In Jean M. Auel’s bestselling The Valley of Horses, cave people went riding without any horse riding gear whatsoever. No saddles, no bridles, no boots and usually no clothing of any sort. Very interesting to read, but completely unrealistic. You want to ride and stay alive and comfortable, you need horse riding gear. Your horse will also be more comfortable and a lot less stressed when the both of you are in the proper horse riding gear. This article will focus on English style riding.

For You

With your choice of horse riding gear, you need to keep both safety and comfort in mind. At the very least, you need:

A hard hat. The worst head injury I received while riding was when my mount, Leonardo, flung his head up and struck his neck full force on my head. I’d be dead if it wasn’t for the hard hat. Boots or footwear with a prominent heel, so your feet will not slip through the stirrups. Jeans or jodhpurs (also called breeches). Loose pants like sweatpants are right out – they will get caught somewhere. Ideally, you need to wear pants that you have to wrestle to get into but can still bend over in.

For Your Horse

Ever ride bareback? Hurts like heck, doesn’t it? The rubbing of your buttocks can also leave sores on your horse’s back. A saddle and blanket not only evenly distribute your weight on the horse’s back, but it keeps you in place. Not only are you more safe, but your horse is safer form getting sore and grumpy.

Your horse also needs a bridle of some kind. Most horses have been trained to a bit. Those that don’t usually are in Western style riding. Always try the mildest bits you can before resorting to more complicated ones. You shouldn’t be hauling on your horse’s mouth anyway, unless you physically cannot use your legs.

Used Vs New

New horse riding gear is incredibly expensive. The pros are that they are usually made to fit and are tough. If you are not used to telling worn, dangerous used horse riding gear from any other kind of riding gear, stick with new until you learn. This is a major investment.

If you have the knowledge, then by all means go for used horse riding gear for you and your horse (unless your horse has a special need). You can save an incredible amount of money and feel good knowing you are recycling.

It has been said that no sport can rise above the quality of its equipment. In other words, if the equipment employed in the participation of the sport is lacking, then the ability to properly play the sport will be hampered. In some cases, this hampering can lead to serious problems. For example, if a baseball catcher’s glove is not properly ‘stuffed’ then a potential hand injury is possible. If the pitcher throws the ball fast enough and the oversized catcher’s mitt is not adequate, then there is great potential for the catcher suffering a broken hand.

In Horse back riding, careful attention to horse riding equipment must be taken as well. However, people sometimes do not properly think this all the way through. The reason is that they have a tendency to focus all their attention on the horse as opposed to focusing on both the horse and the horse riding equipment. Now, this can turn out to be a dangerously negligent attitude. After all, if a horse saddle is not adequate, there is the danger of the rider falling off the horse. While it is possible to fall off and dust oneself off and try again, such actions would be difficult if the fall resulted in a sprained ankle! As such, selecting proper horse riding equipment is imperative.

Proper Maintenance is in Order

First and foremost, it is important to select the absolute best horse riding equipment that you can afford within your own budget. This does not mean, however, to ‘skimp’ and purchase equipment that has a sub par reputation. If you are on a budget, you may be able to purchase used horse riding equipment that is in proper shape. If you do buy the horse riding equipment second (or third) hand please be sure to give it a complete inspection to make sure it is in proper working condition.

It must be noted that whether the horse riding equipment is used or not, the equipment must be properly maintained. If the equipment is neglected and wears down then the wear and tear could compromise the safety of the rider. When safety is compromised, any fun that can be derived from the sport will be compromised as well. As such, it is important to store equipment away from where it may be damaged or harmed by the elements. Also, if any imperfections or damage is noted repairs should be made immediately. Finally, one needs to know when to accept the fact that the equipment is too worn out and must be replaced. If you follow these brief guidelines, your ability to enjoy the sport will improve dramatically.

If you have money to burn, buying a horse may be a good option as it will help fulfill the dream of owning a wonderful four legged creature that will always be faithful and true to you. So, once you have your own horse, or are just very keen about them and like to go horse riding you would necessarily need proper horse riding clothes and supplies. Most people may prefer the traditional horse riding clothes that includes hats, jackets, boots, jodhpurs, and gloves and a few more items, though there are the more casual minded who prefer their old jeans accompanied by flannelled shirts and a pair of gloves made of leather as well as a pair of high boots to complete their attire.

T-Shirts Or Brightly Colored Clothes

Be that as it may, most people who are not going to go riding at a horse show will like to wear just their T-shirts, and if it is trail riding that you are intending, then you would be better off wearing horse riding clothes that are brightly colored to improve visibility, and a vest should also be worn to keep out the cold, which also will not restrict the movement of arms and shoulders and are also suitable for layering and staying warm.

