Kids' Breeches & Tights

Jodhpurs run to the ankle and finish in a cuff or an elastic strap that keeps them down over a paddock boot, and they can be worn with garter straps below the knee. Breeches finish in a sock bottom made to sit smoothly under tall boots. Both come in knee patch and pull-on styles, and the 2026 USEF dressage attire booklet permits breeches or jodhpurs in competition (1.4).

The 2026 USEF hunter (HU107) and equitation (EQ106) attire rules don't mention garter straps. Both say "Conventional attire following the tradition of fox hunting is encouraged and preferred," and that judges shall not eliminate a rider over attire except for safety. Brands describe garter straps as traditional: TuffRider calls them a crucial part of traditional turnout in short stirrup classes, and Shires calls its Kids' Gaiter Straps a standard in short stirrup classes.

The 2026 USEF attire rules we opened (HU107, EQ106, JP111.11 and the dressage attire booklet) don't set an age. Breeches have sock bottoms made to sit under tall boots, so they pair with tall boots, while jodhpurs pair with paddock boots. For lessons and schooling, the choice is yours or your trainer's.

Choose by your child's measurements and the brand's size chart: kids' tights are sized by letter, number or age depending on the brand. Among kids' riding tights, what our customers buy most are the Equistar Kids' Active Rider Performance Tights, Kerrits Kids' Coolcore Full Leg Tech Tights and Ovation Kids' Aerowick GripTec Knee Patch Tight, all three in letter sizes from X Small up. Equistar says its tights have a wide pull-on waistband with belt loops that sits at the natural waist, and Kerrits says Coolcore fabric keeps kids cool and comfortable.

Knee patch breeches have grip patches on the inside of the knee only; full seat breeches carry the grip through the seat and inner leg. Kids' knee patches come in silicone, suede and synthetic leather: TuffRider makes its UltraGripp patches from grippy synthetic leather, and LeMieux gives its Young Rider Hunter Breeches a self color suede knee patch. Hunters wear knee patch, on the flat too.

It depends on the discipline. Hunters wear knee patch, on the flat too. Many dressage riders ride in full seat, and jumpers usually do. Eventers ride in full seat for dressage and cross-country and in knee patch for stadium jumping. For schooling, lessons and trail rides, it's your choice or your trainer's.

Riding tights are pull-on and come in knee patch and full seat, just like breeches; fabric weight, not the patch, is what sets tights apart from breeches. Some styles sit in between: Irideon says its Kids' Cadence Classic Knee Patch Breeches have the pull-on ease of tights with the heft of breech fabric.

For lessons and schooling, what your child rides in is your choice or your trainer's. For USEF hunter and equitation classes, the 2026 rules say "Breeches may be buff, canary, tan, rust or white" (HU107.2, EQ106.2). Breggings keep the comfort of leggings with a breech look: LeMieux says its Young Rider Remi Breggings offer the comfort of LeMieux leggings with the look of breeches, with a silicone full seat. For a denim look, Kerrits makes Kids' Stretch Denim Knee Patch Breeches and Horze makes Kids' Allison Full Seat Denim Breeches.

It depends on the class. In USEF hunter and equitation classes, "Breeches may be buff, canary, tan, rust or white" (HU107.2, EQ106.2, 2026). In jumper classes, Proper Jumper Attire calls for light breeches (white, fawn or canary) and Standard Jumper Attire permits breeches of any color (JP111.11). The dressage attire booklet permits white, light or dark colored breeches or jodhpurs, but not bright colors or patterns (1.4). Most young riders show in tan or beige; white breeches are worn for Classics.

Both keep jodhpurs from riding up. Garter straps are leather straps that buckle around the leg: Shires says its Kids' Gaiter Straps go around the calf just below the knee. Jodhpur clips do the job with elastic: Dublin's Kids' Rubber Jodhpur Clips are elastic bands with metal clips on both ends, and Equistar makes 3/4 inch elastic pant clips. Many jods also have elastic straps that go under the foot, like TuffRider's sewn-in elastic jodhpur straps.

Kids' breeches, jods and tights here come in four size systems: numbers from 2 to 18, letters from XX Small to XX Large, ages from 3-4 years to 14-16 years, and EU sizes from 110 to 170. RJ Classics also makes some kids' breeches and jodhpurs in Long sizes. Check the size chart on each product page, then use Find Your Fit above to see every style in your child's size.

Sock-bottom breeches swap the cuff for a thin, stretchy lower leg that sits smoothly inside boots. Equinavia says the micromesh sock bottom on its Kids' Tuva Knee Patch Breeches reduces bulk under your boots, and TuffRider says the contoured sock bottoms on its Boys Patrol Light Knee Patch Breeches decrease fabric bulk in tall boots.