English riding apparel
Casual English Equestrian Apparel
Most English riding apparel is based on traditional hunting attire. Casual every day attire for lessons or "hacking" is quite different from show apparel, but they all have the common root of being designed to protect the rider from the elements as well as the hard knocks that typically come from riding. Styles of clothes are made to suit all types of riders in any type of equestrian discipline all year round.
Basic Requirements for Every Day Riding:
- Helmet
- Breathable shirt that’s easy to move in
- Good quality breeches or riding jeans
- Tall boots or Paddock Boots and half-chaps
- Gloves
Helmet: No matter what discipline you ride, a protective riding helmet is the first piece of equipment you should buy. It must be designed specifically for horseback riding and approved by the American Standard for Testing Materials (ASTM) and the Safety Equipment Institute (SEI). Keep in mind, however, that a helmet is only as safe as it fits. A riding helmet needs to fit snugly on your head with little or no movement even when you vigorously nod your head. Bicycle helmets are not recommended because they are too shallow.
For every day riding, a "schooling helmet" with a hard plastic outer shell and plenty of ventilation is perfectly acceptable. They come in a wide variety of styles and colors (including Philadelphia Eagle's Green or the marbled look of a well made bowling ball). The only important thing is that your schooling helmet fits you properly and be comfortable enough to encourage you to wear it no matter what it looks like.
Shirt: For everyday riding, it doesn't really matter what style of shirt you're wearing as long as it's comfortable. To get the most out of any lesson, however, it's best to wear a snug fitting shirt tucked in to your breeches. Long or billowing shirts are not recommended as they hide your form and make it impossible for an instructor to give you correct feedback.
In the cooler months, riding vests are popular because of their ability to keep your body warm and yet allow you to cool off as you exercise more. Heavy jackets may be necessary in rain or colder temperatures. If so, it's recommended that you buy one specifically meant for riding, with either a single or double flap in back to accommodate your saddle. Many jackets designed for equestrians also come with extra ventilation in the back and under the arms for additional comfort.
Breeches: While stretch jeans are an option, most English riders prefer to wear breeches. Jeans can be restricting and even jeans designed specifically for riding wear the seat of your saddle out faster than breeches. Breeches allow for freedom of movement, are comfortable no matter what discipline you ride or how long you're in the saddle, and stand up to the tests of barn life. Ideally, they should have enough stretch for safe mounting, riding and dismounting of the horse.
Breeches come in a wide variety, with many styles to choose from. Like helmets, the important thing is that they fit properly. Breeches that are too loose can rub your skin raw in some pretty inconvenient places! Every company gives their breeches their own unique fit, but most offer breeches in a low-rise style to accommodate current trends.
Children can wear jodhpurs, a type of breech with a cuff that is typically worn outside the boot and held in place by elastic "stirrup straps" that attach to either sod of the cuff and run under the sole of the boot. They can also wear regular breeches with a Velcro closure at the bottom that are typically tucked inside the boot. A colorful alternative are riding tights that look like breeches but pull on rather than zip and come in range of colors from conservative to playfully fun
Women have the option of breeches or riding tights. Both come in either "full seat," meaning that there is an additional leather panel that goes from the seat of the pants all the way down the inside of the leg, or "knee patch," with a reinforced leather patch only at the knee. These panels or knee patches help the rider maintain a safe position, protect the knees from bruising and enhance the durability of the breeches.
Men have relatively limited choices between knee patch and full seat breeches. Typically, men's breeches come in just a few basic colors as well.
Specific disciplines, like Saddleseat, wear jodhpurs but they are different from the children's style in that they flare out dramatically at the bottom and are much longer than regular breeches.
Boots: After a helmet, your boots are the most important item of riding attire. Boots that fit properly help secure your feet in the stirrup. Whether you're wearing tall boots or short ones, a low heel and smooth sole to prevent your foot from being caught in the stirrup in case of a fall is important. Riding boots also provide ankle support and help the rider maintain proper riding position and posture. Equestrian riding boots come with a reinforced toe to protect your foot against the horse's sharp hoofs if you get stepped on. NEVER wear a boot with a steel reinforced toe; the weight of the horse will crush the steel and your toes along with it.
Most tall boots are made of black leather, should fit snugly around your leg and come up at least as tall as your knee. It has become so popular in recent years to have boots with zippers up the back for easy access and a tight fit that you would be hard pressed to find the old pull-on type in many tack stores. Each discipline has a preferred type of boot.
Hunters, jumpers and eventers favor the field boot, a tall leather boot with a section that is laced up just above the foot. This type of boot allows for the ankle flexibility needed to jump as well as some additional ankle support. The best kind of boot is one that comes in very specific sizing to fit both the width AND the height of your calf. For instance, a tall slim boot for someone with long thin legs or a regular wide boot to fit a person whose legs aren't so long and thin. Custom boots made specifically to your measurements are possible but can be more expensive and will take a number of weeks to be made so be sure to plan ahead!
For everyday riding, many hunters, jumpers or eventers prefer to wear a short boot, known as a "paddock" boot, saving their tall boots for shows. Paddock boots can be leather or synthetic. They can lace up, zip up or pull on, typically in either black or brown. What they do share with tall boots are a low heel, a smooth sole and most have a reinforced toe.
Combined with a pair of half chaps (that is, chaps that only cover your lower leg) a rider can get the same protection and advantages of a tall boot without the discomfort and at a much lower price. Half chaps can be leather, suede, or synthetic materials. They come in a limited number of different styles and colors, with black leather being the predominant. Whatever type you choose, the important thing is that they fit snugly with no wrinkles to come between your leg and your horse.
Many dressage riders, on the other hand, would rather be caught dead than wearing paddock boots.
Dressage riders prefer to wear a dress boot. Dress boots have smooth lines without the laces found in a field boot. The toes are slightly more squared and the leather tends to be thicker. The dress boot is not meant to have the flexible ankle of the field boot. It is designed to keep your leg as long and still as possible. As you progress up the levels, you may invest in a true dressage boot; that is, a dress boot that has also been reinforced by whalebone or synthetic stays to make it even stiffer.
A word about socks: While any sock is acceptable, ones specifically made for riding have a number of advantages. Some have special wicking ability built in to keep your feet dry even on hot summer days. Others are thin, nylon socks that are more comfortable with a tight fit of an equestrian boot. The fun part is that they are available in a rainbow of colors and designs. For paddock boots, it's best to wear socks that come up higher than the top of the boot and will stay securely in place as you ride.
Gloves: There is a wide array of gloves available for every day wear. Good quality gloves will help you maintain your grip on your reins as well as protect your hands. They can be made of synthetic leather, nylon, or cotton but the palm of the glove should have a surface that doesn't allow the reins to slip. Be practical; use a glove that is machine washable as your barn glove. From conservative to zebra stripes, there's a glove out there for everyone.
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