Yeehaw vs. namaste: Cowgirl yogini takes on the great pant debate
“Just because you can doesn’t mean you should” comes to mind whenever people ask about wearing yoga pants for riding. As a yogini and equestrian, I certainly understand the appeal. I practically live in these yoga pants when I’m not at the barn. They’re comfy, lightweight, and go with everything. I never in any type of .
Every sport puts special demands on clothing, and there’s certainly some crossover between yoga and horseback riding. Yoginis and riders want to be comfortable, have a lot of flexibility, and wear flattering pants. Yet, several of the qualities that make for great yoga pants fall short once you swing into the saddle (and vice versa). Can you ride in yoga pants? Yes. Should you? Ideally, no.
Love yoga and horses? Big Sky Yoga Retreats offers luxury women’s yoga and horseback riding vacations in the wilds of Montana. Use Referral Code “HRcowgirlup” during registration for a special gift upon arrival!
Giddyup, little yogini
Hot weather is a big challenge for riders
I’ve been practicing yoga for eight years and riding for more than thirty. My first yoga experience occurred on a vacation to Costa Rica… that also included horseback riding. #whatsavacationwithouthorses
It didn’t take long for me to realize how much overlap there is between the mental and physical aspects of yoga and riding. Learning to ground yourself in yoga helps you stay centered in the saddle. Focusing your mind on the mat trains you to stay on task on your horse. Strength, balance, and flexibility are also key to both sports.
But, when it comes to gear (pants, in particular), striking poses on a stationary mat is very different from balancing on your moving yoga mat (a.k.a. your horse). Luckily, there’s a great compromise: riding tights.
Yoga pants, meet breeches
When I was growing up, the riders around me wore breeches. Period. Breeches were typically thicker cotton blend, featured a classic snap and zip waistband with belt loops, had elastic or velcro at the ankles, and came in basic colors like tan, black, and white.
Nowadays, you’ll still see riding breeches at competitions. But for everyday riding, most of us wear a modern “riding tight.”
Riding tights are basically the yoga pants of the horse world.
Riding tights are the yoga pants of the horse world.
Why? Riding tights prioritize comfort, safety, and fashion. Plus, there are TONS of fun options out there for every body type, riding discipline, and style preference.
10 reasons riding tights are the better choice for equestrians
- Good Grip: The #1 goal of riding is to stay on the right side of your horse–the top side! Unlike yoga pants, riding tights are designed with knee patch or full seat grip (usually made of some type of subtle silicone pattern). This feature helps you “stick” to the saddle in key contact points like your inner leg, knee, thigh, and seat.
- Wide Waist: Those comfy extra wide waistbands you love on your yoga pants? Good news. You can find plenty of riding tights with a wide waistband, too. Restrictive waistbands are one of my biggest pet peeves, and I refuse to compromise on this particular comfort when it comes to horse riding pants.
- Belt Loops: Some riding tights have them, and others don’t. But if wearing a belt when you ride is a must, you can find plenty of options for (good luck on yoga pants…).
- No Cutouts: Many yoga pants have fabric cutouts or other design accents that look great on the mat but fall short for riding. In the saddle, you don’t want anything that can accidentally get caught on your tack. You also don’t want to rub your legs raw because your skin shows through part of your yoga pant leg.
- Hold, Please: Peace and quiet is perfect in the yoga studio, but you’ll want your cell phone if you’re riding out summer riding on the trails or practicing on your own. It’s simply the safe thing to do. (OK, and we wall want to stay selfie-ready!) Many riding tights have a special cell phone pocket on the outer leg or top of the thigh that makes it easy to access your phone while you’re riding.
- Long Lasting: Yoga pants have it easy. You wear them in temperature-controlled studios on padded mats with no sharp edges in sight. Riding tights are made to be far more durable. (I’ve worn my favorite riding tights for more than three years, and they’re still going strong!)
- Comfort Crazy: When I head to the barn, it’s usually a 4-6 hour excursion. In addition to the riding itself, I’m handling tack, grooming my horse, watching a riding lesson, and hanging out with friends. The last thing I want is spend hours wishing I was back home in my favorite yoga pants. Riding tights are made to wear all day with no regrets.
