The History of Equestrian Underwear
Most horse riders don't really think about their foundation wear in detail. It's still a fairly taboo subject to talk about equestrian underwear for riders, and in most cases we just suffer in silence! This latest blog talks about how underwear has developed across the centuries and what horse riders can expect from equestrian underwear today!
The first simplest form of underwear was probably the loincloth, although Ameila Bloomer first created the ladies bloomers, in 1849. The body of Ötzi the Iceman, who died in the Tyrolean Alps more than 5,000 years ago, sported a loincloth, made from goat skin, under his furry leggings!
The underwear served many purposes as well as used as additional layer to keep you warmer in winter.
Since 1849, underwear has moved on in leaps and bounds, in terms of fabrics, styles, colours and patterns. In today’s market, the most popular styles of ladies underwear in 21stcentury consist of:
The Bikini – The bikini style is designed for medium coverage that sit lower on the hips and narrow towards the sides for a more flattering shape.
The Full Brief – The full brief is designed to provide the most coverage. It is a classic style, which sits higher on the waist and has thick sides and a low leg line.
The Shorts – The shorts style is designed for full coverage. The come with low and high waist styles, as well as different leg lengths.
The Hipster – The hipster style is designed to sit lower on the hips, so similar to the bikini knickers, but has a wider coverage to the sides.
The Brazilian – The Brazilian style is designed to be a cross between the bikini style and a thong. This style sits low on your hips and has wide sides with cut away styling to back.
The Thong – The thong style is designed to expose the bottom to ensure no panty line is visible. These provide the least coverage and come in low and high waist styles, with many back widths to suit your body shape.
The G-String –The G-string style is designed to offer no visible panty line and tend to have sexier styling. They also have minimal coverage and support.
Although all these styles have been developed over centuries and decades, unique sports underwear was very limited and often forgotten, as it wasn’t a topic that many people felt comfortable about taking about.
That meant that a lot of sports people suffered in silence! Horse riders are particularly susceptible to ill-fitting and unsuitable underwear, due to the contact in the saddle.
This began the wheels of change, and the development of the very first specialist equestrian underwear, the Equetech ComfyRump! Equetech was established in 1986 by an American horse rider Leslie Tozier; who recognised the importance of suitable foundation wear for horse riders, especially dressage riders. Dressage riders are particularly susceptible to chaffing, and bruising, due to the nature of being seated for long periods of time and riding many horses.
The equestrian disciplines that are most likely to need equestrian underwear include endurance riding, riding holidays, dressage, eventing and show jumping. However, depending on your saddle type, style of riding and length of time in the saddle, most riders would benefit for specialist equestrian underwear.
Moving forward to 2019, our equestrian underwear range, is one of the most comprehensive and specialist in the world! We cater for all disciplines, with brief and short styles to suit all ages and disciplines.
All of our specialist equestrian underwear is made in our own factory in Leicestershire, England and all elements, from the label to the fabric is made in the UK.
All of our underwear styles are made from cotton. Cotton is a natural fibre and is very soft against the skin, to avoid rubbing. Cotton fabrics permit better aeration and will keep you cool. Cotton removes moisture away from the body, and is absorbent, for great moisture control. This helps eliminate moisture build up between your underwear and skin, in order to keep you dry!
Our underwear incorporates the latest design features and technology for maximum support and protection in the saddle.
Our underwear consists of styles for both women and men. The women’s styles include the following:
The Dressage Brief –
This is a lower leg style, has tummy support with a mid to high-rise waistband and wide leg panels, for hip and pelvis support. The wider elastic waistband has a plush inner band, for complete comfort, as well as soft binding around the leg and seam free seat panels. The Dressage brief comes in three levels of protection.
The Classic Dressage Brief has no padding, but a simple double lined gusset. Ideal for riders that need an everyday brief, with no need extra protection, but desires supportive comfort in the saddle.
