Full seat or knee patch breeches?

Knee patch breeches have grip on the inside of the knee; full seat breeches have grip across the seat and down the inner leg as well. The grip is a panel of silicone, suede or leather that gives you a little more traction against the saddle.

On a knee patch pair, the seat and upper thigh are plain fabric, so you shift more freely. On a full seat, Kerrits describes the patch as covering the seat and inner legs down toward the calf, for more saddle contact. Exactly how far the grip reaches varies by brand and style, so look at the product photos.

You will find both styles as classic breeches and as stretchy riding tights. We carry full seat breeches and knee patch breeches side by side if you want to see the difference on the page.

Tights are the stretchy, pull-on choice and breeches are the more structured one, and both come in either grip style. Kerrits describes tights as very stretchy with an elastic waistband that may or may not have belt loops or pockets, while breeches have a zipper fly with a button or snap, feel more structured, offer more coverage and usually have belt loops and pockets. Breeches are the traditional show ring choice for English riders.

Why not leggings or jeans? Kerrits says yoga pants, leggings and jeans lack the grip to keep you in contact with the horse, and that riding pants stretch in the places that help prevent rubbing. If you are heading for a first lesson in whatever is already in your closet, that is fine for a start, but riding pants are what the grip panels are built into.

Match the grip to how much you want to move: knee patch is common for jumping and full seat for dressage, and either works for a lot of everyday riding. Kerrits describes knee patches as common in hunters, jumpers and eventing, and full seat as most common in dressage.

Do you need full seat for dressage? Nothing we read says full seat is the only option; it is described as the common choice. Kerrits also notes full seat is sometimes used for the cross-country phase of eventing and is often chosen by riders with green or spooky horses. What a particular show requires about breeches is a question for that show's rule book or prize list, so check there before you buy for a competition.

For jumping, knee patch is the usual default, because grip at the knee holds you in two-point while the plain fabric across the seat lets you move. Kerrits describes knee patches as common in hunters, jumpers and eventing, with the grip at the knee for riding in two-point over fences.

Some jumpers choose a silicone knee grip when they want extra hold at the knee, and others who jump green or strong horses go for a bit more grip elsewhere. Which is right depends on the horse, so a trainer who knows both of you is the best guide.

Neither is better; they feel different. Silicone is thin and flexible, while suede and leather are thicker and more traditional.

Kerrits notes that traditional patches are suede or leather and newer ones are faux suede or silicone, and says silicone offers great grip while being more flexible and breathable. It adds that grip strength runs from mild to extreme, depending on personal preference and the horse. Leather is the thicker, more structured, traditional option.

So it comes down to taste and to the horse in front of you. Some riders want every bit of stick they can get and others find silicone too tacky, so it helps to read a few reviews for words like "lightly grippy" or "very sticky." Check the care label too, since grip materials can have their own washing rules.

Either can work for a beginner, so choose for comfort and for the kind of riding your lessons involve. Beginner advice isn't uniform. Kerrits' own main tip is to ask a trainer or instructor for help choosing apparel for your discipline, and that is the one piece of advice that holds up for a new rider.

If your lessons are mixed (flatwork one day, small jumps the next), knee patch is the flexible pick. If you are headed toward dressage, full seat is a sensible first pair. Either way, comfort in the waistband and legs matters more than the grip, and extra grip can hide how steady your seat really is, which is a fair thing to ask your instructor about.

Not necessarily: fabric weight and breathability matter as much as the style. Kerrits makes lightweight summer breeches and tights with what it calls cooling technology, and describes silicone grip as more flexible and breathable than older designs. If you want full seat in summer, look for words like lightweight, breathable or summer in the description, and for quick-drying fabric.

Wash and care instructions matter more in summer, since sweaty breeches get washed often. Follow the care label on your pair so the grip and the fabric last.

Start with what you ride most, then adjust for weather and how much grip you like. If you ride more than one way, you do not have to choose just one; many riders keep a pair of each.

Whichever you pick, check the size chart, since breeches sizing varies from brand to brand. Kids ride in both styles as well, so look at the kids' breeches and tights if you are shopping for a young rider. Shopping for a rider who doesn't want you to guess her size? Our guide for non-riders explains how to ask.

• Mostly jumping or hunters: start with knee patch.
• Mostly dressage: full seat is the common choice.
• A bit of everything: either works, and your trainer can steer you.
• Hot climate: look for lightweight fabrics, in either style.
• Competing: check the show's rule book or prize list before you buy.