If you were to start again with all new equestrian gear, what would you choose?

Hi again!

That’s great to hear about Funky Fit—two years and still looking like new is impressive! I’ll definitely keep in mind to size up. Love that you go for bright—riding gear should be fun as well as functional!

I totally get the hypermobile ankles struggle—it makes finding the right stirrups such a challenge. I’ve had issues with losing metal stirrups too, so it’s really helpful to hear you’ve found something that works for you. I’ll definitely give them a go.

Thanks so much for sharing your experience—I really appreciate it! 😊
 
What you wear to ride depends on the horse as well. I have a big Dryzabone mac and used to wear that in a downpour. But my current share hates anything hanging over her back end.
One wet December I bought full length warm lined waterproof chaps but I dont like the feel of riding with something so thick down my legs.
 
Skib said:
What you wear to ride depends on the horse as well. I have a big Dryzabone mac and used to wear that in a downpour. But my current share hates anything hanging over her back end.
One wet December I bought full length warm lined waterproof chaps but I dont like the feel of riding with something so thick down my legs.
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Hi!

That’s a really good point—every horse is different, so it makes sense to test what feels most comfortable when riding each one. What works on one horse might not work on another, so I’ll definitely keep that in mind!

Thanks for sharing—really helpful to hear what’s worked (and what hasn’t)! 😊
 
My top tip would be to buy summer stuff in the autumn sales and winter stuff in the spring sales (if buying new). I like Ariat baselayers, boots, jackets and lightweight riding tights, but I've never bought any full price.

My other recent favourites are my Equidry coats; of the long ones, I have the mid-weight one for winter (warm enough for me and easy to layer up underneath) and the mesh lined one for spring/autumn, but I've also just bought one of their hoodie style jackets for spring, but I've not tried it yet. I'm also a big fan of Countrydale Protech breggings and Motion leggings, as they seem to have the least seams of any riding tights/breeches I've found and are really comfy. I'm glad it's just getting warm enough to wear them again.

It's obviously all down to personal preference!
 
2ndtimearound said:
My top tip would be to buy summer stuff in the autumn sales and winter stuff in the spring sales (if buying new). I like Ariat baselayers, boots, jackets and lightweight riding tights, but I've never bought any full price.

My other recent favourites are my Equidry coats; of the long ones, I have the mid-weight one for winter (warm enough for me and easy to layer up underneath) and the mesh lined one for spring/autumn, but I've also just bought one of their hoodie style jackets for spring, but I've not tried it yet. I'm also a big fan of Countrydale Protech breggings and Motion leggings, as they seem to have the least seams of any riding tights/breeches I've found and are really comfy. I'm glad it's just getting warm enough to wear them again.

It's obviously all down to personal preference!
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Hello!

That’s such a great tip regarding the sales. Helps when you’re starting from scratch!

Ariat seems to be a go-to for quality, and I love that you’ve managed to never pay full price—that’s the way to do it! Their base layers, boots, jackets, and lightweight riding tights all sound like great long-term investments.

Your Equidry setup sounds perfect. A lot to figure out for the different seasons.

I’ll definitely add the Countrydale Protech breggings & Motion leggings to my list—having minimal seams must make such a difference for comfort, especially when riding for long periods.

It’s so helpful to hear what’s worked well for you—thank you for sharing! 😊
 
For a lot of recommendations, what you do will dictate some of the choice. I do a lot of long hacks so I'm all about practicality and comfort (although I try to look smart-ish with varying degrees of success 🤣) but if you have aspirations of becoming a dressage diva then blingy-ness and aesthetics may play a greater part :)

The only real things I'm fussy about are hats, riding tights, boots, socks and waterproof items like coats. Everythibg else, I tend to go for sports or technical brands over equine brands. Don't get me wrong, I do have horsey brands like Ariat/Shires/Horseware/Kingsland etc for tops, softshell jackets and gilets but I don't think they perform any better (often not as well) as (often cheaper) sports or outdoor specific tops. My favourite winter base layers are Mountain Warehouse and Decathalon ski range & Karrimor do amazing gilets. For lightweight summer tops I tend to wear lightweight, breathable sport/ running tops and like Karrimor, Decathalon & Nike.

Riding hat - I would go for MIPS where possible. I generally wear Uvex as lightweight, comfortable and I like the dial fitting option. If you want to do a lot of XC then you may be better going for a skull cap as some venues won't let you play over XC or arena XC fences in a fixed peak.

I think body protectors or air jackets are a personal thing. I personally don't like riding in a BP so I only wear one when required for competing or if I feel I ought to for a specific reason. LI wouldn't say you 'need' one.

