Why Equestrian Legwear Is A Very Important Safety Element

Whenever we go horse riding we subject our lower body to a lot of wear and tear and this is why so many different choices have arisen to protect us here. As time has gone by equestrian legwear has been designed to take into account the functionality that we need and the protection that we desire. Even though today we normally ride for pleasure or for competitive purposes, remember that in the early days riding was a necessity in order to fight off unwanted attackers or to find our next meal!

Chaps, derived from the Spanish term chaparejas, were originally designed to protect the rider's legs from the inevitable rough terrain, brush and what has become known in North America as chaparral. In recognition of the fact that the horse was also somewhat vulnerable to these dangers, the original chaps would often be a very large piece of leather that would be attached to the saddle and would protect the horse as well as the rider's legs.

You can find chaps for any number of different purposes today. Maybe you have a specific preference, or have a certain type of horse riding in mind. This is why you see those famous batwing chaps in use by rodeo riders today, for example. Due to the fact that they have a close cut from the knee to the hip and an open design further down, these products are very functional in the dramatic rodeo environment.

If you wear short boots when riding you may well select half chaps which can be protective and functional. Attaching them to the short boots gives you the impression that you are wearing longer boots. Many people opt for short boots went riding on the trail and in this case half chaps give you extra protection as well.

Woolly chaps are also familiar to most of us who like to watch some of those Western films, where riders were suitably decked out with chaps covered with goat hair, to protect them from extremes of cold.

While shotgun chaps are very functional and "show" chaps are specifically made for use in horse shows or formal events, they all have one thing in common. The actual leg protectors are attached to a belt and there is no protection or coverage in the crotch or seat areas.

Here's a trivia question. Did you know why chaps often feature fringes along the edges? While today this is more for show than anything else, in the early days of horse riding (when everything had to have a function) the fringe would act as a collection point for excess water during rainstorms. It would be far easier to get rid of this moisture and to allow it to evaporate rather quickly as the fringe blew freely away from the rest of the clothing.

While you might not come across any prickly bushes or chaparral when you are out riding, chaps can still give you that extra element of protection for your legs, helping you to avoid fatigue when riding for extended periods of time.


------

Nick Morgan is a very well known expert when it comes to everything relating to equestrian legwear. To explore crucial facts relating to half chaps, check out the website at ... http://www.derbyhouse.co.uk/