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atrinder

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hi H&H forumers, I am embarking on a new adventure from October as am leaving my London advertising job to go off to be a WP for a year to get my Stage IV and IT - v. excited.

A few questions, any help appreciated:

1. I think I need to wear a good SPF foundation as I currently wear Mac with factor 15 but if outdoors, 30 is probably best? Need one that won't sweat off to easily. Have been researching and currently the Estee Lauder compact with SPF 20 is the best I can find, but if anyone can tell me what they use/recommend that would be fab. Obviously I realise I am going to depart from my stiletto wearing, handbag carrying, make-up wearing lifestyle but being in the elements I want to protect my skin but also I need some light coverage plus a good waterproof mascara to ensure I don't scare the clients off...

2. I am thinking for everyday wear, some lightweight pull on navy jods will be best that I can bung in the washing machine, plus some smart long-sleeve shirts, cotton so washable but presentable. Ironing is not my strong point but will try to get some lessons with my mother. Any advice?

3. Other essentials I am thinking, some form of ear muffs/balaclava as I get very cold ears. Am I sounding like a soft Londoner yet?! No seriously, I get cold ears when playing netball so goodness knows how cold my face and ears will get at 7am in February. Footwear, I currently teach in leather Toggi boots and nice leather gaiters but they will get beaten up quickly on the yard, so some form of mucker (but not too casual) or yard boot that isn't too clumpy for riding, but look smart, maybe some cheaper gaiters for everyday use and save my leather ones for best. A good waterproof jacket, a waxed brimmed hat and some waterproof trousers.

Any advice appreciated, things I've not thought of etc,

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Wow Brave move & wish you the best of luck!

Firstly, this is England - Wouldnt worry too much about the sun cream, personally not worn sun cream in 5 years & not been burnt in my life. Whilst this may mean I end up looking like a fig - Im 18 I can worry about that later! Basically dont worry about it, Im sure whatever you get will be fine and wont matter too much!

2 Again people wont care, TBH I get all my yard wear from oxfam (sad isnt it!) Again we are going into winter so make sure you buy something warm, a pair of long chaps will probably serve you well.... Joules & Toggi clothing are good staples for the top half.

3) Buy a good hat, you'll be fine! And best muckers are mountain horse.....

Apologies for typos but conscious that forum will crash in 10 mins!
 
A basic face moisturiser with added SPF will be more than adequate for most days.

As for clothing - as long as you look reasonable, you really won't need to worry about being in a shirt etc. unless you're taking exams. Comfort is far more important.

What's ironing?
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As for the rest of it - what yard are you going to? You sound as though you'd be positively overdressed for many that I know! Take your cues from the others working on the yard, and if in doubt - ask beforehand.
 
1) No.7 tinted moisturiser, i have always had problems with conbination skin (greasy t-zones but get dry patches) but have had different skin since i started using that! It's factor 15 so good sun protection and keeps skin moistrised on cold winter days, but doesn't make you too greasy when it's boiling hot either and gives a nice natural even skin tone!
2) jodhpurs are deff a personal preference but would say go for cotton, warm in winter cool in summer, with a bit of lycra for comfort, and you can always get under or over trouser/chaps for winter.
3) Another personal pref, those fleece ear warmers that go around your head are gud though, you might find you'll get too hot in a hat, i usually do and if we have a winter like last year it hardly went below 5 deg even at night!!!!

good luck and have fun!
 
why is it that people think you don't need sun cream in England? even if you don't get burnt you can still be damaging your skin, unfortunately my friend discovered this to her cost when she found she had skin cancer (thankfully she is on the mend. Please Jemayni don't let that be you.

Climbs off soapbox.
 
Im doing the opposite to you, going from playing with ponies all day to having a 'proper' job. You will have loads of fun.

Whats make up?
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You will probably find that you start to roll out of bed and chuck on the nearest thing, scrape your hair back and run out of the door.

Find some comfy jods that you can move in. You will be doing a lot of bending down and moving around so they must be stretchy. For winter I would get some Rambo chaps. They are waterproof and fleece lined and so warm for winter. Also buy a really warm coat, I like blouson style coats as they are warm but not bulky. Again you want to be able to move. A warm hat is a must, especially on cold mornings. As someone else said Toggi and Joules are smart for wearing on your top half. They last ages too.
 
First off, good on you. I know a bit about MAJOR life changes right now (although I've gone somewhat the other way) and glad to hear someone else is taking the plunge.

I also suggest some sort of skin protection, but then I'm a redhead.
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You will find the outdoor life drying as well as potentially burning so get something with a moisturising component - I used a Neutrogena product, sometimes an Oil of Olay (yes, tacky, but cheap and makes my skin feel cool) and when it's hot a "sport" sunscreen. Make sure's whatever you use is 'sweatproof". If you're really working (unless you're so careful I don't even want to know you) makeup is going to be a bit of a trick. You're just going to get dirty, it can't be helped. And there won't always be time and opportunity to reapply. I'm sure it can be done but I've seen lots of people look scarier for having makeup on at the end of the day!

