If an equestrian claims to have never been uncomfortable in the saddle while wearing their normal underwear, they’re telling you a fib – despite this, specially designed underwear for horse riders is often overlooked (as is a good sports bra, believe it or not). We believe comfort is key, so we’ve rounded up a selection of the best underwear for horses riders (both male and female) in one place so you can find a pair that might suit you.

The best underwear for equestrians is comfortable – no one appreciates rubbing, chaffing, riding up or a wedgie, and definitely not when you’re on a hack an hour away from home. Secondly, due to the nature and design of breeches, a VPL (visible panty line) is a great concern to riders, so you’ll be pleased to know that this is something that equestrian-specific underwear has under control. Comfortable underwear is also particularly important for riders going through the menopause.

Best underwear for horse riders

It’s ladies first, so jump down if you’re looking for the men’s.

Underwear for male horse riders

These shorts from Derriere Equestrian are designed to eradicate visible seamlines and ensure no rubbing, chaffing or abrasions are created due to stitched seams. Made with breathable, stretchy and odour-resistant fabric, these shorts incorporate the Padded Support System, which provides male riders with supportive, soft, and comfortable undergarments that offer protection from friction and discomfort. Also available without padding.

These cycling-short-style briefs from Equetech offer hip and pelvis support and feature a non-chaff binding, comfort waistband and seam free seat. They are available in Classic style or Plus, which has a higher level of protection to the front and seat area and are padded throughout the seat and front gusset.

These seam- and stitch-free boxer shorts from Seducci are lightweight, moisture wicking, soft and breathable. They are described as 100% invisible, too.

Designed for stretch, to fit and conform to the body’s natural shape, these shorts are VPL-free and and ensure no rubbing, chaffing or abrasions thanks to no stitched seams. They feature an integrated waistband for a comfortable fit and have no side seams, which maximises comfort in the saddle.

Originally made to wear with breeches, these handmade pants from Freddie Adams are now often also worn by runners, cyclists and golfers. They are soft and breathable, yet firm enough to offer support. These garments are made with no elastic, which means no digging in, no irritation, and no visible lines.

You might also like:

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If you’re looking for the best sports bras for horse riding you’ve come to the right place. Studies have shown that less than 35% of female horse riders in the UK wear a sports bra compared with the vast majority of runners, despite the impact not being all that different. Three in four riders also reported that they wanted an improvement in bra support, style and fit for riding and breast pain was found to be the fourth-greatest barrier to riding for women.

Wearing a sports bra can reduce breast movement by 80%, while a normal bra only achieves a 38% reduction. Reducing movement prevents breast pain and damage to the breast tissues, so a good sports bra should be an essential part of your riding kit.

The good news is that as well as being practical, lots of equestrian brands have designed sports bras that look great – and don’t show through competition shirts, either.

Choosing the best sports bras for horse riding

Firstly you need to decide on what style bra is best for you. The general rule is that encapsulating sports bras (where each breast is encapsulated separately, such as the Pure Lime high impact bra) are better for larger breasts, whereas compression bras (that squash the breast tissue into the chest, such as the Shires Aubrion Dagenham sports bra) is preferable for smaller breasts.

It’s important that your new sports bra fits correctly – follow these steps for a good fit…

• Straps – the shoulder straps should not be too tight or dig into the skin. Adjustable straps are ideal.
• Cups – there should be no bulging or gaping and the top or sides.
• Underband – this shouldn’t slide around your chest, but neither be too tight, uncomfortable or cause flesh to bulge at the edges.
• Front – this is the lower edge under the breasts (and sometimes between the cups) and should sit flat against the body.
• Underwire – if the bra is wired, it shouldn’t rest on any of the tissue (including in the centre, under the breast or arms)

When it comes to colour, if you’re worried about it showing through a white competition shirt you’re best to choose a nude or white. Otherwise the world’s your oyster when it comes to fun colours and prints. Finally, to check that the bra is offering you enough support for the level of impact you need, try jumping up and down in it to assess how it might stand up to the job.

