Am I going to look utterly ridiculous?

[JackReachersFoldingToothbrush]

Hi. I did a little riding when I was young but stopped. This year I have promised myself I will learn properly, like I've always wanted. I've been doing weekly lessons for a little while but my calfs are bruised and my inner thighs are a bit sore from the seams of my trousers. Well I got a bit carried away and bought some riding boots and jodphurs, thinking I would be comfortable. But is this overweight beginner in her mid 30s going to look like a complete idiot? Will people be pissing themselves laughing, "all the gear and no idea?" Please be honest! (The jodphurs are black btw to try to minimise my big bum, poor horse)
TIA

Lol! No. You will be fine! In order to ride at a school you can't be that big. Take a walk around any equestrian event and you will see many many huge larger women in jodhpurs. The ones wearing really tight cream coloured ones are a real eye opener!

No, you will indeed be more comfortable. Nobody will give a rats arse what you look like. Enjoy!

No you won't look ridiculous - there are reasons why jodphurs are cut diff from other pants is for comfort/the reasons you describe.

What may raise eyebrows is, if you are like a client at the riding school I go to who has colour co-ordinated outfits.....brown boots, beige jods - brown barbour....or black boots, grey jods, grey barbour (those are the two outfits I have observed)......a little excessive when you only ride 1 to 2 times per week, but heyhoo, I have been known to make ridiculous purchases!

No you will look fine :) if you've ever ridden in shorts you'll know why jodhs are a necessary, if unflattering, evil!

Yep! Hate to break it to you but the only people who look good in jods are characters in Jilly Cooper novels .
No honestly, no one will take any notice. I imagine you will stand out more riding in your trousers because people will be secretly cringing and thinking "that's gonna hurt".

yeap I went trekking in leggings once, never again. Yeap you would be amazed at the size of some ladies and men to, that squeeze in to jodhpurs. Watch out for the pants you wear underneath, we are talking beware of extreme panty lines!

I always ride in jeans, but then I always have done so I guess I have calluses where none should be (my midwife told me during labour that my perineum was like old boot leather ). However, if I was going to a riding school or somewhere slightly more 'official' I would probably wear jods. Wear what you're comfortable in, if you're getting rubs then you need more protection, which is what jods should give you.

I ride at home in navy cord style jods (with half chaps and Ariat jod boots) - seem reasonably flattering and definitely more comfortable than jeans.

I ride in anything, even short dresses or skirts, you couldn't possibly look sillier than me

I invested in a pair of denim riding jeans and some of the chunkier country style riding boots when I started again, as I was worried about not being able to carry off skin tight Lycra! However, I've since seen some far worse sights than me so I don't worry too much!!

Thanks very much everyone, that's reassured me a bit!!

Pixel my instructor is about 21 and beautiful, so she looks gorgeous even in her pale pink jodphurs, it's not completely restricted to novels and I don't think that helps my self esteem much...

Well sickeningly some people would look gorgeous in a bin bag...

Sorry didn't mean to damage your self esteem, I was only joking . I'm sure you will look very nice and smart!

If it's any consolation, I look hideous. You will undoubtedly look hugely better than me!!

In the past six years, I have have gone from youthful, lithe and thin and fit to nearly 50, overweight,flabby and unfit (working on this) and so heave myself in to the saddle in a very embarrassing/ unbecoming manner. I have huge norks (incompatible with riding at the best of times). I now have to wear glasses too (that look hideous with a riding hat). I delude myself that as long as I ride a big enough horse - no one will notice!!

Always buy dark jodhpurs and you'll be fine!!

Enjoy your riding - that's the main thing!

I wouldn't worry at all. I took a few lessons when I was younger and then stopped. Not sure why as I loved it, probably money from parents dried up!
I went back about 3 years ago and found a lovely yard not far from me that's really laid back and so friendly. I literally had to start from scratch and bought a pair of black jods, which I thought I looked ridiculous in. Nobody batted an eyelid!

No, getting boots and jods is just sensible? If they are short boots, you might also want to get some half chaps. And then your own hat. Riding is an expensive hobby ;-). Comfort is way more important than how you look.

Plus, the more you ride, the more muscled your legs will become, so your jods will look relatively more flattering.

As I look like a bag lady when I ride, but always with jodhs, short boots and half chaps, also a decent hat, but wth any old tat on top, I think the right gear is very sensible. And necessary if you want to avoid the bruising. :)

No one gives a damn. Go for it.

Echo, go for it!! If you're happy, who gives a stuff what anyone thinks?
Have lots of fun :D I got back on my mare today got the first time since I found I was pregnant, 10 months back. I'm still grinning now