Horse Riding Clothing for Beginners – What Do You REALLY Need?

It’s no secret that horse riding clothing is expensive.

Just ask any new rider — or new rider’s parents — when they’re suddenly confronted with a long list of “necessary” apparel and equipment. With all those funny names, mysterious purposes, and frightening prices, it’s enough to make a person want to ditch the barn and take up turtle racing instead.

But don’t give up on the ponies just yet!  I’m going to let you in on a little secret the tack shops don’t want you to know:

You don’t need all that stuff.

In fact, if you’re a beginning rider, buying all the equipment they want to sell you is exactly what you don’t want to do (unless you like wasting your money). The problem: As a beginner, how do you know what gear you actually need?

That, dear newbie, is why I’m about to reveal to you the even bigger secret. The most secret of the secrets. Are you ready for it? Here it is:

You only need three pieces of horse riding clothing.

1. Horse Riding Boots

Whether you’re brand new to the sport or a professional equestrian, horse riding boots are an absolute necessity.  Unlike sneakers or other non-riding shoes, riding boots are specially designed to help keep the rider’s foot from slipping through the stirrup and becoming caught; a potentially deadly situation.   

The bad news is that boots tend to be among the most expensive pieces of horse riding apparel, and choosing the wrong ones can be a very costly mistake. The good news? If you’re a beginner, there are only two types you need to know about: Tall boots and short boots.

Tall boots end just below the knee, help protect the rider’s legs from severe chafing, and are the type generally worn in shows.  They’re stiffer than short boots, less comfortable, and much more expensive. If you’re a beginner who’s not yet competing, or you’re a child who’s feet are still growing, stay away from tall boots. You don’t need them, and buying them would be a complete waste of your money.

Short boots — also known as paddock boots or jodhpur boots — end just above the ankle, are much more comfortable than tall boots, and much less expensive.  They’re too informal to be worn for shows (unless you’re under 12, in which case the rules are different), but if you’re not showing yet, they’re perfect for schooling or pleasure riding. For a beginner, short boots are definitely the way to go.

2. Horse Riding Breeches

Breeches are special, tight-fitting pants that allow easy movement without the chafing a rider might otherwise experience with regular, everyday jeans or slacks. While jeans are acceptable for lesson riding, their seams — which typically run right along all the contact points between a rider’s legs and the horse — can cause extra abrasive friction, sometimes resulting in scarring of the legs.  Breeches, on the other hand, have specially constructed seams which are usually padded at the main contact points, reducing the friction, protecting the rider’s legs, and, often, providing extra grip.    

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