Best sports bras for horse riding

Shires Aubrion Dagenham Sports Bra

Colours: Black, dark green or patterened | Sizes: XXS–XXL | RRP: £22.99 | H&H Review: 7/10 |

This medium-support sports bra from Shires has removable padding and a cross back design. It’s made of quick-dry fabric and has a fun look.

This Shires sports bra was reviewed as part of our independent testing scheme – read the full Aubrion Dagenham Sports Bra review.

In the UK? View now at gsequestrian.co.uk or naylors.com

Pure Lime High Impact Compression Bra

Colours: Black, white or dress blue | Sizes: 28B–44GG | RRP: £50 |

Made of a moisture-wicking, breathable fabric, this compression bra has isolating and encapsulating cups so offers all-round support. It has a soft and wide elastic underband as well as wide, padded and adjustable shoulder straps that feature a slider hook for a cross-back option.

In the UK? View now at amazon.co.uk

Derriere Equestrian Sportief Bra

Colours: White | Sizes: 7 sizes, covering 32B–38E | RRP: £54.99 |

This bra from Derriere Equestrian is designed deliver superior support with both compression and encapsulation. It has a low, wide torso band that sits deeper than the average sports bra to give thoracic core support, while the angled padded straps are designed to alleviate neck and shoulder pain. It has completely seamless areas to minimise rubbing, and it offers full zipped entry, which makes it easy to get on and off, and the racer back style prevents straps falling down.

In the UK? View now at amazon.co.uk or gsequestrian.co.uk

Domyos 960 High-Support Fitness Bra

Colours: Black or pink | Sizes: M C/D – 3XL E/F | RRP: £24.99 |

This high-support bra is designed for C–F cups and high-impact cardio sports. It has multiple adjustment points – at the straps, front zip and hooks – to help aid fit. It’s made of a breathable, quick-drying fabric to keep you dry as you exercise.

In the UK? View now at decathlon.co.uk

Dare2B Hi Impact Sports Bra

Colours: Black | Sizes: XS–XL | RRP: £16.49 |

This pull-over racerback bra is made of a moisture-wicking quick-dry fabric and has a mesh back for additional ventilation.

In the UK? View now at decathlon.co.uk

LeMieux Activewear Sports Bra

Colours: Papaya, watermelon or bluebell | Sizes: XS–XL | RRP: £24.95 |

Made from a soft, seamless fabric this LeMieux sports bra offer gentle support for lower impact sessions while letting you move freely. The wicking material help you stay dry and feel fresh.

In the UK? View now at amazon.co.uk 

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Does a good bra equal good riding? Research intends to finds out

Academics are hoping to find out whether there is a link between good breast support and good riding

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits. 

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Most riders want a better bra, a recent study has found, while having “too big” breasts is a major factor preventing women from riding.

The research, led by Dr Jenny Burbage and Lorna Cameron, follows on from their previous findings that breast pain is putting some women off riding.

The pair set out to establish the impact of bra design, fit and breast size in female riders.

Out of the 1,324 women who took part, 75% wanted an improvement in bra support, style and fit for riding. A quarter of participants also reported one or more breast-related barriers to riding.

“This is the first research to specifically explore breast health issues and bra concerns in horse riders and the results highlighted the need for more consideration in bra design for this group of women,” said Dr Burbage.

“Many horse riders were dissatisfied with their current bras, the breast was often a barrier to them riding as often as they’d like to, and breast education levels were low.

“Targeted educational initiatives for this population are justified and further research is needed into the demands of this activity on the breast biomechanically.”

The top request from participants who wear a size D-cup or above was “need better support”, this was followed by “better style” with “better fit” in third.

Across all bra sizes, 44% said their current underwear did not fully meet their needs.

A total of 19% of larger breasted riders reported that they were embarrassed by excessive breast movement and 15% did not like the look of their breasts while they exercised.

“Breasts too big” was also cited as the fourth highest barrier to riding — above the cost of taking part in equestrian sport.

Article continues below…

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Breast pain puts some women off riding

Forty percent of women taking part in a survey reported having breast pain while riding

Ms Cameron said the results establish riders are “dissatisfied” with their current bras.

“Further study is needed to measure specific breast movement in horse riding and address these barriers to physical activity within the female population,” she added.

