For some riders part of being a good rider is taking pride in how you and your horse look.  Being neat and tidy not only looks the part but can be practical and safe.

    At the beginning of your horse riding lessons there’s no need to buy a complete riding outfit, the main areas for you to concentrate on are your feet and head everything in between you can pretty much dress as casually as you like until you decide to take part in show events.

Probably the first thing you will want to buy is your own riding hat or helmet.  These days you can buy a good quality starting hat from some of the large sporting chains. But we’ve found that sometimes it’s better to use a local shop that specialises in horse riding clothing and equipment.  It may cost you a little bit more money but we’ve found their service and knowledge out weighs the price saving.  One thing to make sure of is whatever shop or website you buy it from you make sure it meets your national safety standards.  This will guarantee a strong outer shell and liner.  Good looking imitations are available but they are not as well made and won’t give the right level of protection you will need.

    Make sure that if you do fall and hit your head, you get the hat inspected to make sure it has not been damaged.  There could be small cracks beneath the covering which you can’t see.

    Try as many different styles as you can until you find one that fits properly, a hat that is too loose will fall off just whne you need it most.  If it is too tight, it will give you a headache.  We found some of the benefits of using the smaller shops are that they tend to have a lot of knowledge about the products they sell and take the time to help you find the right one for you.

Your footwear should probably be the next item you buy.  You can buy special riding boots called jodphur boots, these are smooth soled boots with a small heel which helps to stop your foot from sliding through the stirrup.  It’s not recommended to wear training shoes or Wellington boots as these can become wedged in the stirrup.

Everything else is down to your personal preference, although we would recommend whatever you wear should be fairly fitted, but not too tight that you can’t move.  Really baggy jackets or coats flapping around can get in the way a bit and make the horse nervous.  Jeans are OK but make sure they fit snugly around your legs as they can rub and chafe the inside of your knees.  Trousers in a stretchy fabric such as jodphurs are more comfortable.

Whatever you wear the main thing is to be comfortable and not too restricted.  You’ll probably find your first few horse riding lessons quite tiring, so the more comfortable you are, the easier it will be.