Summer Horse Camp or Beginner Rider Apparel

The days are getting longer. The air is warming up and before we know it summer will be here bringing with it Summer Horse Camps, riding lessons and horse shows.

I have put together a list of some of the items that you may need for your child or teen to attend summer camp. These basics essentials are not only a great starting place for summer horse camp. The basic essentials listed here will work for someone who is just beginning to ride too. Very often I will receive a phone call or someone coming in the store that will say “My daughter/son , I just beginning to take riding lessons and I have no idea what they will need. Can you help me?” This list and information is designed to get you started with very basic riding apparel. Organizations will sometimes give you a list of items that your child must have or recommends.

Equestrian Riding Helmets – are the first most important item. Some facilities may provide riding helmets for their students or campers and others may require your child to have an ASTM/SEI certified riding helmet. Riding helmets are a must have piece of safety equipment when participating in equestrian activities, Western or English. I say activities, because not all head injuries are from falling off a horse. Head injury accidents occur while grooming, cleaning stalls and yes even spectating. Riders4Helmets has a lot of information about helmet safety, if you would like to read more.

 

 

When asked which helmet to choose for a beginner rider we recommend the inexpensive schooling helmets such as Troxel’s new low profile Liberty or the IRH Equi-Lite helmet to beginning riders and young children whom their parents are not sure it they are going to continue with this activity. These all-purpose schooling helmets are practical, budget friendly and offer a selection of fashionable colors.

 

 

Equestrian Boots - the next piece of safety equipment for you or your child. Yes, boots are considered a part of safety equipment. Equestrian boots will typically have a smooth sole and low heel. They are made this way so that your feet won’t slip through the stirrups easily but yet also slip out of the stirrup easily should you fall off your horse. Equestrian boots, Western or English, will also protect your foot should it be stepped on. My feet have been stepped on and stomped on numerous times and I was extremely happy to have had my boots on when it occurred. English equestrians can choose from short paddockboots or tall field boots, both are acceptable riding boots. We usually recommend an inexpensive paddock boot like the Saxon Equileather Zip Front or the TuffRider Starter Paddock Boots, especially for small children. The zip front paddock boots are easy to get on and off and are also very easy to care for. Depending on your skill level or organization, they may recommend tall riding boots. Children's field boots may come in leather or synthetic. Many parents perfer the less expensive Children's Starter Boots from TuffRider. These zip-back tall boots are also easy to get on and off and easy to care for.

 

Schooling tights, jodhpurs or breeches – your child or you, will need at least 1 pair of riding pants. Western riders typically wear jeans while English riders wear breeches or jodhpurs. Riding pants are designed to give your leg comfort and create less wear on your saddle. Regular jeans have a thick inner seam that can rub the rider’s leg. Regular jeans are not as snug fitting as riding pants and can bunch up under your leg causing bruises and discomfort. Today you can find riding pants that look like jeans yet designed for horse riding. There are several options, styles and materials to choose from in horse riding pants. We usually recommend schooling tights that are made of light weight cotton, have a gripper leg bottom, self-knee patch and elastic waist band such as the TuffRider Cotton Schoolers. These schooling tights are inexpensive, practical and comfortable to wear. Schooling pants can also come in a variety of colors to choose. I always say, because English riding is very traditional, that you get to have fun with schooling pants. Depending on your discipline it might be the only clothing where you can choose fun colors, styles and patterns.

 

Equestrian gloves – gloves are very practical. They help you to grip your reins and protect your hands and fingers from reins sliding back and forth. Gloves can prevent blisters when you’re not use to holding reins.  We recommend for children and beginner riders a Cotton Pebble Grip or the Power Grip Glove from Heritage gloves. These are an inexpensive, breathable and comfortable glove to wear especially in the summer months. Equestrian gloves are designed for horse riding with some type of palm grip and can come in several materials and price levels.

 

Half Chaps – are a very practical piece of equestrian attire. They protect the lower leg and will help the rider’s leg to grip better. Half chaps are not essential, therefore optional, but are a nice addition to their horse camp or beginner riding apparel. Half Chaps come in a few different materials to select from. The synthetic half chaps will be the least expensive. These can come in different colors and some have embroidered decorations, like the Ovation Elite Pony Half Chaps or Ovation’s Hearts or Stars Half Chaps. The leather versions typically come in black or brown, suede (rough), like the Intec Split Suede Leather Half Chaps or leather (smooth), like the Performer Half Chaps, most come with zippers for easy on and off but there are a few varieties such as the Devon Aire Suede HalfChaps with Velcro closures.

These are what we recommend for the basic essential pieces of riding apparel that you would need to get you or your child started riding in equestrian sports.

1.       Equestrian Riding Helmet

2.       Equestrian Riding Boots

3.       Schoolers, Breeches or Riding Tights

4.       Equestrian Gloves

5.       Half Chaps (optional)

We have put together a Summer Horse Camp Package with our recommended essential riding apparel at a very special price.

Happy Riding!