# Jodphurs - Utilitarian or Funky Poofy Pants?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jodphurs-utilitarian-or-funky-poofy-pants/72595>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [July 15, 2001, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jodphurs-utilitarian-or-funky-poofy-pants/72595 "2001-07-15T18:37:48Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Aguecheek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a9adbd/32.png) [@Aguecheek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aguecheek)\
**Post date:** [July 15, 2001, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jodphurs-utilitarian-or-funky-poofy-pants/72595/1 "2001-07-15T18:37:48Z")

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Alright, I’ve looked and asked, and can’t seem to find the answer…where do jodphurs come from? Is there some reason that they’re poofy above the knee? Or was it just some M.C. Hammer-esque attempt at a bold new fashion statement? Thanx in advance for any help on this.

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**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\
**Post date:** [July 15, 2001, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jodphurs-utilitarian-or-funky-poofy-pants/72595/2 "2001-07-15T18:50:14Z")

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Jodhpurs are quite utilitarian riding pants. When you get up on a horse, that extra fabric slides into place very nicely. Regular pants like blue jeans are too tight in the thighs once you get into the saddle, and they bind terribly, restricting your movement for English style riding (dressage, jumping, etc.)

The origin of “jodhpur” riding breeches.

[http://www.yatraindia.com/rajasthan/jodhpur/](http://www.yatraindia.com/rajasthan/jodhpur/)

> [@](#):
>
> But, what really put the city on the map of the world was the invention of ‘Jodhpurs’ or riding breeches. Invented by Sir Pratap Singh, the most famous ruler of Jodhpur who reigned in the 1870s he was a keen horse rider. As his traditional pyjamas would get torn when he mounted his horse, he invented this item of clothing to meet his riding needs.

And the British Raj of course glommed onto them and disseminated them widely.

Loose trousers get bunched up when you try to ride English style, all hunched up in a tiny saddle, as Sir Pratap was. If you narrow the legs, then they’re too constricting, hence the extra fabric at the thighs.

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**Author:** ![Aguecheek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a9adbd/32.png) [@Aguecheek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aguecheek)\
**Post date:** [July 15, 2001, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jodphurs-utilitarian-or-funky-poofy-pants/72595/3 "2001-07-15T18:53:59Z")

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And there you have it…thank you very much!

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**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\
**Post date:** [July 15, 2001, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jodphurs-utilitarian-or-funky-poofy-pants/72595/4 "2001-07-15T20:13:10Z")

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Now for the obvious question: Did humans, women especially, develope jodhpur thighs to fit the pants or were the pants developed to fit their thighs? 😃