Backed by academic research

This information guide is based on a study conducted by Dr JennyBurbage, of the University of Portsmouth, and Lorna Cameron, ofSparsholt College, Hampshire, and endorsed by the BritishEquestrian Federation. Headline findings from their large-scalesurvey of female riders in the United Kingdom include:

40% of the 1,324 riders surveyed experienced breast pain,which was significantly related to increasing cup sizes.

Most breast pain was experienced during sitting trot and 21% of participants who suffered said that it affected theirriding performance.

At least one bra issue was reported by 59% of participants.

Participants with larger breasts reported experiencing all braissues more frequently than those with smaller breasts.

#banishthebounce

The Horse Rider’sGuide to Bras

beta-uk.orgbef.co.uk port.ac.uk sparsholt.ac.uk

Photographs: British Equestrian Federation

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Encapsulation:

Compression:

Combination:

Encapsulates left and right breast separatelyDoes not compressGood motion control for larger breasts

Squashes the breast tissue to the chest wallWorks well for small breasts

A combination of both Usually encapsulating inside added compression on the outside

THE PERFECT FIT

3. UNDERBAND:This should sit firmlyaround the chest. Itshould not slidearound as you move,be too tight anduncomfortable, affectbreathing or causeflesh to bulge at theedges. The under -band should be levelall the way aroundthe chest.

1. STRAPS: Theshoulder strapsshould be adjusted toprovide comfortablebreast support. Theyshould not be tootight or dig into the skin.

Horse riding is a vigorous activity that might cause excessivebreast motion and breast pain. Wearing an appropriate sportsbra can help to reduce this, so it is important when buying oneto make sure that it is both suited to this rigorous activity anda good fit.

The sports bra should have wide, padded – and fully adjustable– shoulder straps, a high neckline and a strong, elastic under-band allowing for a wide range of arm movement. When tryingon a new sports bra, jump up and down in the changing roomto check the level of support it provides.

There are lots of sports bras out there, so you should be ableto find one best suited to your needs. Remember, just as withclothes, you will not be the same bra size in every shop. Hereare five steps to the correct fit...

5. UNDERWIRE: Notall sports bras areunderwired but, ifthey are, the wireshould follow thenatural crease of thebreasts and not reston any of the breasttissue (in the centre,underneath the braor under the arms). If the underwire reststoo far down theribcage, the bandsize might be toosmall.

2. CUPS: Theseenclose the breasts,with no bulging orgaping at the top orsides. If the cupmaterial puckers, thebra's cup size isprobably too big.

4. FRONT: This is the lower edgeunder the breasts and betweenthe cups (if a separate pieceexists). It should sit flat againstthe body and not gape awayfrom the chest. If the front of thebra lifts away, you might need toincrease the cup size.

Finding the right support for female horse ridersDid you know that wearing a correctly fitting bra can help to reduce

breast pain and might improve your riding posture? More than 900,000 womentake part in horse-riding activities at least once a month and a recent surveysuggests that many of them experience exercise-induced pain when doing so.

Surprisingly, less than 35% ride in a sports bra!

Appropriate breast support has been shown to reduce breast movement and pain significantly in a range of sports, but choosing the right bra for horseriding can be difficult because few are specifically designed for this purpose.

Bra fit can also be a challenge. In fact, more than 70% of women are reported to be wearing the wrong size. Selecting the most appropriate and

best-fitting sports bra for horse riding can be extremely beneficial, but the problem is that no one type fits all!

To get the best possible bra for your needs, make sure that you shop around and try out a few designs before you find your perfect choice. There are three

common types of bra designed exclusively for sports:

Encapsulation:

Compression:

Combination:

Encapsulates left and right breast separatelyDoes not compressGood motion control for larger breasts

Squashes the breast tissue to the chest wallWorks well for small breasts

A combination of both Usually encapsulating inside added compression on the outside