Western Riding Jeans Guide
It’s hard to imagine western riding without jeans. The prototype of the jeans was designed by Levi Strauss, who wanted to create durable work trousers for the gold miners in the USA. He sewed the trousers from brown canvas and reinforced the sensitive areas with studs.
The classic blue jeans as we know them today became established at the beginning of the 20th century. After all, the cowboys on the ranches discovered the advantages of denim trousers for themselves and thus paved the way for the western riding scene.
Denim Western Jeans – the advantages:
Our western riding jeans for women, men and children are made of durable denim material. This is a thick cotton fabric that acquires its special tear resistance through a special weaving technique. Other advantages of denim include:
- dirt-repellent
- odourless
- proection against UV radiation
- easy-care
- high wearing comfort
- durable
Western jeans – more freedom of movement thanks to elastane content
As a western rider, you need comfortable-fitting western clothing in the saddle that does not restrict your freedom of movement. Western riding jeans with a stretch component increase the wearing comfort and are more figure-flattering. In addition, the jeans do not lose their shape so quickly due to the addition of materials such as elastane.
Size Guide for Western Riding Jeans
Like most accessories for western riding, the size of the western riding jeans is given in inches. Two measurements are needed for this: the inside leg length and the waist size.
Inch is a common unit of measurement in the USA and is therefore a frequently used size in the field of western riding accessories. 1 inch corresponds to 2.54 cm.
1. Determine the inside leg length
The inside leg length is measured from the crotch to the bottom of the ankle.
When taking the measurements on your body, you should ask someone for help. Put the tape measure from your crotch to the bottom of your foot.
Alternatively, you can measure on a pair of trousers that fit you well. Measure along the inside leg seam from the gusset to the hem of the foot.
A visible boot shaft is frowned upon at western competitions. Western riding jeans should therefore under no circumstances ride up when riding. Pay attention to the right length: Western jeans should fit in such a way that you have to turn them upside down at least once when standing, so that they do not rest on the ground. If you have measured the inside leg length directly on the leg, you should therefore add at least 2-3 cm.
2. Determine the waist size
The waist size is where the waistband sits. Most of our western riding jeans are cut to a medium waist, so the trousers sit directly on the hips. Therefore, you place the measuring tape at the same place, the belly button serves as a small point of reference here.
If you already have a well-fitting pair of trousers with the same waist height, you can simply measure the waistband directly.
Which jeans for western riding? Western riding jeans cuts
Skinny Western Jeans
Western riding jeans in skinny fit are cut close to the body. Despite the close-fitting cut, skinny jeans allow maximum freedom of movement thanks to a elastane content.
Western jeans in a skinny cut are especially popular with Western riders and children who want to show off their Western boots.
Skinny jeans are perfect for everyday wear at the stable, but bootcut jeans are the better choice for competitions, as the boot shaft should not show.
Straight Western Jeans
Straight fit riding jeans with their straight cut are ideal for daily training and work in the stable.
The western boot is classically worn under the jeans in the straight cut. They are therefore also often equipped with a small slit at the end of the leg.
Bootcut Western Jeans
The classic western jeans are cut in a bootcut style. The leg is slightly flared, similar to flared trousers. This way, the western boots fit comfortably under the trouser leg.
Bootcut jeans are optimal in show conditions, as the boot shaft is thus concealed even when riding.
Western Riding Jeans Washes
While the first jeans were still dyed with real indigo, the typical colouring of blue jeans is produced synthetically. The evolution of the fashion industry has also produced a variety of manufacturing processes that allow for a wide repertoire of looks. Dyeing, washing, sandblasting or bleaching processes are primarily to be mentioned when thinking of the western riding jeans we know today. Whether in a casual used look, lightly faded or in a cool shade of grey – we offer various denim styles in our range. We explain how the looks are created.
Raw Denim /
Dark Denim
The jeans are not washed after the dyeing process and have a rich dark blue colour. The colouration is even.
Stone Washed
Denim
After dyeing, the jeans are washed again with the addition of pumice stones. These lightly rub the colour out of the fabric, creating a soft look that looks washed out. Targeted lightening, as often seen on the thighs of riding jeans, is now achieved with a sandblaster.
Bleached
Denim
Light blue jeans get their look from a bleaching process in which the colour is removed from the trousers. The so-called buffies are a special eye-catcher on the light jeans. These are the seat creases that are perpetuated in the fabric by intensive ironing and subsequent washing or bleaching processes.
Coloured
Denim
At a western competition, the classic blue jeans are not appreciated. Black riding jeans are the better choice for competitions. Here, either the thread is pre-dyed or the finished raw denim jeans are re-dyed afterwards. A pair of black jeans turns grey when washed.
Western Show Jeans – what to look out for?
At western competitions, a neat outfit is of great importance for both horse and rider. In most events, western jeans are classically worn, which should be either black or in a light colour (white or cream). Blue jeans are a no-go at the show. In addition, you should pay attention to the length of the show jeans: the boot shaft should not be visible under any circumstances, so you should be able to fold the jeans over at least once when standing, so that they do not ride up when riding.
Western chaps for the competition
Western chaps are very popular at the shows, as they visually lengthen the leg and create a harmonious overall appearance!
Western Riding Jeans Care
Western jeans are simple to care for. If you pay attention to a few things, you can maintain the quality of the jeans in the long term with minimal effort. Denim is robust and tear-resistant. The strong material means that the material rarely shows signs of fatigue. In addition, denim does not absorb dirt and odours as much as other materials. Western riding jeans are therefore ideal for use in the stable.
To ensure that your riding jeans stay with you for as long as possible, we have put together the most important care tips:
- Wash your jeans as infrequently as possible. Many washes in the washing machine at high temperatures stress the material and cause the trousers to shrink. Better: remove small stains with a little mild soap and a damp cloth and get rid of unpleasant odours by airing them extensively.
- Do not tumble dry your riding jeans. This will damage the cotton fibres, making the denim thinner over time and more prone to rips and tears.
The must-have accessory for western jeans – the western belt with buckle
A high-quality leather belt with a striking and elaborately decorated buckle evokes direct associations with western riding, even in laymen. Wearing a belt has a long tradition in western riding. It gave ranch workers the opportunity to optimise the fit of their jeans, but it also allowed them to carry important utensils that had to be quickly at hand, thanks to various fastening options. Nowadays, the belt is mainly used to visually enhance the western outfit, especially at western shows.
Western belts are often kept in muted natural shades, but become real eye-catchers on the hip with leather embossing, cut-outs or eye-catching studs.
To determine the correct size, it is best to put on the riding jeans and determine the waist circumference at the level of the belt loops. The belt size that comes closest to the determined value will be the correct one, e.g. if the waist circumference is 93, the belt size will be 95.
After all, an eye-catching buckle is the absolute must-have for a successful show outfit. It should always match the colour of the outfit. Here, too, you will often see embossed metal in combination with contrasting symbols, inspired by the Wild West, but also integrated gemstones.