Jodhpurs or riding breeches

[Oregon Bill]

Any of the cognoscenti here have a date for when these distinctive trousers first appeared? I know the Army adopted a pattern in 1912, but I have seen photos of British in India (where they apparently originated in the state of Jodhpur) and Africa wearing them in the 1870s or '80s, it seems. And with so many Brits,Scots, etc. investing in ranches on the Great Plains in that period, they must have been present at least in small numbers in the Old West.

[St. George]

Your best bet on this one is to send a PM to Rattlesnake Jack Robson or ColonelFlashman, as both are well-acquainted with the uniforms and clothing of the British Empire.

Foreign investors didn't really start until after the late 1880's - and the 'Big Die-Off' that bankrupted so many ranchers.

In the very few photos I've seen of those men - all latter '90's - til the turn of the century - all dressed like the typical businessman of the era.

The wearing jodphur-style of riding breeches was a 'British Army in India' affair - and didn't translate well to the working ranches of America - where every item of clothing served more uses than the single-purpose breeches did.

If they were worn - it was in the more effete East, with its 'Riding Clubs' and 'Horse Society' - than in the West.

Even if the wearer was the owner - such a thing wouldn't do much for his image.

There's a story about a well-dressed visitor from the British Isles who asked one of a party of working cowboys the location of the ranch owner.

He said something to the effect of - 'I say, my good man - could you tell me where I might find your master?
The answer was classic American Cowboy when the visitor heard - ' That sumbitch ain't been born yet...'

Vaya,

Scouts Out!

[Delmonico]

I'd say a man wearin' them and showin' up on a "postage stamp" saddle would have to be ready to fight and be damned good at it.   

[Oregon Bill]

Del: Thing about those wiry little Brits is that they kicked A** and died singing "God Save the Queen" in some mighty tight spots in the farthest corners of the earth in the 1850s, 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s. Read Frederick Burnham's account of the First Matabele War in "Scouting on Two Continents." In a saloon-front matchup between a Brit who had seen the likes of South Africa, India and the Khyber Pass and some galoot from Kansas, I'd bet on the Brit hands down. I think we forget how many cowboys and pioneers had very thick accents.

[Delmonico]

Many learned the mannerisms were different,  John Adair, Charles Goodnights partner in the Palo Duro venture had all kinds of problems till he learned things were different over here.  He had a tent drug off him on a rainy night by someone unknown and many other tricks.  All because a hungry cowboy sat at the ranch house table and was told they wern't acustomed to eating with the servants.  He learned, many didn't and wearing "short pants" like a young school boy would have made things difficult.

Some adapted, some didn't.

[Oregon Bill]

Del: You are right about that. Look what happened to poor John Tunstall in Lincoln County, New Mexico ...

[St. George]

Indeed, the Brits did well in the fighting of Queen Victoria's 'Little Wars' - but - they were a very 'modern' and very well-disciplined army - fighting against natives who suddenly found that 'their' traditional style of warfare was woefully out of date.

Their foes didn't lack for courage - but they did lack the discipline that it took to 'Form Square' and fight - and 'that' was the hallmark of 'er Majesty's Redcoats.

How a veteran of the First Matabele War would do against a man who'd fought Comanches and Apaches since boyhood would do in a saloon fight means little.

That said - what they did bears no relation to how they affected men's fashions in the American West.

For decades - 'breeches' were viewed as 'boy's clothing', and the wearing of trousers was what men wore.
That sort of stigma would last a long time.

On the Frontier - when a boy was doing the work of a man - he didn't wear 'age-appropriate' clothing, because his pride wouldn't allow it - and boys grew into manhood fast, so for him to encounter an individual from a far 'stricter' social class - in the egalitarian West - would no doubt be more dismaying to said individual than it would be to the Cowboy - as Adair and many others found out when they realized that 'who' they were didn't mean as much as 'what' they were and that in America - they walked it like they talked it - with none of obfuscation common to 'polite society' - so getting used to the bluntness (and the humor) and adapting meant for a greater measure of success.

Going back to the original question - from my observation - I'd say it was doubtful.

The British were a well-travelled lot and many clothing innovations came from those travels - but range clothing would prove to be both useful as well as imminently practical and they were nothing if not practical.

Vaya,

Scouts Out!

[ColonelFlashman]

There is a Great deal of Difference between "Riding Breeches/Jodphurs" Cavalryman & the Upper Classes wore for riding & "Short Pants" that Little Boys worn that came to just above the knees or "Knickers" that Sportmen wore that came to just below the knees.

First & Foremost "R.B./Jodpurs" came all the way down to ones ankles, they were buttoned or lacied there so as not to ride up ones leg. They were also cut loose fit from Hip to Knee for comfort, some more snugly or loosely, depending on the fashion trend @ the time & Fit Snug from Knee to Ankle worn w/ Hunt/Riding/Field/Hussar/Lancer/Wellington Boots.

"Short Pants" for little boys were cut loose from hip to just above the knees & did not fasten @ all any place around the knees & were worn w/ cotton Knee Socks.

"Knickers" worn by Sportsmen fastened just below the knee via Buttons or Buckle & Billit, were worn w/ Heavy Wool Knee Socks, along w/ Gaitors made out of Heavy Duty Cordaroy, Canvas, Wool, Leather or combinations there of.

Jodphurs came out of JODPHURA, India & were worn originally by the Ruling Class Indians during Tiger Hunts, Polo Matches & just in general riding from the 1830's on, in the classic style as we know them today.

There are actually 2 distinct styles of Jodphur Breeches, one is as discribed above & one that does not Button or Lace-up just above the ankle. This style Flares slightly from just above the ankle & reaches just below the Arch of the Foot, w/ a Buckle & Billit on either side to be Strapped under the instep of an ankle boot, supprisingly enough called the "Jodphur Boot".

Oh, & by-the-by, Frederick Burnham was an American that Learned his Craft as a Scout in the South West while growing up & was hired by the U.S. Army as such. He was propecting for gold in Az. & was also around the happenings between the Earps & the Clantons.
He went to South Africa to make his fortune in the Gold Fields there, when some of those "Little Wars" broke out. So F.B. Already Having Fought against the Apaches, Kiowas & the like, did rather well using those same learned Scouting Skills successfully against the Native African Tribesman, as well the Boers  of the Transval & Orange Free State & as you know the Boers were a Modern Equipted & Trained fighting force or you should.

[Ol Gabe]

Good answers all, and for more info than you probably want to read at one setting, type in 'jodhpurs, history' on a Google search, it verifies what St. George and 'Ol Flashy have stated. And Del, of course, will no doubt find a photo from his favorite on-line research photographic collection that will verify his comments as well.
Best regards and good reading, in your breeches, of course!
'Ol Gabe

[Steel Horse Bailey]

Great post!