The Primo Dressage Brief has 3mm of discrete padding to the front fork of the brief. The seat has a simple double lined gusset. This style is ideal for riders that have a higher front pommel on their saddle or tend to chaff or bruise at the front of your intimate area.
The Plus Dressage Brief has 3mm of discrete padding from the front folk to the back of the seat. This style is ideal for riders that require the best level of protection to intimate areas and seat bones.
The Bikini Brief –
This is a higher leg style with high-rise waistband and narrower leg panels. The wider elastic waistband has a plush inner band, for complete comfort, as well as soft binding around the leg and seam free seat panels. The Bikini brief comes in three levels of protection.
The Classic Bikini Brief has no padding, but a simple double lined gusset. Ideal for riders that need an everyday brief, with no need extra protection, but desires supportive comfort in the saddle.
The Primo Bikini Brief has 3mm of discrete padding to the front fork of the brief. The seat has a simple double lined gusset. This style is ideal for riders that have a higher front pommel on their saddle or tend to chaff or bruise at the front of your intimate area.
The Plus Bikini Brief has 3mm of discrete padding from the front folk to the back of the seat. This style is ideal for riders that require the best level of protection to intimate areas and seat bones.
We offer one style of equestrian underwear for male riders in two protection levels.
The Men’s Boxer Short –
The Men’s Boxer Shorts are a cycling short style, with hip and pelvis support. The wider elastic waistband has a plush inner band, for complete comfort, as well as soft binding around the leg and seam free seat panels.
The Classic Men’s Boxer Shorts has no padding, but a simple double lined gusset. Ideal for riders that need an everyday brief, with no need extra protection, but desires supportive comfort in the saddle.
The Plus Men’s Boxer Shorts has 3mm of discrete padding from the front to the back of the seat. This style is ideal for riders that require the best level of protection to intimate areas and seat bones.
Whilst we have given you an indication of what the styles above are best intended for, if you require more support in making the best choice, please contact our customer services team on +44 (0) 1296 688 966 or email info@equetech.com
All conversations treated in the strictest confidence and discretion. We’ve heard it all before!
We also provide a range of sports bras/ support tops for lady horse riders and a range of thermal underbreeches to keep you toasty warm in winter! Happy riding!
The first simplest form of underwear was probably the loincloth, although Ameila Bloomer first created the ladies bloomers, in 1849. The body of Ötzi the Iceman, who died in the Tyrolean Alps more than 5,000 years ago, sported a loincloth, made from goat skin, under his furry leggings!
The underwear served many purposes as well as used as additional layer to keep you warmer in winter.
Since 1849, underwear has moved on in leaps and bounds, in terms of fabrics, styles, colours and patterns. In today’s market, the most popular styles of ladies underwear in 21stcentury consist of:
The Bikini – The bikini style is designed for medium coverage that sit lower on the hips and narrow towards the sides for a more flattering shape.
The Full Brief – The full brief is designed to provide the most coverage. It is a classic style, which sits higher on the waist and has thick sides and a low leg line.
The Shorts – The shorts style is designed for full coverage. The come with low and high waist styles, as well as different leg lengths.
The Hipster – The hipster style is designed to sit lower on the hips, so similar to the bikini knickers, but has a wider coverage to the sides.
The Brazilian – The Brazilian style is designed to be a cross between the bikini style and a thong. This style sits low on your hips and has wide sides with cut away styling to back.
The Thong – The thong style is designed to expose the bottom to ensure no panty line is visible. These provide the least coverage and come in low and high waist styles, with many back widths to suit your body shape.
The G-String –The G-string style is designed to offer no visible panty line and tend to have sexier styling. They also have minimal coverage and support.
Although all these styles have been developed over centuries and decades, unique sports underwear was very limited and often forgotten, as it wasn’t a topic that many people felt comfortable about taking about.
That meant that a lot of sports people suffered in silence! Horse riders are particularly susceptible to ill-fitting and unsuitable underwear, due to the contact in the saddle.