The researchers now plan to analyse data collected from horse trials and to investigate equestrian-specific breast displacement, compared to other sports.

Dr Burbage and Ms Cameron have also been working with the British Equestrian Trade Association and the British Equestrian Federation in recent years to produce the Horse Riders’ Guide to Bras.

The free six-page leaflet offers guidance on how to know if a sports bra fits correctly, and some simple checks that can be done in the changing room to quickly find out it will be suitable for riding.

For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday

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A bra guide for riders has been published after research found 40% of ladies suffer from breast pain when in the saddle.

The Horse Rider’s Guide to Bras has been produced by the British Equestrian Trade Association (BETA), with the British Equestrian Federation (BEF).

It is based on large-scale research by Dr Jenny Burbage, a biomechanics specialist at the University of Portsmouth, and Lorna Cameron, of Sparsholt College.

They found that 40% of 1,324 riders surveyed experienced breast pain, which was significantly related to increased cup size (news, 8 October 2015).

They also discovered that less than 35% of women wear a sports bra while riding and at least one bra-related issue was reported by 59% of participants.

“About 900,000 women in the UK ride at least once a week and many of them will experience exercise-induced pain at some time,” said BETA executive director Claire Williams.

“We thought that the study undertaken by Dr Burbage and Ms Cameron would be of great interest to both riders and retail members who stock sports and rider-specific bras in-store.”

The free six-page leaflet offers guidance on how to know if a sports bra fits correctly, and some simple checks that can be done in the changing room to quickly find out it will be suitable for riding.

It also gives details on the three common types of sports bra available — encapsulation, compression and combination — and who these are best suited to.

“This new guide should go a long way to helping riders find a bra that fits well and is beneficial in helping to keep them pain-free and comfortable,” added Ms Williams.

Related articles:

• Breast pain puts some women off riding
• Does a good bra equal good riding? Research intends to find out
• Vets use bra to save miniature pony’s eye

During the study, the researchers also found that breast pain could be stopping some women from riding.

Respondents to the survey, which they carried out between September and December 2014 placed breast pain as the fourth-greatest barrier to women riding. This was behind not having enough energy, time and work commitments.

For a copy of the guide, visit www.beta-uk.org or email Laura Clegg on laurac@beta-int.com.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Breast pain could be stopping some women from riding, a study has found.

A total of 1,324 women responded to a survey between September and December 2014.

It found that breast pain was the fourth greatest barrier to women riding, behind not having enough energy, time and work commitments.

Forty percent of the respondents also reported having breast pain when riding.

The study was carried out by academics at Sparsholt College and the University of Portsmouth, including biomechanics specialist Dr Jenny Burbage.

Dr Burbage said they decided to research this area as they had heard a lot about it anecdotally.

“We have evidence now that breast pain is quite prevalent in the riding population,” she told H&H.

She also wants to establish the cause of pain and the biomechanics of the effect it has on riding.

The six-part, 32-question survey asked participants about their bra and bra fit, physical activity, breast pain, breast history and demographics.

Almost half of the respondents competed in affiliated regional, national or international-level events and 51% of riders were classified as being large- breasted — having a cup size of “D” or larger.

The study found that pain was “significantly related” to cup size.

The most painful activity was found to be sitting trot and 21% of participants reported that pain affected their performance.

A spokesman for the charity Women in Sport said the research is an “excellent example” of what can be done to improve the sporting experience for women and girls.

“We support any developments that provide insight aimed at unearthing and addressing participation barriers for women and girls in sport,” he said.

“Currently, around two million fewer women than men play sport on a regular basis.”

H&H reported earlier this year on research into whether there is a link between good breast support and good riding (news, 9 July 2015).

This was carried out by Sparsholt College masters student Felicity Goater and the University of Plymouth.

Ref: H&H 8 October, 2015

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A ground-breaking study into breast support for riders is being carried out by a team of researchers.

Sparsholt College masters student Felicity Goater is working alongside the breast health research group at the University of Portsmouth in the study.

She is looking to establish the biomechanics of riders’ breasts during riding and, ultimately, to find out if there is a link between good support and good riding.

