Essential horseback riding equipment for the novice riders

So you’ve booked your first horseback riding lesson and eagerly you rush off to the nearest tack store to purchase the ‘essentials’ for your new hobby. But the minute you step through door, the saleswoman has you drooling over the latest saddles with price tags that would rival your monthly car payment. She introduces you to strange objects called currycombs, girths and stock ties, and before you know it she’s parading all sort of riding gear before you. Overwhelmed, you stare in shock at the prices on the wool hunt coats and then wonder if those $700.00 Effingham dress boots are really necessary.

Unfortunately, horseback riding – whether English or Western – is an expensive sport; a fact well reflected in the prices for your basic gear. Luckily, as a novice rider, the majority of equipment hanging from the racks at your local tack shop is not essential. More likely than not, your one-day a week lesson does not justify owning a horse and therefore you can immediately disregard the bits, bridles and blankets. But what about the breeches, chaps and helmets? And do you really need that crop or those spurs? The answer is simply: It depends. Your equipment needs are based upon your riding level and your commitment to the sport.

Chaps, breeches and gloves are the ‘must-have’ purchases of the novice who has taken some lessons, and is considering devoting more time to the hobby. Chaps are leather coverings for legs and help the rider maintain better contact with the saddle. They come in full-lengths that buckle around the waist and extend to the ankles, or half-lengths that cover only the calf. Not the John Wayne type? Not to worry. Chaps are worn by both English and Western riders and come without fringe for a more understated look. Breeches, however, are the mainstays of the English world. Since English riding tends to require closer contact with the saddle and horse, the heavy seams in jeans can rub in all the wrong places. Breeches are made of close-fitting material and have flat stitching to reduce friction. Many come with suede knee patches for a better grip in the saddle. Gloves are lifesavers for English and Western riders at this level of riding. A better handle on the reins might leave hands raw from the pull of the leather. Mesh gloves with leather pads on the palm and weaving on the back are a useful, inexpensive choice. They might be less attractive than the full-leather varieties, but are more easily replaced when inadvertently lost at the barn.

For those amateur riders ready to compete, even at low-level shows, an investment in decent equipment is required. For English riders competing in hunter/jumper or equitation trials, dress boots, wool hunt coats and velvet hunt caps are part of the dress code. If you are dressing the youngster that grows like a weed, you might want to steer clear of the most expensive brands. For adults, however, quality – although pricey – is your best bet, particularly for the dress boots. There is no need to purchase the latest Hermes gear, but leather will last longer than synthetic materials. Even once the competition ring no longer beckons, the leather dress boots will be useful in everyday lessons. Your own hunt cap will come in handy, as well, and reduce the need to rifle through the barn leftovers. Your helpful saleswoman can be sure to fit you properly for all these items. Western riders, even at this entry level of competition, tend to require less gear and can succeed with a decent pair of cowboy boots, chaps and a hat.

Now that you know the ‘must-haves’ for your riding level, it is important to know what you certainly don’t need despite the entreaties of the saleswoman. If you don’t own a horse, you need not outfit your stable mount. Local barn horses should have their own saddle and bit purchased by the stable to fit the horse’s particular confirmation. Although general one-size-fits-all saddles do exist, they are an extravagant purchase for the rider still uncertain about his commitment. The barn should also provide grooming supplies such as hoof picks, brushes and currycombs – particularly if they expect you to do the quick-and-easy groom before saddling up. Crops are small leather batons used by English riders to urge their horses forward. The use of the crop is selective depending on the mount, and typically allowed only with the consent of the instructor. These whips come in various shapes and sizes, and most barns lend you a spare suited to your needs. Another unnecessary purchase for novices is spurs. These metal pricks that rest on the heel of any boot are meant to give the horse a clearer signal from the rider. Used incorrectly, spurs can be dangerous as they can amplify incorrect aids of the novice rider. Furthermore, new riders should focus on strengthening their leg aids through proper muscle movement rather than artificial prods that might not be necessary for their mount.

Horseback riding equipment is expensive, but there is no need for the amateur rider to re-finance the house to enjoy his new hobby. Money saved through savvy purchases can be reinvested into lessons, which is the true focus of the sport for the novice. Once the new rider has made the commitment to the sport, the devotion will most likely last a lifetime – plenty of time for a slow collection of gear.