Jods to Gym: Leskard Equestrian

So it’s been a while since I've done this, but I’m back with a new set of jods and ready to share how they went. Life happened, and before I knew it, my riding and blogging took a brief hiatus—but thankfully, I'm back on the horse (pun intended)!

First, a little background on Leskard Equestrian:

Leskard Equestrian is a premium equestrian clothing brand based in Belfast, Northern Ireland, blending performance, elegance, and comfort for riders who demand both style and functionality. The brand was founded with a clear vision—to create innovative, body-positive equestrian wear that truly meets the needs of modern riders.

Since I first came across Leskard, they've expanded their collection beautifully, adding new items that genuinely make you want to browse their website even more regularly—sorry, bank account!

The snaffle detail is such a nice touch

When I got home, I had to try them on immediately, and lads—the comfort, the fit, the style—they had it all. I know this is a review about the jodhpurs, but I must give a shout-out to that base layer. It's comfortable, neither too thick nor too thin, and designed perfectly to flatter the female form. It accentuates curves without feeling restrictive. Honestly, I wear it regularly as a gym top because it makes me feel incredibly confident. Plus, the zip pull shaped like a snaffle bit is such a cute detail—who knew zips could make you smile?

Now onto the jods. Again, they’re extremely comfortable and fit the female shape exceptionally well. They're full-seat jods, and having ridden in them, it was something I never knew I needed until now. I’ve never felt more secure in the saddle—but this review isn't just about riding!

Just like my previous reviews, all jodhpurs are judged on the following parameters:

• Comfort: Are they easy to move in, and how do they feel during different exercises? Will they allow lunges like a pro or leave me feeling restricted?

• Breathability: Can I sweat it out without feeling wrapped in cling film?

• Squat test: Does the gym see more than intended during exercises?

I trialled them on the dreaded leg day because it’s my toughest workout and involves plenty of dynamic movements—perfect for testing these aspects. Plus, nothing motivates you more than the fear of your leggings failing you mid-rep!

No more constantly pulling your pants up with this silicone band

Overall, I’m genuinely thrilled with these jods and confidently recommend them for gym workouts as well as riding. On the website, the leggings retail at £64.99 and the base layer at £54.99, which is absolutely worth it considering their outstanding quality.

Plus, investing in these pieces means less time spent adjusting your clothes and more time focusing on nailing your workouts or rides.

You can find them and more beautiful pieces on their website: https://leskard.com/

Check out their Instagram too, if you enjoy scrolling through aesthetically pleasing horse and rider combos: https://www.instagram.com/leskardequestrian

I had to mix up the colours

The story behind Leskard began with a personal frustration—struggling to find high-quality, well-fitting riding apparel that offered both durability and sophistication. Too often, equestrian wear lacked attention to detail, with waistbands that slipped, fabrics that didn’t move with the rider, and designs that didn’t flatter every body type.

This inspired Leskard’s signature approach: premium fabrics, thoughtful design elements like silicone waistbands for a secure fit, and small-scale production that prioritises quality over quantity. Honestly, there's nothing more annoying than spending half your ride pulling up your waistband—I mean, we're horse riders, not dancers!

When I saw their stand at the Show of the East, I was immediately drawn to them. They had base layers and jodhpurs initially available in two gorgeous colours—slate grey and cherry noir—colours that complement every skin tone and could be worn as matching sets or mixed and matched. Being indecisive as always, I agonised over the colour choice for far longer than necessary.

Despite not riding at the moment, I shamelessly used this blog as an excuse to buy a base layer and jods (being me, I chose the base layer in slate grey and the jods in cherry noir) and was delighted with my purchase.

Speaking to Sophie, the founder, it was clear that she had put a lot of thought into creating this clothing line and was truly passionate about what she was doing. She radiated the kind of infectious energy that's impossible to fake.

testing all angles..

Starting with the squat test (something I recommend everyone does), I can confidently say Leskard passed with flying colours! After my usual gym acrobatics—I’m glad I was training alone with no one in the gym—it was on to the actual training experience. They were incredibly comfortable, but they have another feature I didn’t know I needed until now: a silicone grip around the inside of the waistband. If you're like me (and most horse riders), with legs bigger than your waist, this feature saves you from constantly pulling up the jods. I found myself doing the habitual shimmy-shimmy-pull-pull, only to realise I didn’t have to—they stayed perfectly in place! It's these small details that make a massive difference during training and save you from looking like you're constantly adjusting your pants.

As for breathability, I found them ideal for training. Even though the material felt substantial enough to pass the squat test, I didn’t overheat or feel uncomfortably warm, even during intense leg exercises. It’s always a win when you finish leg day feeling accomplished and not like you've been microwaved in your gym gear.