Calling All Female Riders

How does riding for a woman differ versus for a man?  The up and down movement that comes with riding can take away the pleasure of bonding with your horse if you are a woman who does not have a good sports bra.  Nothing’s worse than the pain and distraction that comes with a bouncing bustline while you are riding.

Finding a good sports bra is the solution but it might not be an easy task.  Every body is different, so it can be difficult to find the right style and size for you in one place.  You may have to go to a number of stores to get the exposure to the selection you need.  This can be time-consuming and frustrating.

So, what’s a female rider to do?  After talking to bra fit X-pert from Dyna DuMore at X-chrom.com, we’ve summed up what to do and how to do it.

First, learn your measurements, also known as getting fitted.  Your measurements are a starting point that should guide you to the right style and size.  You can get fitted online at X-chrom.com or at most brick-and-mortar lingerie stores.

Second, prioritize what’s most important to you.  No bounce support?  No show through cup?  Pick one or two must-haves and go from there.

Finally, armed with your measurements and an understanding of your priorities, go to a store (online or offline) that has the largest selection of sports bras you can find.  Make sure the store has the expertise to use the numbers and your preferences to recommend a style and size for you.

Web site X-chrom.com has been helping riders find good sports bras with this process for 10 years now.

Manon Lahaie, who wears a D cup and rides hunter/jumper, raved about her experience.

“I’m petite (5’1”, 115 lbs.), but I couldn’t find a good sports bra of my size in any store, even those who specialized in women’s lingerie.  I took my measurements, submitted the numbers to X-chrom and they recommended not only a great style for riding but the right size.  All women riders should discover the pleasure of riding with a bra that offers the support it should.”

The trickiest part of finding a good sports bra is getting the right size for you.  It’s tough because every manufacturer uses its own sizing scheme.  So, you might not wear the same size from style to style.  A 34D in one style might be a different fit than a 34D in another manufacturer.  Rely on your buying source to guide you in one direction or another based on their understanding of the products they sell and your measurements.

This way, you can avoid the trial and error method so many of us resort to simply because you can’t find the expertise needed to make the right decision.

How do you know if a sports bra is a good sports bra for you?  Use these fit tips to see if the fit is right for you when trying on a new sports bra.

• 1. The band or piece that goes around the rib cage should fit very snugly.  It should not restrict your breathing, but, the band should not move.  If you do trunk twists, and the bra moves, then the band is too big.  If the band rides up your back, the band is too big.  If you can’t breathe, then the band is too small.

• 1. The cup should fully encase each breast without any wrinkling on the cup.  There should be no spillage out of the top or the sides of the cup.  If your breast is spilling out of the bra, then the cup is too small.  If the fabric on the cup is wrinkling up, then the cup is too big.

Make the effort necessary to find a good sports bra for you.  It’s worth your time to do your homework on the front end so you don’t waste valuable time with trial and error, time you could be spending with your horse.

• Lisa Sorrentino, Owner & Head Boob, X-chrom.com

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