This began the wheels of change, and the development of the very first specialist equestrian underwear, the Equetech ComfyRump! Equetech was established in 1986 by an American horse rider Leslie Tozier; who recognised the importance of suitable foundation wear for horse riders, especially dressage riders. Dressage riders are particularly susceptible to chaffing, and bruising, due to the nature of being seated for long periods of time and riding many horses.
The equestrian disciplines that are most likely to need equestrian underwear include endurance riding, riding holidays, dressage, eventing and show jumping. However, depending on your saddle type, style of riding and length of time in the saddle, most riders would benefit for specialist equestrian underwear.
Moving forward to 2019, our equestrian underwear range, is one of the most comprehensive and specialist in the world! We cater for all disciplines, with brief and short styles to suit all ages and disciplines.
All of our specialist equestrian underwear is made in our own factory in Leicestershire, England and all elements, from the label to the fabric is made in the UK.
All of our underwear styles are made from cotton. Cotton is a natural fibre and is very soft against the skin, to avoid rubbing. Cotton fabrics permit better aeration and will keep you cool. Cotton removes moisture away from the body, and is absorbent, for great moisture control. This helps eliminate moisture build up between your underwear and skin, in order to keep you dry!
Our underwear incorporates the latest design features and technology for maximum support and protection in the saddle.
Our underwear consists of styles for both women and men. The women’s styles include the following:
The Dressage Brief –
This is a lower leg style, has tummy support with a mid to high-rise waistband and wide leg panels, for hip and pelvis support. The wider elastic waistband has a plush inner band, for complete comfort, as well as soft binding around the leg and seam free seat panels. The Dressage brief comes in three levels of protection.
The Classic Dressage Brief has no padding, but a simple double lined gusset. Ideal for riders that need an everyday brief, with no need extra protection, but desires supportive comfort in the saddle.
The Primo Dressage Brief has 3mm of discrete padding to the front fork of the brief. The seat has a simple double lined gusset. This style is ideal for riders that have a higher front pommel on their saddle or tend to chaff or bruise at the front of your intimate area.
The Plus Dressage Brief has 3mm of discrete padding from the front folk to the back of the seat. This style is ideal for riders that require the best level of protection to intimate areas and seat bones.
The Bikini Brief –
This is a higher leg style with high-rise waistband and narrower leg panels. The wider elastic waistband has a plush inner band, for complete comfort, as well as soft binding around the leg and seam free seat panels. The Bikini brief comes in three levels of protection.
The Classic Bikini Brief has no padding, but a simple double lined gusset. Ideal for riders that need an everyday brief, with no need extra protection, but desires supportive comfort in the saddle.
The Primo Bikini Brief has 3mm of discrete padding to the front fork of the brief. The seat has a simple double lined gusset. This style is ideal for riders that have a higher front pommel on their saddle or tend to chaff or bruise at the front of your intimate area.
The Plus Bikini Brief has 3mm of discrete padding from the front folk to the back of the seat. This style is ideal for riders that require the best level of protection to intimate areas and seat bones.
We offer one style of equestrian underwear for male riders in two protection levels.
The Men’s Boxer Short –
The Men’s Boxer Shorts are a cycling short style, with hip and pelvis support. The wider elastic waistband has a plush inner band, for complete comfort, as well as soft binding around the leg and seam free seat panels.
The Classic Men’s Boxer Shorts has no padding, but a simple double lined gusset. Ideal for riders that need an everyday brief, with no need extra protection, but desires supportive comfort in the saddle.
The Plus Men’s Boxer Shorts has 3mm of discrete padding from the front to the back of the seat. This style is ideal for riders that require the best level of protection to intimate areas and seat bones.
Whilst we have given you an indication of what the styles above are best intended for, if you require more support in making the best choice, please contact our customer services team on +44 (0) 1296 688 966 or email info@equetech.com
All conversations treated in the strictest confidence and discretion. We’ve heard it all before!
We also provide a range of sports bras/ support tops for lady horse riders and a range of thermal underbreeches to keep you toasty warm in winter! Happy riding!