If the weather is especially cold, you would want winter coats that are designed for horse riding and these items of horse riding clothes should be roomy and may even have gussets to spread across the saddle instead of being tucked beneath the seat. One way of deciding which the most appropriate horse riding clothes are is to head to a horse show and see the clothes that are worn there.

As for pants, these items of horse riding clothes need not be anything more than a cheap pair of stretch tights which you can buy that also have leather knee and also seat patches that will give you extra grip and are usually more durable because the fabrics are such that they will last longer. If you are dressing for winter horse riding, you can choose riding pants that are made from fleece as they will keep you warm and comfortable as well. Even if you choose jeans or sweat pants, makes sure that they do not twist or wrinkle and they should also not bunch near the knees or insides of the legs while leather chaps are ideal for their wind breaking abilities.

Other necessary items of horse riding clothes include the boots and helmet, and the boots are next only to the helmet in terms of importance to good horse riding, and boots with about an inch or a bit more of heels will be ideally suited to better horse riding. Try and avoid hiking and winter boots which are not safe in case you fall because they can easily get stuck in your stirrups. Finally, you will need proper undergarments and a good place to buy them would be shops selling only jogging as also running gear.

In the real world, horse riding camps are for the really rich. They are an unaffordable luxury unavailable to most horse loving kids. I was one of those kids. My family could never afford any kind of summer camp. I was lucky enough to get lessons once a week. But I did go to horse riding camps through books and magazines. The best fiction books about young horse crazy girls at horse riding camp were a great comfort to me. The best ones also helped me learn more about horses.

Young Adult Series

One of the most lucrative, popular and easy to find forms of literature is the series aimed for young adults (an age bracket from 10-16). These series consist of the same young, plucky kids who go from one wacky situation to another. Sooner or later, they wind up at horse riding camps good and bad. If you are looking for accurate information about horses and riding, steer clear of young adult series that do not focus on horses. Young adult series are often ghostwritten and churned out by a myriad of writers with varying levels of equine knowledge.

However, those young adult series featuring horses or horse-loving kids tend to strive for accuracy in order to keep their readers coming back for the latest book. Two of the young adult series that featured books set in horse riding camps include the Linda Craig series and The Saddle Club. The former series is more fabulous – Linda and her mind-reading palomino solve mysteries wherever they go. The Saddle Club, on the other hand, involves four girls who get into more realistic adventures at horse riding camps that readers can more identify with.

A Horse For XYZ

A standout book set in a horse riding camp is A Horse for XYZ, by Louise Morei (Scholastic, 1977). In it, a young girl dodges the bus home to sneak a ride on the mystery horse that no one was allowed to ride. She rides into a lot of trouble. She and the horse are alone against the elements, and a ring of horse thieves. Sounds like a tired plot, even for the 1970’s, but what makes the book so special is the horse. This character is three-dimensional; dangerous, unpredictable and enchanting. Unlike many of the four footed characters in “horse books”, the author took the time to include real horse behavior and facts in a book designed for all children, horse-crazy or not.

Some boots are made for walking and some are made for Horse back riding. Now, while you can walk around on the street with horse riding boots, you simply are not going to be able to effectively ride a horse with sneakers on! If you are a serious hors back riding aficionados, then you are going to have to purchase a nice pair of horse riding boots. Of course, you will also need to purchase a pair of functional horse riding boots as well.

If you are looking for a nice looking pair of horse riding boots, however, you will not be short on the number of choices you have available. There are a great number of quality brands that have a stunning look. In addition to providing a quality look, these boots also provide the proper function of keeping your feet in the stirrups in a comfortable manner. Of course, some of these boots are expensive and may be out of your price range. Granted, there are also a great number of inexpensive horse riding boots that are equally good looking as well as functional. Sometimes it pays to shop around!

Quality Horse Riding Boots

There are a number of different boots that provide the valuable quality of look, affordability and functionality. There various brands that are quite popular include Konigs, Cavallo and Vogel. These brands have many variants to them and also a number of similarities in terms of the types of boots available. These include tall boots, zipped boots and season specific boots such as winter, summer etc. There are a number of reasons why an individual would choose these different types of boots and, in some cases, the reasons are self explanatory. Winter boots will provide better insulation in cold weather and also provide more traction if one has to walk around in terrain that is icy. Summer horse riding boots could prove problematic in such a season. Long horse riding boots also have a different mobility aspect to them and may be better suited for certain body types than others.