Clothes . . . yeah, I'm a big fan of the charity shops. It's a little different where I come from because we have a couple of huge ones and not all these little ones scattered about but the principle's the same. What I did was find one in an "upwardly mobile" area which allowed me to pick up good quality clothing that is smart enough to see clients in but inexpensive enough to wear to the barn. When I was younger I just wore whatever but I actually do think it matters how you look if you're going to be teaching/working with clients.

A good, light, breathable waterproof jacket is a must. The trick is to get one short and tailored enough to ride in - not actually that easy. I'd advise either getting a VERY good one that lasts and washes up or a cheap one on sale (the little collection of outdoor stores near Covent Garden are all having sales right now - a great place to stock up!)

I live in fleece - good quality ones wash up well and keep looking nice. If you wash them in a waterproofer they also give some weather protection. I rarely ride in anything else. The wicking t-shirts are fantastic, too. As are the zip up riding cut vests and tops. I actually ride in jeans because I hate working in jodhs but I think that's less common here. A good pair of chaps is essential.

I love the Mountain Horse range of boots but then they fit me. Friends with narrower feet like Ariat. Invest in good boots, preferably ones you can ride in, because you will be on your feet A LOT. In the worst of the winter get heavier non-riding boots for yard work and save your good ones for riding.

Get gloves. I like cotton ones but I got some waterproof fabric ones for winter I LOVE last year from a hunting store. They cost a bit but they're fabulous. I always work and ride in gloves - I prefer it but the fact that many of my older horsemen friends have VERY scary hands is extra incentive!

I hate ear muffs, hats etc. but seeing as I'm from Canada I couldn't really keep that up in my home and native land. I always found a good quality Thinsulate lined hat meant I could wear fewer heavy layers so it was worth it. Ear muffs always made my ears hurt but I love the band-type neckwarmers you can pull up over your ears.

I'm obviously a big fan of the modern fabrics. Anything light, wicking/breathing, and easily washed is a boon in the barn.

Good luck and have fun.
 
I second Mountain Horse as a yard boot but get a pair of hunters as well and FORCE yourself to change into them if you're going in the mud. I've wrecked a couple of pairs of nice mountain horse boots by catching in while wearing them.

Jodhpurs with zip pockets are great cos you can put your phone/vaseline/bits and bobs in them rather than running back to the tack room all the time. Get them nice and big round the waist cos the latest style seems to be to fold the top bit over to create a 'hipster' effect. (ooo, get me
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) I like polo necks and rugby shirts for the yard - they're smart, comfy and practical. On top, any old jumper/fleece is fine as long as it is comfy. Once again, anything with pockets is really useful. Some yards have branded stuff which is nice if you feel proud of where you work. Me and my mate used to raid the lost property box for most of our yard kit LOL

In terms of make up, I try to wear sun screen but I also always always wear a hat - baseball in summer, wax in winter to protect my hair and also keep the sun off my face. I have a really cute pink one from Musto which I love. I'm a bit of a 'girly girl' and I do wear a bit of make up to the yard but TBH any more than a bit of mascara and some lip gloss and you'll look silly - you have to be practical.

those head band things are great and you can get them with elastic over the top to fit under a riding hat. I have a blaclalvar thing as well but again, unless it is freezing, once you have mucked out 8 stables, swept the yard and run round the school for an hour you will be boiling.
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Waterproof trousers and about a million pairs of gloves are a definite investment. I am always loosing gloves at the yard so keep loads up there in a bag cos I get really really cold hands. Spair socks are good too for when your feet get wet.

Depends on the place as well though. In this job we work in shorts and strappy tops when it is hot. As long as we are 'decent' our boss is pretty chilled. At my old place they had a much stricter dress code - jodhs, and T-shirts with either sleaves or a collar, preferably in navy, cream or burgandy.
 
wowee, just logged in to see if anyone had managed to help me with my silly questions and staggered at all the resourceful answers and help!

thank you all so much, and yes, I concur that the lovely 18 year old Jemayni needs to reconsider the view of no suncream in England...awareness of the danger needs to get onto the national curriculum, maybe they should put pictures of scary skin complaints on bottles of tanning oil a la the new smoking pictures as a preventative measure?!

But THANK YOU all for your help so far!

Mister33
 
I use the number 7 moisturiser which is SPF 15 I think and its really good, I've well and truly had sun protection drummed into me as my mum had skin cancer. For summer months you can get sun creams that last all day which might be good, can't remember the name of it tho
 
I would recommend buying good pair of full chaps - then you can get away will very cheap joddies-as with full chaps your wind/waterproofed
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Buy good pair of wellies (i love le chemeau, as have go solid sole)-and kept nice boots for riding and buy boot with zips!!!!!!!!!! and as cleaning tack, remember you own boot
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clean wellies everyday-they will last longer
Buy silly hats and neck tube and lot of woolie glove thoses pimple one ace very cheap
Defo have more that one waterproof jacket so you can change them and always have complete spare set of clothes in boot of car, cos it rains alot in winter
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Don't be proud-charity shop shops are ace for mucking out clothes, so kept you nice stuff for either riding or seening clients
As for skin care just ask everyone to buy you smellies for birthday and xmas cos you need them all the time
 
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