Riding tights - I only really Noble Outfitters or Blackfort non-silicone option, as I really don't like silicone knees or full seats but both pass the squat test fir thickness.

Boots - In winter I wear l Ariat Grasmere's or Shires waterproof shorts boots (their version of Ariat Tellurides) with Just Chsps nfoprene chaps as they can cope with abuse out riding. In the summer I wear Just Chaps mesh half chaps. For yard work in Summer I just wear trainers.

I'm only fussy about socks as I kill them so easily so it's Cool Horse Riding Socks or Woof Wear socks for me.

I have two Equi/Reincoats which are fabulous when very cold or very wet. Otherwise, I wear a Musto sailing coat gifted by the in-laws, Decathalon ski coat or Noble Outfitters coat - I used to love Musto riding coats but wouldn't bother with equestrian Musto anymore as wasn't impressed with the quality of later stuff.

I have Decathslon Kipwarm waterproof jodhpurs for wet, winter days which I really rate butthat's the only time you'll catch me in jodhpurs over riding tights.

But otherwise, you can't really go wrong with food quality outdoor wear IMHO.
 
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ariat baselayers are great get the ones with thumb holes. Also go outdoors do some good fleece baselayers.

Gloves i have ariat.

Flexars for jods had some for years.

I always wear 2 pairs of jods thermal ones underneath.

Footwear for yard work i use walking boots.

I have a reincoat and equidry both do the job.

Rechargeable hand warmers.

Socks i buy thermal ones. Whatever is on offer.

Wooly hat sealskinz waterproof one.

I get cold easily. I have an emergency bag in my car with a coat, spare gloves and socks in. I cannot get cold or I get ill.

Oh and a very good hot drink cup.
 
I mean…if I had the money I would pick Ariat everything every time. So comfy. So nice and well made.

That said, I rode today in £12 sports leggings from Matalan, £10 wellington boots (because my actual riding boots got soaked to death a week ago and are still recovering), a cheap waterproof jacket from the local sports shop, £2 magic gloves and a kids’ Charles Owen hat.
 
elscott said:
Oh another boot option I hadn't heard of and one I will check out as I favour short boots due to my calves. Great shout! Thank you so much.

Really great tips on winter/summer clothing. Kramer is another brand I will check out. I'm so short the Equidry coat will probably drown me! I'll get out there and try some options to see what fits best.

I really appreciate your time with these suggestions.
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Another vote for Bareback Boots - so comfortable and I think they feel really nice (secure) to ride in.

I have an Equidry and I'm smaller than you (5ft)...if you get the right size it's absolutely fine. I do love my Equidry coat, I've really appreciated it with the weather we geet up here in NW Scotland!
 
So I'm taking this literally & presuming I'm buying everything at once --on my own budget!

I'd spend almost the whole lot on hat and boots & then get everything in between from charity shops, hiking shops, farm supplies, for now but with a wish list for up-coming Christmases and birthdays.

Try on some hats with an open mind, you'll soon find out which makes are the right shape for your head, then go for a mips version in that make. (Sorry, I can tell you chapter and verse of my favourites if you like but heads are such different shapes to each other that it wouldn't help you much.) If you're not entering anything that calls for a specific style, I'm told skull caps are safer than peaked hats.

I wear Dublin ankle boots with half chaps in summer & river boots in winter. They last for years and years BUT I don't muck out etc in them, I wear cheap & cheerful wellies from the farm shop for everything else, then change into riding boots for actual riding.

Top of my birthday wish list would be several pairs of riding tights. I'm not a teenager and I have an aversion to being a walking advertising billboard so I avoid Ariat and Le Mieux. The not-height-of-fashion-but-well-thought-of brands are all about the same quality as each other and have much smaller logos. Silicone blobs for grip would be a new thing since you last rode probably. They're a bit marmite so maybe buy one pair with them & see if you like the feel.
I also sometimes wear Marks & Spencer 2 for £12 leggings. They come into holes on the calf seams so fast that I doubt it's actually cheaper but they do as an emergency measure if everything else is wet.

Coats are a big expense and "Equine coats" unnecessarily so for starting out. A good quality Hi Viz hiking or farm coat is just as good as long as you check that the zip is double ended.

Gloves - I do the same as boots, in that I do yard work in builders' merchant gloves & change into riding gloves to ride. The wool ones with pimples for grip are fine & you can have a whole row of them in various stages of drying on the radiator, for the price of one leather pair that take a week to dry.




Edited- I just read this back & it would seem I'm a scruffy miser. Ah well if the cap fits...🤷‍♀️




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Really helpful thread, but there’s a world of difference between recommendations from people who maybe turn up at the yard once a day or even once a week, to those out in all weathers for most of the day.
 
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