When it comes to selecting horse riding boots, there are a number of factors involved in making the proper selection. There is really no one choice that is better than the other and often the proper selection is based on the individual. Of course, that is no excuse for not shopping around because if one limited the amount of time spent looking for the proper horse riding boots, one may end up missing out on a real gem. So, be patient and the best boots may end up making their presence home.

Horse riding as a hobby can bring many benefits. Horse riding as a hobby is a great way to go out and see the surrounding area. Many people end up seeing their surroundings on the freeways and other streets. Many people never get off the beaten track unless they take up horse riding as a hobby. Horse riding as a hobby will take you to the trails that surround the city. People buy all terrain vehicles so they can get off the commonly traveled roads, but they can do the same thing when they have horse riding as a hobby.

Horse riding as a hobby has an added advantages for seeing the surrounding areas in a four wheel drive vehicle. Horse riding as a hobby brings the rider closer to nature. A person riding through the countryside can see the local terrain from a special vantage point. The riders have the wide open spaces all around them. A beautiful blue sky through a sun roof is just not the same as a completely open view from the back of a horse. The cool fresh air away from the city is usually clear and clean. Horse riding as a hobby is often very relaxing for the rider. The pressures of every day life seem to disappear on the back of a horse.

Horse Riding As A Hobby Teaches Responsibility

Horse riding as hobby can be enjoyable for adults, but it is also a very wonderful hobby for children. Children can learn many things about life through Horseback riding. First of all, children will learn the responsibility of caring for an animal and the equipment that is needed for their hobby. They will usually have to care for the stables where their horse is kept. They will have to make sure that the area is completely clean on a regular basis. The horse should be groomed, washed and fed regularly. These duties should be the responsibility of the child with the hobby.

Horse riding as a hobby is great for children because they should constantly learn to control a huge animal. They will have to practice and learn techniques in order to make sure that this animal responds to their commands. The child will learn from their mistakes and they should learn to have a great deal of confidence in their abilities as they increase their skills through their hobby. Children can compete in different activities with their horses and this should help them determine their progress compared to others in the same age group.

Horse riding arenas provide a great place for beginners to practice so they learn the necessary skills before they try controlling a horse with lots of distractions in the wild or in heavy traffic. Riding a horse is not the easiest thing in the world, and Horseback riding could be very dangerous if the rider does not have the appropriate skills for different venues. People have to start somewhere when learning any skill and riding a horse usually starts with the very basic skills. Someone who has never been on a horse before needs to learn how to prepare the horse for a ride. The rider needs to get the bridle in properly and the saddle on securely.

A horse riding arena allows the beginner to make sure these things are done properly in an enclosed area where the dangers are minimal. If the beginning rider has to worry about these preparations plus heavy traffic or creatures that might spook a horse, the consequences could be deadly or at least very dangerous. A proper horse riding arena allows the beginner the chance to ride around the arena without all of these distractions. A beginner also has to learn to guide the horse with the reins and make the horse move with pressure from the legs. In an arena, a student can practice these skills without worrying about a ravine that might cause the horse to go down while the rider goes over.

Skilled Riders Show Their Skills In A Horse Riding Arena

A good horse riding arena is a great place for beginners, but a horse riding arena is also a great place for those riders with advanced skills. Those who would like to jump a horse have to learn a whole new dimension. These riders are usually quite advanced before they even contemplate trying to jump the horse. Out in the wilderness, there are natural obstacles that will make a horse jump. A horse might have to jump a group of plants or a creek. Riders should practice these skills in a horse riding arena before trying the real thing.

Skilled riders also often learn the skills for dressage in an arena. A horse riding arena set up for dressage allows for good instruction and demonstration of the necessary skills. The dressage arena is set up so the instructor can use marks on the arena to communicate effectively with the student. The markings are set up in a standardized method for most of the people working on dressage skills.

Horse riding apparel differs greatly for the people who spend some time on the back of a horse. Horse riding apparel for the cowboys who work on ranches is much different than the jockeys who ride in famous races. The cowboys on the ranches wear horse riding apparel that helps them survive in difficult conditions and horse riding apparel that makes them more comfortable. Most cowboys riding the range wear blue jeans that are nice and comfortable because they are well worn. Most cowboys spend hours every day on their horses, and their jeans do not stay new and stiff for long.

The cowboys on ranches usually wear boots that protect their feet from cactus and critters such as rattlesnakes. If a cowboy steps on a cactus without a sturdy shoe, he is going to be in pain. Horse riding apparel for a cowboy includes a good hat with a wide brim that will keep the sun out of the eyes and face. These hats are not fashion statements for a real working cowboy, but these hats are valuable to protect them from harsh conditions in the sun. Some cowboys also use chaps which are leather pieces that cover a portion of their legs and protect them from the treacherous terrain.

