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A horse show competitor wearing jodhpurs

Jodhpurs in their modern form are tight-fitting trousers that reach to the ankle, where they end in a snug cuff, and are worn primarily for horse riding. The term is also used incorrectly as slang for a type of short riding boot, also called a paddock boot or a jodhpur boot, because they are worn with jodhpurs. Originally, jodhpurs were snug-fitting only from just below the knee to the ankle and were flared at the hip; modern stretch fabrics have allowed jodhpurs to remove the flare and yet remain supportive and flexible.^[1]

History[link]

Marwari horse in Rajasthan. Note the traditional long riding trousers, tight around the calf, reaching to Mojari slippers.

Jodhpurs originally were long pants, 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 oriental style possibly to help with bodily cooling in a hot climate,^{[citation needed]} but which, in an era before the invention of stretch fabrics, also allowed free movement of the hip and thigh while riding.

They originate from an ancient style of Indian trouser called the Churidar, which is tight around the calf and baggy at the hips, still worn at traditional Jodhpury weddings.^[2] This is a special traditional style of clothing in Northern India, especially in what is today the modern state of Rajasthan, which has its capital at the city of Jaipur. 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 by himself and first tailored in India about 1890.^[3][4]

Singh was an avid polo player, and when he visited Queen Victoria in England during her Diamond Jubilee celebrations of 1897, bringing with him his entire polo team, they caused a sensation among the fashionable circles of the United Kingdom, with their reputation enhanced by the fact that they won many polo matches.^[5] His jodhpur style with flared thigh and hip was rapidly taken up by the British polo playing community, who adapted it to existing designs of English breeches that ended at mid-calf, worn with tall riding boots.^{[citation needed]} Thus the full-legged design of the true Jodhpur was not adopted as British polo apparel, and all early photographs of European polo teams show the use of tall boots. Though the term "jodhpurs" was applied colloquially to this style of breeches, they were not true jodhpurs and are more accurately termed "flared-hip breeches". This British version was soon being produced by Savile Row tailors in London. The use of the Indian-style, ankle-length Jodhpurs avoided the need for tall, expensive riding boots, as the calf of the leg was protected by the reinforced design and snug lower fit of the longer trouser leg which kept the rider's calf from rubbing against a horse's sides and against the stirrup leathers.

Use[link]

A woman wearing jodhpurs in the 1920s. As women stopped riding sidesaddle, they adopted the use of breeches similar to those worn by men.

Riding[link]

Special adaptations for riding include a pattern cut with the leg seams on the outside of the leg; a patch on the inside of the knee, sometimes of a hard-wearing material such as leather; and in some cases similar leather or leather-like panel on the seat that helps the rider stay still in the saddle. Classic jodhpurs are beige or white, but for working purposes come in a variety of colours.^[1] They are particularly well-suited for fast-growing children as shorter paddock boots cost less than tall boots to replace as a child's feet grow.

Jodhpur boots, also called paddock boots, are worn with jodhpurs, but also may be worn with breeches if half-chaps are added which provide the functionality and look of a tall riding boot

The word "jodhpurs" is often used interchangeably with riding breeches, though this is technically incorrect, as breeches are riding apparel that come down to only about mid-calf, designed to be worn with long stockings and tall boots. Jodhpurs are ankle length and worn with short, ankle-high Jodhpur boots, also known as Paddock Boots, sometimes with knee-length half-chaps or leggings.^[1]

Occupational uniform[link]

Jodhpurs are sometimes worn as fashion clothing, not only for riding. In popular culture, jodhpur-style breeches worn with tall boots became particularly associated with military staff officers who wore uniforms based on riding apparel, often derived from the cavalry tradition from which many nations historically drew their corps of top commanders. The style thus came to be associated with authority figures in general and was copied by certain Hollywood movie directors. Flared-hip breeches formed part of the military uniform of staff officers in Nazi Germany and many Soviet Bloc countries, including the former USSR and East Germany,^{[citation needed]} although the motor-car had by then long replaced the officer's horse. They also were adopted as the uniform for some forces of motorcycle police.^{[citation needed]} Early 20th century African big game hunters are also associated with the look, due in part to early traditions of riding on horseback in search of quarry.

