Attention all female horseback riders! Thanks to reader Margaret Pattison, who saw my post Horseback Riding Tips only your BFF–Best Female Friend–Would Tell You and told me about a terrific product, and thanks to the creative Canadians who invented this ingenious butt-saver, my riding just became 100% more comfortable.
I’m talking about JellyPantz, a unique approach to feminine comfort while riding horses. It’s specialty underwear that comes with a gel insert that attaches to a Velcro strip sewn into the crotch of the pants. The gel acts in much the same way as gel inserts that you buy for your shoes, but in this case absorbing the impact of your crotch against the saddle while riding. This product is perfect for novices and for anyone who experiences the extreme discomfort that can result from horseback riding. Take a look:
What are the pros and cons? The MONUMENTAL pro, that outweighs any con in my opinion, is the fact that you will dismount from your horse without having suffered bruised or bleeding privates from chafing or impact with the saddle.
Over the past four months, I’ve had several excruciating lessons riding with saddles that just don’t suit the way I sit and move. My trainer Nathalie was very sympathetic and found me a saddle with a low pommel that works much better for me than the others I’d been using, that had beaten me up pretty badly. The saddle change was a big plus, but still after a hard work-out in the arena, I was getting bruised and exquisitely sore.
I’ve now had two lessons using JellyPantz, and have had NO injury whatsoever. The difference is remarkable. The first time I used the pants was just three days after I had gotten badly bruised, and was still suffering residual after-effects. The gel insert worked like magic. It absorbs impacts in such a way that you don’t even notice it at all. The underwear feels a bit weird at first, but you soon get over it and can concentrate on riding.
The blessing in this is not only the extra comfort, but the freedom such comfort gives you to spend longer in the saddle, and to work on techniques that you may have been putting off (like, for me, the sit-trot) because of the pain you experienced previously.
The cons? JellyPantz aren’t cheap and they’re not exactly something you’d wear on your wedding night, if you know what I mean! Also, when you place an order for them, be very careful about what size you order. For sanitary reasons, no returns can be made.
I usually wear size 10 or 12 jeans (American sizing), and according to the JellyPantz size chart, I had to order Extra Large. This was a bit of a blow to my ego, but the pants fit perfectly. So if you wear size 14 or larger, I’m not sure if they have a size that will fit; you’d be wise to contact them first before spending money on something you can’t return.
Despite these minor “cons”, if you have crotch discomfort when you ride, and you’re serious about continuing to ride, do yourself a HUGE favor and buy them. You won’t be sorry!
To the tune of The Yellow Rose of Texas:
Oh, JellyPantz I love you,
You’re the only pants for me,
You keep me safe from bruising
And all kinds of agony
I’ll tell all my friends about you,
From here to Laramie,
Oh JellyPantz I love you,
You’re the only pants for me!
It’s Sunday morning, and I’m sitting here writing a song about my underwear. OMG. I gotta get out more. 
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