Some Horse Riding Apparel Comes In Silk And Velvet

Jockeys have some special horse riding apparel especially for their difficult job on the track. Like the cowboys, jockeys wear hats that are going to protect them from collision with other jockeys moving a breakneck speed and the ground if they fall off the horse. The hat will also protect their heads if they fall and the hooves of a horse come in contact with their head. The jockeys also wear special boots that protect their feet and the lower part of their legs. These boots are usually made from leather for maximum protection. Their outfits made of colorful fabric are called silks although these are not necessarily made from silk.

Horse riding apparel usually includes some type of hat and boots. Although some people need horse riding apparel for their jobs, other people just ride horses for pleasure. Many of these people include a hard hat that will protect their heads in case of an accident. A good set of boots is necessary so the foot of the rider will not slip through the stirrup. Boots also protect the legs of the rider who might get cut by surrounding vegetation as the horse and rider pass along a trail.

Nowadays, the only time a modern American sees a horse is on TV or the movies. Usually, the horse shown is a Thoroughbred racehorse. Recent movies that have done extremely well include Seabiscuit, The Black Stallion, Phar Lap and Dreamer. All of these films feature modern Thoroughbred racing. This can lead to the conclusion that all horse riding and racing are one and the same. This has also lead to many animal rights groups protesting all forms of horse riding, racing especially.

Horses for Courses

Animal rights groups are right to call Thoroughbred racing cruel. The horses are incredibly inbred (90% can trace their ancestry back to one stallion, The Darley Arabian, born in 1700). An estimated 60% of all Thoroughbreds alive trace back to Northern Dancer, who was born in 1961. The horses in racing cannot support their own weight, let alone that of a rider. They are forced to race before their bones have hardened. After their racing careers are over, they are usually slaughtered. The Blood Horse reported that 1986 Kentucky Derby winner Ferdinand was slaughtered for meat in Japan.

Horse riding and racing should not be tarred with the same brush. Many riders actually love horses and do not see them as money machines. Real horse riding, (racing professionals take note) waits until the horse is physically mature enough to carry a rider before a rider gets on. In many breeds, this means the horse or pony is not ridden until they are at least four years old.

Horse riding and racing in these circumstances is quite different. The horse is healthier and safer to ride. Without the entanglements of million dollar purses and syndication deals, horse riding and racing is only done when the horse is ready, willing and able. These “races” are usually informal bursts across a field, done just for the sheer joy of it. Pleasure horses are often crossbred or half-breeds, with hybrid vigor and sense. There is also more gelding going on. Horses are only kept as stallions when they can prove their worth AND have a good temperament AND be healthy.

In Conclusion

There are many different schools and uses to which people ride horses. Racing is just one of them. Horses cannot speak, but they communicate clearly through their body language. Horses that have happy experiences when ridden will enjoy horse riding. Racing is not normal horse riding. It’s just not normal, PERIOD.

There are some great places to go for a Horse back riding vacation. The whole family can get away from the pressures of every day life while enjoying the outdoors on a Horse back riding vacation. A Horse back riding vacation could be just a few days away from the daily routines by taking to the trails on a gorgeous horse, but there are also horse back riding vacations with special activities. The horse back riding vacation could take place at a wide variety of venues and each of the centers that specialize in horse back riding vacations have a unique menu of activities.

A horse back riding vacation could be at a dude ranch in the West where the family can rent a cabin while enjoying all of the special activities. These activities usually include daily horse back riding sessions through rustic settings. Some of these horse back riding sessions would also include some meals in the wilderness where the silence is only broken by those in the group. The ranches are a great place to have a vacation with the whole family while participating in active adventures. Sunbathing on the beach or visiting museums can provide for wonderful family activities, but a horse back riding vacation can keep the whole group physically active.

A Horse Back Riding Vacation Can Improve Skills

A horse back riding vacation can be perfect for the whole family, but there are also centers where anyone can improve their horse back riding skills or develop more advanced riding skills. Some of these centers will teach horse back riding from the first steps of getting up on the horse to very advanced skills that can be used to win national competitions. People who have never ridden a horse in their life can find a center that teaches the basics. These skills can be especially appealing to young children who love these beautiful animals.

A horse back riding vacation could be used to improve sophisticated riding skills. Those interested in jumping horses can find experts who will be able to provide guidance in getting a horse over a creek or a pole. There are also centers who can teach the skills necessary to compete in dressage. Most people are amazed to see a horse and rider go through the movements of dressage, and a vacation might be just the place to learn these techniques or improve skills.