Essential equipment for a new rider

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Hello! I have wanted to ride for many years now, but have never had the opportunity. I now want to get riding lessons and I was wondering if anyone could give me advice on the essential items I need to buy.

I know that a hat will be totally essential! What sort of boots do I need? Should I buy proper riding boots, or will ordinary (sturdy) boots be okay at first? Should I wear gloves? Is there anything else I really should buy?

I am sorry if any of my questions are very stupid!
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to start with it is best to get your own hat,although most riding schools will lend you one at first.I would also recommend a pair of jodphur boots or long leather boots.Rubber boots are okay to begin with but are not very warm in winter and tend to make your feet sweat in summer. Most riding schools insist on proper footwear due to health and safety so I doubt they would let you just turn up and ride in something not designed for riding in. Gloves are personal choice and personally while you are getting to grips with learning the correct feel I wouldn't advise them as it will be easier to learn without first,unless of course you are having lessons outside in which case I would buy a pair of cheap woolen riding ones which will keep your hands warm without interfering with the feel too much. You will probably be okay in a pair of jeans to start with but jods are more comfy to ride in as jeans can rub.If you do decide to buy short jodphur boots you will need a pair of half chaps to prevent your legs being rubbed by the stirrup leathers.
 
At uni we have just done a load of beginner lessons with the riding club (im lessons captain
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) on campus. I wouldnt buy a hat straight away because they are so expensive and you might not like riding once you start - the riding schools should provide them. We also said wear a sturdy pair of boots/shoes, preferably with a small heel (like walking boots - a lot of people came in wellies too but they can split if being used to ride in!). Also dont go in jeans, try jogging bottoms or if you are commited already mabye buy a pair of jods?!

But best thing to do is just have fun - if you ask the riding school that you are going to what to wear etc i am sure they will tell you! Riding is great
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Just about all riding schools will be able to lend you a hat for your first few lessons (do check first, but I'd be surprised if they didn't), and as most riding gear tends to be expensive I'd wait until you know you definitely enjoy riding and want to carry on with it before you go out and buy loads of gear. I think that boots are very important - if you want to keep riding, a pair of riding boots will be one of the first things you'll be needing, but for your first lesson or two just make sure you're wearing sensible shoes (sturdy, not overly chunky [i.e. big trainers], with a relatively smooth sole and a small heel, about 1cm). As for trousers, as long as they don't have really thick seams to rub you sore, and they don't have really wide, flappy legs (I rode in baggy flared jeans a little while ago, it was such a pain!) you'll be fine - can't go wrong with tracksuit bottoms really! Again, when you've decided you definitely want to go on riding, you'll probably want to buy some proper jodhpurs.

Gloves are a good idea in this weather - if you can find some with pimple-grips on the palms that's really good, or fingerless gloves are also good for aiding grip. Normal gloves are fine too though if you don't have grippy ones.

Good luck with your first riding lesson! It's always more nervewracking for people who start as adults (I assume you're an adult) than little kids, but it's so much fun!
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Hello

No your questions aren't stupid! Own hat asap is the biggy - most if not all riding schools will lend you one to start with but you can never be sure if they've been dropped by the kids that have hold of them, etc. Sensible boots or shoes, a flat sole if possible (not chunky tread like wellies) with about a 1" heel are ok till you know if you're interested enough to splash some cash out. Gloves are a very good idea, not only for the weather protection but they also protect your fingers getting rubbed and hard skin - cheap woolly riding gloves with pimple palms I think are still in the few ££ region if you want to get some now, but again any gloves will be better than none.

Trousers rather than jeans if possible for your first few lessons - you will find out how seams against the saddle can cause chafing otherwise - jogging pants or similar will be fine, and thick tights and ski socks underneath if riding in the cold weather.

If you do decide you like riding (hope you do!!), I'd look at proper riding boots, jods or breeches, a good waterproof and warm coat specially for riding (will have 2 way zips and vents at the back to allow you to sit comfortably on the saddle) and maybe a body protector.
 
Not stupid at all Little Monkey - it's very sensible to ask!

The hat is definitely the most important item and you really should go somewhere where it can be fitted properly. Do not be tempted to buy second hand!

Boots - if your boots are well fitting, have good soles and are of a normal sort of width (i.e not so chunky that they are very wide) they should be fine. If you can borrow some jodhpur boots, then so much the better. Make sure they have plenty of room as your feet can get very cold when riding and tight boots will make this more likely! They must have a low heel.

Gloves are a good idea, especially in this weather but make sure they have some sort of grip - woolly mittens won't do as they will slip on the reins. Again, you may be able to borrow some.

Jeans are not normally recommended for riding but, if you don't have jodhs or breeches, and can't borrow any, jeans will do at a piinch for the first few lessons. After that, as you start more trotting, you may find the inside seams rub. It is worth seeing if you an borrow as much as possible to start with until you are sure you want to continue.

Make sure any tops or jackets you wear are roomy around the shoulders and arms.

I'm sure there is plenty to add to this!
 
Hi Little Monkey,

I hope you enjoy riding when you finally get to try it!

You're right about the hat. Get it fitted properly at a proper saddlery shop though and make sure it's up to the current standard (the retailer will advise) as otherwise it may invalidate any insurance (assuming that you will be riding at a riding school).