- Proper Length: The majority of yoga pants are crop-length pants, meaning those that end in the vicinity of your calves. Cropped pants simply don’t work for horseback riding because there ends up being a gap of skin between your riding boots and your pants that can rub on your leather tack, get nicked by tree branches on the trail, or leave you with a really random tan line. #rookiemistake
- Price is Right: Unlike expensive competition breeches, there are plenty of nice riding tights out there that won’t break the bank. (Here are my favs.)
- Looks Legit: Looks aren’t everything, but if you’re trying to fit into the equestrian scene, yoga pants won’t exactly have you passing as a pro.
Read about the Top 5 Yoga Poses for Equestrians and how they’ll change the way you ride forever.
When it’s OK to wear yoga pants horseback riding
As someone who loves yoga and horse riding, I’m not going to say you can never wear your yoga pants in the saddle. It’s not ideal, for all the reasons I just mentioned. But, you may stick with yoga pants if:
- You’re only doing a single ride (e.g. going on a one-off trail ride with friends).
Note: Riding jeans are a much better option for trail rides than yoga pants. See our What to Wear Trail Riding article! - You want to try out this whole horse thing before committing (e.g. sign up for a couple lessons to see if you like riding).
Note: Tack stores often sell used clothing so you don’t need to buy new. - You’re on vacation and don’t want to buy/pack separate riding pants.
Note: Riding tights are very small and lightweight to pack. I took these on my trip to Costa Rica and loved them. - You’re pregnant and they’re your most comfortable pants.
Note: If you’re considering riding while pregnant, please be sure to read our Baby on Board article before making your decision.
Keep your yoga pants for yoga class, when possible.
If you’re going to ride in yoga pants, make sure to choose a pair that’s full length with no cutouts that could get caught or torn on your tack or rub your leg on your .
Love yoga and horses? Big Sky Yoga Retreats offers luxury women’s yoga and horseback riding vacations in the wilds of Montana. Use Referral Code “HRcowgirlup” during registration for a special gift upon arrival!
Horse yoga pants? Gimme!
- Unicorn Yoga Pants (available on Etsy)
- Wild West Yoga Pants (available on Etsy)
- Horse Head Yoga Pants (available on Etsy)
- Rainbow Horses Yoga Pants (available on Etsy)
- Outline Horse Yoga Pants (available on Etsy)
If you want to show off your favorite horse, you can design your own horse yoga pants with your equine partner’s image printed on them!
Yeehaw Meets Namaste
If you’re a yoga lover asking questions about horseback riding, I have to press pause for a minute and recommend LUXE Cowgirl Yoga™ from Big Sky Yoga Retreats. I personally know the founder and have attended more than a dozen of their retreats over the years… that’s how much I LOVE them!
Big Sky Yoga Retreats are unforgettable.
Love yoga and horses? Big Sky Yoga Retreats offers luxury women’s yoga and horseback riding vacations in the wilds of Montana. Use Referral Code “HRcowgirlup” during registration for a special gift upon arrival!
Their LUXE Cowgirl Yoga™ retreat is designed to deepen your yoga practice, realign your body, steady your mind, and explore the magical horse-human connection in and out of the saddle. Not only are the venues stunning, you’ll enjoy multiple yoga classes hands-on horse time every day. Plus, you’ll get to experience the magic of “joining up” with your horse in the round pen.
(Margaret also participated in our Letter to My Rookie Self series here!)
OM on the range
Yoga and horses are a natural fit, but that doesn’t mean you should wear the same pants for both activities.
If you love the feel of your yoga pants, you’ll love the equestrian equivalent of riding tights. They’re affordable alternatives that will help you namaste in the saddle and look like you know what you’re doing. #rookieundercover
P.S. Enjoy this article? Trot on over to:
- Get Your Asana in the Saddle: 5 Yoga Tips for Equestrians
- 10 Best Horse Riding Pants (English + Western Styles)
- Big Sky Yoga Retreats Review: Loved It So Much I Moved Here
- 5 Yoga Poses Equestrians Should Do Before Every Ride
- Big Sky Yoga Retreats Founder Margaret Burns Vap: Letter to My Rookie Self
- What to Wear Horseback Riding (With Pictures)
