find that jodhpurs and riding breeches give better grip on the saddle – and in hot weather, jeans can be hotter than some of the synthetic materials. 

Reviews

1. Wrangler Women’s Q-Baby Mid Rise Boot Cut Ultimate Riding Jean

Stylish, durable, and comfortable ladies riding jeans.

These jeans are made from a soft, stretchy material, 99% Cotton, 1% Spandex. This means they are very comfortable, whether you are riding or not. They have a higher back for better coverage – no draft down your back. The waist has been designed to have no gap and to fit well.

They are fitted through the thigh and seat and the boot cut fit is both stylish and practical. You can flex your knee fully and the elastic material and cut both allow you full freedom of movement while giving a snug fit.

The seams are flat, so there is no chafing. And the material is hard-wearing. They have zip closure.

These riding jeans are finished with decorative stitching on the back pockets and contrast seams. They have five pockets – two front scoop pockets, one angled watch pocket, and two embroidered hip pockets – plenty of storage space!

These could be the best horse riding jeans for women.

2. ARIAT Women’s R.e.a.l Mid Rise Straight Legjean

Straight leg riding jeans in a tough, stretchy material.

The fabric of these jeans makes for a good fit, comfort, and durability. They are made from 92% Cotton, 6% Polyester, 2% Spandex. It has a heavier, and thicker feel than many fashion jeans. The mid-rise cut will ensure adequate coverage. 

They are very versatile and will suit riding and heavy stable activities – and can be used in town.

They have a zipper closure and a no-gap fitted waistband which is lined for extra comfort. The pockets are deep and the front pockets are sewn into the zipper, giving extra support. There is some detailing on the back pockets and contrast stitching for extra style. 

These equestrian pants are true to size and should fit you if you order your usual size, although some people find them baggy. And you can machine wash them. Many people find these the best jeans for horseback riding.

Note that Ariat also produce a boot-cut riding jeans of you prefer boot cut jeans.

3. Silver Jeans Co. Men’s Craig Easy Fit Bootcut Jeans

Comfortable men’s riding jeans with a hint of stretch.

Easy to wear jeans with a slight stretch. The mix is 99% Cotton, 1% Elastane, and quite soft to feel, and hard-wearing. The fabric does tend to stretch the longer you wear them, so by the end of a long day’s riding you might find them a bit baggy. They fit well at the waist, with extra room in the saddle and they fit the thigh and hip. They feature a wide boot cut design, for fashion and flair.

There are five pockets, the front ones are inserted into the fly which gives a smooth feel and appearance. The back pockets are decorated with an S scroll. The fly has a zip closing. The reinforced stitching ensures that the seams and belt loops don’t give way. You can machine wash these riding jeans.

These riding jeans are one of the best options for men.

4. ARIAT Men’s M4 Low Rise Jean

Well designed, 100% cotton horse riding jeans for men.

These jeans are a low-rise cut made from 100% cotton fabric. They sit just below the hips. They are relaxed through the waist, hip, and thigh to give a great fit and easy movement. They are very comfortable to wear. The no-rub inner seams prevent any chaffing.

 There are plenty of pockets – five in all. They have a zipper closure. These riding jeans are not skinny jeans but have been designed for all-day comfort in riding – some people say they are too baggy as a result. 

5. Riders by Lee Indigo Women’s Midrise Bootcut Jean

The perfect mid-rise women’s horse riding jeans.

These riding jeans are made from a mix of 73% Cotton, 25% Polyester, 2% Spandex, which give just the right amount of stretch. They are a boot cut jean and sit just below the waist with a slimming fit through the seat and thigh. The material holds its shape so you look good all day long.

Zipper closure and machine washable, these regular fit jeans are a pleasure to wear. They are lightweight, so good for warmer weather. It is advised to wash separately as the color bleeds out. Be careful when ordering to check the size charts carefully as they may be on the small size. 

Get the fit right and then these are excellent jeans for horseback riding.

Conclusion

There is a huge choice when deciding on the perfect horse riding jeans for you. Some people love the boot cut style, others prefer straight leg styles. The decoration may make all the difference to your choice – but whatever you decide the fit must come first, as only then will you get the comfort you deserve – and be able to forget about them during your riding day. Many will also be suitable for after riding in town.

We liked the Ariat men’s cotton low-rise jean – the makers are well respected in the industry and the jeans have been popular. But for the men, we prefer the Silver Jeans Co. Men’s Craig Easy Fit Bootcut Jeans. The cotton mix material gives a slight stretch for a better fit, and we are not too keen on the low rise of the Ariat jeans.

For the ladies, there is even more choice. All the ones we have singled out are made from cotton mix fabrics with stretch, comfort, and durability in mind. All are mid-rise to give good coverage. If you like the straight Leg jeans then the Ariat Is the one for you. They also do a boot cut jean. While the  Riders by Lee Indigo Women’s Midrise Bootcut Jean is excellent for warmer weather our overall favorite is the Wrangler Women's Q-Baby Mid Rise Boot Cut Ultimate Riding Jean, Dark Wash, 17-34.

With strong stretchy material, a great cut that gives excellent coverage, and flat seams. These could be the perfect riding jeans for you (unless you happen to be a man?)

FAQs

Can I wear everyday jeans to ride?

Everyday jeans are not the most comfortable riding pants. They usually have a seam down the inner leg – and this can be very uncomfortable when you are in the saddle for any length of time. Besides, the seams are not always either flat or robust. (And the style of jeans may be too tight to let you mount your pony!)

How long should my jeans be?

We recommend that your horse riding jeans should be longer than you might be used to wearing them. They should nearly touch the ground at the heel of your boot when you are standing. 

When you ride the jeans will tend to rid up your leg, and it is nice to have your ankles covered – it looks smarter and also protects your ankles and lower legs.