Boots - it's not compulsory to buy proper riding boots. Your ordinary sturdy boots may be okay, but they should have at least 1cm of heel (but not much more than that either). You may find that some sturdy boots are too wide for the stirrups though - so do make sure that your foot can slide easily within the width of the stirrup. Depending on the style of your sturdy boots, they may not be comfortable around - or give support to - the ankle area.

So if you're serious about riding, I think it probably would be best if you initially invested in either a pair of long rubber riding boots (NOT Wellies) or short jodhpur boots depending on your preference. You can get basic ones quite cheaply to start off with.

As for gloves, personally I can't bear riding without them, but they are entirely optional. It's all down to personal preference (except when it comes to competition - but that's a different story...)

I wouldn't spend too much money on anything else at this early stage - you really want to make sure that you do want to carry on riding after your first few tries, otherwise you could be throwing away your heard earned cash!

Good luck - and let us all know how you get on after your first lesson!
 
Thank you everyone for replying to me. Lots of advice to take in and you have all been really helpful! I am an adult but I am so excited about learning to ride!
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To start with most RS will lend you things. So, no need to rush out shopping just yet... Wait until you know just how much you like it and then get tempted to buy the really nice stuff!

Essentials...
Hat - RS will lend.
Boots - they might. Otherwise something with a small heel and very little tread. So your foot doesn't get stuck in stirrup if you have a little tumble - hopefully not relevant on first lesson(!) but def best to be safe.
Gloves - again they might lend but in this weather a must. You can get cotton/wool ones with little rubber pimples for about 3pounds which are fine. If you have driving/ski gloves they'd work too. Anything that isn't so bulky you can't close your fingers around the reins and that has some grip.

For later...
Own of all of the above.
Body protector - you will need one of these at most RS if you want to try jumping (although I wear mine most of the time even though I don't have to.) These are expensive (80ish pounds + for adult size) but should minimise injuries from landing on poky things such as fences! Def make sure you get one fitted properly the first time.
Jods - to start with go in soft trousers that won't rub but you'll pretty soon loose all inhibition about exposing legs in jods when you realise how comfy they are!
Warm and waterproof top clothes (does up securely so they don't flap around and scare horses!)
 
Looks like we all overlapped in our posts!!

You'll love it Little Monkey - riding is the best and I'd lay good money that you'll sooon be hooked.

Where are you going for lessons?
 
^^ V good advice here. Jogging bottoms (not the nylony type - static!) should be suitable for the first few times to prevent chafage, or leggings are fine (assuming you are a girl - I'm guessing these do not form a large part of most guys' wardrobes
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I have but one thing to add - Radox! It's great, but you are going to ache after the first few times!

I would recommed visiting the riding school before your first lesson to make sure it looks ok. Is it clean and tidy? Are the horses well groomed, mostly happy (most stables have at least one resident grump! But if they look universally miserable, that's not a good sign)? Are the staff friendly and helpful? At the least try to stage a drive by and check the place out. Go on a recommendation if possible.
 
Thank you so much everyone. You are all so friendly and I really appreciate the advice you have all given me! I think the general consensus is to stick to the bare essentials that I will need just to begin with, and then I can buy other things as I go along.
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I have had a riding school recommended to me, so I shall try and have a look to check it looks okay to me.

p.s I am a female
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If you do decide to get kitted out fully, ebay is a great source of second hand kit (not hat obviously) but jodhpurs/boots etc.
 
LOL @ "stage a drive-by"!
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But yes, Han makes a very good point - unfortunately there are far too many riding schools with poorly cared-for ponies, unfriendly, incompetent staff and lax safety standards, all of which is not going to make your first experience of riding nearly as brilliant as it should be! If you look for a riding school that is ABRS and/or BHS approved, these have passed an inspection to gain this approval and should therefore be good places to go (sadly I know of places that, despite having BHS approval, are still cr@p
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). If you're in the South Lincs area, come to the one where I work! We're lovely!
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But seriously, do visit a few riding schools before choosing one and don't be afraid to try a different one if you feel that one isn't quite right. Some places may be brilliant for a confident person who wants to get out and compete, but a nervous nellie like me who hates being pushed out of their comfort zone might hate it... and vice versa, so it's not a problem if you find that the teaching style of one place doesn't quite suit you. Good grief, I've waffled on a lot. It's just so exciting having your first riding lesson!
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I have wanted to learn for so long that I really think I will love it!
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I will go to a riding school that has been recommended to me. They do adult beginners lessons, so hopefully I won't look out of place!
 
I will have a scoot around ebay.
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I am not in South Lincs, but I hope that the riding school I will hopefully be going to will be suitable. It was recommended by someone whose sister has a horse and originally learnt there. I will check all those things when I go visit.
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Thanks again everyone!
 
Another essential I found is a good supportive sports bra particularly if you're well endowned. Maybe not essential for the first lesson where you'll probably be focusing on position, balance, getting going, brakes and steering, but when you start trotting lots you'll know just why I'm recommending one!
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Enjoy!
 
You could always buy jodhpurs secondhand from ebay and sell them on again if you don't take to riding (highly unlikely!) as I have always found riding in trousers really uncomfortable. Personally I would buy my own hat, so you can have it professionally fitted. The basic ones are not really very expensive (and you only have one head!) but will have the up to date safety levels. You'll soon be bitten by the bug and can join the likes of the rest of us who are permanently skint and exhausted but fit and happy!
 
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