Question for the horsey set: Just finished watching a movie with...

[brush]

quite a bit of horse riding. Why do riding pants have those pontoon-like protrusions on the side of the thighs?

[Ocelot II]

1. It's a holdover from when India was part of the British Empire.

Jodhpurs were adapted from traditional clothing of the Indian subcontinent as long trousers, reaching to the ankle, snug from the calf to the ankle, with reinforced fabric protecting the inner calf and knee from rubbing. The thighs and hips were flared, a traditional South Asian style that allowed free movement of the hip and thigh while riding.

The jodhpurs were adapted from an ancient style of Indian trouser called the Churidar, which is tight around the calf and loose at the hips. It is still worn at traditional Jodhpuri weddings. This is a special traditional style of clothing in Northern India, especially in what is today the modern state of Rajasthan. Sir Pratap Singh, a younger son of the Maharaja of Jodhpur, popularised in England the style of riding trousers worn in Jodhpur, a design that he apparently improved and perfected and first had tailored in India around 1890.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jodhpurs

[3catwoman3]

2. DU is so educational.

I think one could post a question on just about any topic here, no matter how esoteric, and someone DUer would be knowledgeable about it.

[brush]

3. So true. I knew I'd find the answer here.

[Mister Ed]

6. Yes. An enlightening reply like that one is worlds better than...

...a snippy, snarky response saying, "Google is your friend."

Which, it pains me to say, we see from time to time....

[brush]

4. Thanks, Ocelot II, for the info. One more question. How does it come...

that you know so much about this?

[Ocelot II]

7. I'd read about it years ago, but not from riding.

Horses make me itch.

[hlthe2b]

9. I always loved the word for it, jodhpur

[Talitha]

11. Thanks, Ocelot II - I learn SO much here at DU!!!

[cilla4progress]

5. I agree about DU being

a source and fount of a wide range of info!

It's become my go to!!

👍🏾👍🏾

[lapucelle]

8. "Pontoon-like protrusions"...

...that certainly sums it up...

[Retrograde]

10. They show that you have the money for special riding clothes

and don't just jump on a horse wearing jeans and a t-shirt, like those low-class people who ride Western instead of English do.

They might allow for a little more room and flex around the thighs, but overall I think it's just tradition.