Horseback riding is an established sport, which various kinds of people appreciate. It is an excellent combination of exercise and pleasure for all ages. Whether you are a beginner or an advanced rider, you must be knowledgeable about the attires and gears riders are required to wear. As a beginner, it is okay to wonder what clothes to wear when horse riding before you go all in.
Choosing the clothes to wear when horse riding majorly provides two things to a rider – safety and comfort. Certain products can also protect you from extreme weather conditions, guarding your legs, arms, head, and even areas of the horse.
The essential riding clothes include breeches, jodhpurs, riding boots, hats, body protectors, gloves, and riding shirt. These horse riding apparels are referred to as Horse Riding or Equestrian clothing.
Clothes To Wear When Horse Riding
Riding Hat – This is one of the essential pieces or safety equestrian clothing. Riding hats give protection for the rider’s head, and it is advisable to start wearing a hat or helmet from the moment we begin handling horses from the ground. It is advisable to purchase new hats and make certain they are perfectly fitted.
Riding Jackets– These are typically worn during formal equestrian events such as horse shows. A riding jacket should fit perfectly so that it disallows any restriction in movement. There are different types of jackets for dressage, showjumping, showing, etc. Jackets are compulsory for competitions. You can buy casual jackets for everyday riding and formal jackets for games and horse shows
Jodhpurs And Breeches- These set of clothes are tightly fitted, they should be comfortable and not restrictive. They are available in a variety of colors and fabrics ranging from the classic competition beige to colored cord, denim jodhpurs, and breeches. Riding jodhpurs and breeches are best suited for horse riding activities.
Shirts, Jackets, and coats: For the upper body, it’s reasonable to wear a long sleeve shirt to protect the rider from the sun, especially in hotter climates. For cold weather conditions, a jacket or coat may be more suitable to wear over any usual garments. With blankets and jackets, it’s essential to keep them closed/buttoned up and that you can move freely so that you can keep control. It’s advised to refrain from short-sleeved shirts or t-shirts as these don’t protect the arms from objects or brush.
Things To Look Out For When Purchasing Horse Riding Clothes
Most horse-riders preach that horse riding clothing should be chosen with an emphasis on safety first (1, 2) and comfort second. However, several equestrian clothing providers combine safety and comfort without sacrificing style.
The available options for horse-riding clothing are much more diverse than ever before, which allows competitive and casual riders to have a wide selection of comfortable and stylish riding gear.
Before purchasing any riding apparel, it is essential to consider the kind of riding that will be done, as well as the condition of the field. One must always choose to ride clothes that will not only help one become a more active rider but also ensure one’s comfort and safety.
Shirts
When it comes to shirts, make sure to purchase ones that aren’t too long in the back so that they don’t catch on the saddle while riding. The shirts must also be comfortable and relatively loose but tucked in if the tail is too long.
Pants
Pants, on the other hand, must both be comfortable and convenient. A rider may choose to wear jeans as with western equestrians, or breeches or jodhpurs, which are popular among English riders. It’s also essential that these pants not have an inseam so that the material won’t rub the rider’s leg.
Footwear
For footwear, boots are always the most appropriate option for horse riding clothing. Depending on the rider’s preferences, a horse rider can wear paddock boots for schooling or casual riding. Or, tall field or dress boots, which come up almost to the knee, have narrow heels, and lots of ankle support.
Have you ever thought about riding your horse barefoot, with the wind whipping through your hair? It sounds nice, doesn’t it? However, you might want to think twice about this idea and instead consider some riding apparel. It is not the same as riding without a hat (or boots), but a lot of riding apparel has a purpose – keeping you, the rider safe as you go galloping around.
Whether you are a supporter of the English or Western style of boot, using a boot while riding is a must. As long as you go anywhere near a horse, it is advisable that you protect your feet. You never know when an accident might occur, so it is wise you protect your feet.
Your horse might get spooked and step on your feet while they’re bare, you can imagine how much that would hurt. In fact, I can guarantee you would wish to high heavens that you had worn boots. You can decide between English boots and cowboy boots as riding boots, although cowboy boots are more comfortable. For your stable chores, however, you can make do with work boots or hiking boots.