Fashion[link]

Ladies began wearing jodhpurs during the 1920s, as they shifted away from riding horses sidesaddle. One of the first high-profile women to adopt the wearing of jodhpurs was Coco Chanel. She was inspired to copy the breeches as worn by a friend's groom.^[6]

As part of the 20th century trend of crossover fashions moving from sportswear to streetwear, various designers have incorporated equestrian styles into their clothing, including jodhpurs. Ralph Lauren is the most well-known of these designers, as equestrian styles and motifs are the basis of the Ralph Lauren Polo line. (Polo/Ralph Lauren presented "Man and the Horse", an exhibit of riding clothing and accoutrements from three centuries at the Metropolitan Museum of New York Costume Institute in 1984, curated by Diana Vreeland.)^[7]

Kentucky jodhpurs[link]

A rider wearing Kentucky Jodhpurs

Kentucky Jodhpurs are full-length riding pants used exclusively in Saddle seat riding. Like Hunt Seat jodhpurs, they are close-fitting from waist to ankle, but differ in that they are noticeably longer, ending with a flared bell bottom that fits over the jodhpur boot, usually extending below the heel of the boot in back, and covering the arch of the foot (but not the toe) in front. The overall look gives the impression of a rider with a long leg and heel lower than the toe, a desired equitation standard. Like the hunt seat jodhpur, they have elastic straps that run under the boot to help hold the pant leg in place.^[1] Saddle seat riders, whose riding clothing styles derived from men's business suits, wear Kentucky Jodhpurs in dark colors, usually black, navy blue, or a shade that matches the riding coat.^[8]

References[link]

Rachel Riley
Born	(1986-01-11) 11 January 1986 (age 26) Rochford, Essex, England[1]
Nationality	British
Alma mater	Oriel College, Oxford
Occupation	Television presenter

Rachel Annabelle Riley^[2] (born 11 January 1986^[3] in Rochford, Essex) is an English television presenter. Since 12 January 2009 she has been the co-host of Countdown. She replaced Carol Vorderman from the 60th series onwards. Nick Hewer is the chief presenter and Riley does the letters and numbers.^[4]

Early life and career[link]

Riley was educated at Southend High School for Girls, and went on to study mathematics at Oriel College, Oxford, gaining an upper second-class honours degree, having obtained four grade As at A-Level.^[5]

After graduating she began work as a data analyst for a website company in London. She was encouraged to apply for the Countdown position by her mother, a charity fundraiser married to a City auditor, and also by her boyfriend's mother. She did not have an ambition to be a television presenter, but decided to apply because she was interested in the numbers part of the game.^[6] Riley was chosen from more than a thousand applicants despite having no television experience. In an article for the BBC news, she stated, "There's only one cool maths job around and I was lucky enough to get it so I'm absolutely thrilled".^[7] She began presenting Countdown alongside Jeff Stelling from 12 January 2009. In an interview in August 2009 she revealed that it had been difficult for her to step into Vorderman's shoes, and that she had been criticised by some of Countdown's viewers for getting some of the maths puzzles wrong.^{[citation needed]}

On 26 June 2009, it was reported that Riley had been recruited by the Post Office to employ her mathematical skills to help advise holidaymakers on how to make the most of their holiday currency, after a report by the Post Office revealed that a significant number of holidaymakers fail to calculate the actual cost of goods and services when travelling abroad and often overspend their holiday budget.^[8]

Rachel also appeared in The IT Crowd S4 E2 as herself.

Personal life[link]

Riley is a keen supporter of Manchester United and has been attending games at Old Trafford often with her Salford-born father since about the age of 10,^{[citation needed]} and in October 2010 she presented a programme on MUTV featuring a tour of United's training ground at Carrington. On 4 January 2012 she took part in Celebrity Mastermind, with her topic of choice being Manchester United from 1999. On 16 March 2012 she won the celebrity edition of The Bank Job.^{[citation needed]}

In 2009 Rachel Riley was ranked #95 in FHM's 100 Sexiest Women poll, and again in 2012, ranked #84.^[9]

She met her fiancé, businessman Jamie Gilbert, while they were both studying at Oxford. The couple split after four and a half years together at the end of 2009.^[10] However, they later got back together and became engaged after he proposed to her on her 25th birthday on 11 January 2011.^[11] She told viewers about the engagement on the 14 February edition of Countdown.

She and her fiancé now live in Thorpe Bay, Southend-on-Sea.

References[link]

External links[link]

• Rachel Riley at KBJ Management
• Rachel Riley at the Internet Movie Database
• Holmwood, Leigh (21 November 2008). "Guardian article on Riley's appointment". The Guardian (London). http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008/nov/21/channel4-television-countdown-jeff-stelling/. Retrieved 22 May 2010. 
• Matthew Moore (21 November 2008). "Oxford maths graduate replaces Carol Vorderman on Countdown". London: Telegraph.co.uk. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/celebritynews/3497300/Oxford-maths-graduate-replaces-Carol-Vorderman-on-Countdown.html. Retrieved 26 March 2009.