Felicity, who is studying for a masters in equine behaviour, performance and training, is also a freelance BHSAI.

“Being a riding instructor myself I am interested in rider biomechanics, and am always keen to find ways to improve rider position and balance, and horse and rider harmony,” she said.

“The majority of female riders tend to wear a sports bra butdo not understand what breast support is needed.”

She told H&H she was inspired to research the topic following a conversation with Dr Jenny Burbage from the breast health research group at Portsmouth University shortly after she started her masters last autumn.

Felicity found there has not yet been any published research that investigates the breast biomechanics of female riders to help them choose what to wear.

She added that she hopes the findings will be significant not only for the equestrian industry, but also for womens’ participation in sport in general.

The data collection for the project will be done with the help of Quob Stables Equestrian Centre, Hants, using their horse simulator.

The academics are hoping to measure at least 12 participants and each will ride the simulator in walk, trot, and canter.

They will try out several support conditions — a riding bra donated by LessBounce, a daily bra, their normal riding bra and no support.

Felicity hopes to publish her findings by the end of the year.

A recent study by the British Equestrian Trade Association (BETA) reported that 74% of riders are women.

A spokesman for the British Equestrian Federation, which is the riding affiliate of Sport England’s This Girl Can campaign, said: “As a sport with so many female participants we are excited to hear about this research and keen to hear the results when they are published.”

Charity Women in Sport also welcomed the news.

A charity spokesman said it is supportive of any developments that provide potential physiological benefits for women and girls participating in sport, as it could help to close the current participation gap.

She added that around two million fewer women than men currently play sport on a regular basis.

“This research into supporting female horse riders is an excellent example of what can be done to improve the sporting experience for women, and has clear implications across different sports,” she said.

They are still looking for candidates that are of a 32DD, 34D or 36C size to spend two hours taking part in July.

Email: 12610844@stu.sparsholt.ac.uk to take part

Ref: H&H 9 July, 2015

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French company Thuasne Sport has released a range of seamless sports underwear called TooSkin.

Thuasne (pronounced too-arne) claims that the stitch-free knickers and bras will keep you comfortable in the saddle, be invisible under jodhpurs and shirts, and “feel like a second skin”.

Moisture wicking fabric aids evaporation of perspiration, reducing chances of chafing and saddle sores.

And the bra’s moulded cups and anatomically designed back are said to reduce upward and outward “bust bounce”.

The underwear, suitable for all sports in which underwear can restrict movement and cause chafing, is available in white, black and beige.

TooSkin pants, sizes small to XL, are £23.95 and the support bras, sizes 30A to 38C, are £49.95

See www.1000mile.co.uk for stockists.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

The H&H Shop has introduced a new collection dedicated to ensuring your comfort in the saddle. The Equetech range of underwear for riders starts from just £9 for ladies unpadded bikini briefs and includes items for both men and women.

H&H is also helping you to support the British team by selling the Team GBR bracelet from HiHo Silver. This bracelet is in patriotic red, white and blue and, for every bracelet sold, 20% will be donated to the British Equestrian Federation. The money will be used to send British teams to the World Equestrian Games in Kentucky later this year.

And we have expanded our collection of equestrian DVDs to include the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials 2010 Review and the FEI World Cup Dressage 2010 Review at £21.99 each. DVDs make a great gift, or why not treat yourself?

Visit the Horse & Hound Shop

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Equestrian clothing company Carrots has introduced a new range of seamless underwear for horse riders.

The Essentials range is made using microfibre technology to provide superior comfort and light control with a smooth finish and total freedom of movement, offering invisible support when in the saddle.

The fabric used for Carrots Essentials underwear offers a soft, cool, dry feel making it ideal for sports activities, and the snug fit prevents any riding up or discomfort.

The range includes Boy Shorts, Sports Briefs, Long Shorties, plus a Sports T Back Top and Sports Vest Top both with integral support.

Retail prices start at around £8. Items are available in black, white and natural (Long Shorties, Sports Vest Top and Sports Briefs only) in sizes small to large with the Sports Brief and Long Shorties also available in extra large.

For more information visit: www.carrotsuk.com

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now