Helmet
A lot of people are not huge fans of wearing a riding helmet because they are not particularly stylish. And who can blame them anyway? But considering how much a riding helmet can quite literally save lives, I would reassess my need for stylishness and cling strongly to safety.
Dressing For Horse Riding
In competitive riding, you’ll have to stow your t-shirt and jeans. Western wear is perfectly comfortable for riding. English wear, on the other hand, is made less for comfort than for looks.
If you’re riding in a show that’s specifically asking for hunt seat attire, then you will have to dorn a riding shirt that must be white or pinstriped. You’ll also need breeches, a hunting cap, dress riding boots, and a wool riding jacket. Riding gloves are also customary in these events. Breeches and coat can be any dark color, but you may want to find out what colors are “in” before investing in them. Being style-conscious may win you support from the audience or gain you favor with the judges.
You’ll need to dress formally for dressage riding. You’ll have to get a white shirt, a stock tie, white or tan breeches, black jacket, dress boots, and a helmet or hunting cap. If it happens to be a saddle seat competition, then you’ll prefer dark jodhpurs, a riding derby, jodhpur boots a dark jacket, and also a white riding shirt.
Western riders wear different clothes, depending on their gender. Men will most likely need Western shirts, belts (leather with silver buckles), ties, felt cowboy hats, jeans and chaps as well as to boots; women will be attired in Western tuxedo shirts, jacket or vest, riding boots, now ties, felt hats and also, jeans and chaps. In more intense sports, the relationship and silver belt buckles are not required.
If your child is the one riding the horse, whether for the fun of it or competitively, you have to make sure they wear a riding helmet instead of a riding hat or cowboy hat. Children especially are vulnerable to falls, so make sure that they are always protected.
How Important Are Riding Boots?
Riding boots are predominantly made of leather. They are specially designed for horse riding. They can be longer or shorter, and their design prevents the rider’s legs from being pinched by the saddle. They have a unique heel that ensures that the foot doesn’t fall through the stirrup, and the sole is often wholly smooth to prevent the foot from being caught on the stirrup or on a thread on the even of a fall. They also have a hard toe, sometimes even steel toe, to prevent the toes from being injured during the accident.
Owning a pair of quality leather riding boots is essential for every rider. Doesn’t matter is it show riding or just pleasure riding, functional boots will ensure your comfort and maximum safety. However, since there are many different models when buying boots, you may find yourself quite confused about which ones s to pick. Generally, all shoes can be classified into two categories- long ones and short ones.
Long Boots – These are long, above the knee, boots usually made from leather, but rubber models are also available. Since the leather ones are expensive, rubber boots can be a better choice for beginners. They offer excellent protection for the legs and ankles, but they can be too much during the hot summers. Long boots include three subcategories: field, dress, and hunting boots.
Field Boots are used in jumping disciplines like fox hunting, show jumping, etc. They have the lacing that fixes the ankle tightly, and that gives more comfort to the rider.
Dress boots don’t have the lacing and are a little bit stiffer. They are more traditional and usually black.
Hunting boots look just like the dress shoes, but they have the cuff on the top. They are worn during the fox hunting and are usually black.
Short Boots: Short boots are ankle-length boots with elastic sides. The most popular type of these boots is Paddock or Jodhpur shoes. These boots are convenient but, since they don’t offer much protection to the legs and ankles, combining them with chaps and gaiters is a must. There is also a particular type of gaiter know as “chapettes,” which, when worn too short boots, give the impression of long boots. Comparing long boots, the price of short boots is much lower, so they are a trendy choice- especially for children and young riders.
When you try on the boot, the foot should feel neither too small or large. There should be no gap between the foot and the sides of the boot, and you should be able to wiggle your toes in your boots. Your heel should also sit comfortably without slipping when you walk.
Many retailers sell horse riding supplies who will be able to inform you of the correct gear to buy and what safety equipment you should buy for the safety of you, the rider, and your horse.
Glossary
