What do I Wear?

Many beginning students are not sure what do where to their first riding lessons or what they should purchase once they have decided to keep riding. We have put together a couple of suggestions and a few sites to get you started.

Many beginning students are not sure what to wear to their first riding lesson or what they should purchase once they have decided to keep riding. We have put together a couple of suggestions and a few sites to get you started. At the minimum for your first lesson, you will need to wear a boot similar to a riding boot and a pair of stretch pants.

Easy Way

Don't have time to read through and decide? Click on one of the buttons to the left and take the easy way out. These packages are affordable and will help you get by for your first six months of riding.

They aren't the best equipment, but they will get you started until you are ready to upgrade your gear.

Ladies' Starter Package

Paddock boots: short leather boot to be worn with half chaps or full chaps. Can be worn over jeans or breeches

Inexpensive: Milestone Paddock boots $36

*Recommended: Ariat paddock boots $120

Tall boots: tall boots that can be worn with just breeches

Inexpensive: tough rider start field boots $81

High Quality: Ariat field boots $290

Boots

Boots: Must have a ½ inch heel and have a minimal amount of tread and be fairly narrow. This will keep your foot from getting caught in the stirrup. You can choose between paddock boots or tall boots. We do not recommend paddock boots with the zipper, it tends to break and pushes into the front of your ankle when you put your heel down to ride.

Paddock boots: short leather boot to be worn with half chaps or full chaps. Can be worn over jeans or breeches

Inexpensive: Milestone Paddock boots $36

*Recommended: Ariat paddock boots $120

Tall boots: tall boots that can be worn with just breeches

Inexpensive: Tough Rider start field boots $81

High Quality: Ariat field boots $290

Chaps

Chaps: (pronounced Shaps) are used to protect your leg from getting rubbed by the saddle. You wear them with paddock boots and either breeches or jeans

Half chaps: cover from your foot to your knee and act like a tall boot but easier to get on

Inexpensive: Dublin easy care half chaps $40

*Recommended: Ariat breeze half chaps $130

Full chaps: cover you entire leg and can be worn over jeans or breeches.

Inexpensive: English show chaps suede (chick’s) $55

High Quality: prochaps athletic full chaps $250

Breeches

Breeches: (pronounced britches) are stretch pant like pants with knee pads or a full seat of thick material like leather. This helps you have a nice fit against the saddle without the pants riding up or extra material in the way. The padding adds a little extra protection from rubbing against the stirrups.

Breeches: have the knee pad

Inexpensive: Tough rider starter breech $30

*Recommended: Kerrits microcord kneepatch breech (not bootcut) $90

Recommended: Ovation stretch denim breeches $80

Full seat Breeches: extra fabric goes from the inside knee all the way up the back side

Inexpensive: Tough rider full seat breeches $60

Recommended: Kerrits microcord full seat breech (not bootcut) $119

Helmet

Helmet: Approved helmets are required (ASTM and SEI certified). You may borrow one of ours until you are ready to purchase your own. As long as it is approved, it is okay. You may need to try on many brands until you find one that fits your head perfectly. It should be snug but not tight with minimal padding added to make it fit. We do not recommend helmets with the adjustable dial in the back, they tend to break or will not fit snug to your head.