What comprises a complete horse riding apparel? Well, it includes a shirt, a waist coat, breeches or jodhpurs, tall or short riding boots, riding gloves and a riding jacket. The shirt can be cotton and is usually white. The breeches or jodhpurs for the lower body should fit the legs well and protect you from rain and wind. Jodhpurs are close fitting on top and towards the lower parts of the leg so making them more suitable and convenient for riding.  Choose a luxurious jacket that is long lasting and stylish.

In the case of riding boots, the tall ones are perfect to wear for competitions and shows, while short ones are comfortable and hard wearing for casual riding or training and are usually worn with half chaps or gaiters. And when it comes to head gear, pick one that fits your head perfectly. This is a very important aspect of  horse riding apparel since your head gear protects you from serious injuries to your head. Head gear includes helmets as well as velvet hats, usually depending on the type of event as well as the rider’s preference. It must be pointed out that top hats and beaglers do not offer any safety standard protection as they are manufactured with the minimum materials and no safety harness.  Also, do remember to wear gloves of good quality and durability.

When it comes to following the trends, horse riding apparel provides the most scope and opportunity. Any new apparel worn by riders for shows and competitions quickly becomes available for others to purchase. Recently there has been a movement towards the softer shades of blue, green and purple which have become very popular. Breeches in white or other light colours are chosen by the majority of riders. In the case of show coats, the tendency is to go for darker shades like navy or black, although there are riders who prefer brown or khaki. Riders sometimes choose coats with stripes or patterns instead of plain ones.

As for accessories, when it comes to shows and competitions, you can use glittery items like stock pins and jewelry. Belts and helmets with crystals attached are also becoming a popular element of  horse riding apparel. However, for casual riding and training, these accessories are not seen. They should be reserved for those extra special occasions.

Lazy Jacks provide equine enthusiasts with fantastic sweatshirts, polo shirts, rugby shirts and hoodies with the ultimate in comfort, fit and quality. www.anythingequine.co.uk

Four Star Gear cross country colours are made to order specializing in one-off designs and colour combinations. The shirts and matching helmet covers are manufactured from breathable polyester (rugby style shirt) or nylon lycra (round neck style), with a large range of colours available. Garments are usually styled with two colours and a plain back, but more can be incorporated — designs are limited only by the imagination! Embroidery or appliqué (stars etc.) can be included at extra cost, as can screenprinting for team uniforms. Colours other than those shown may also be available, please feel free to contact us to discuss your own particular design and colour requirements, or to enquire about discounts for team uniforms. Four Star Gear was created in 1998 to produce cross country colours for local Auckland pony club children. This has since become nationwide and now supplies pony club, school, and other teams, along with individuals, with equestrian clothing which is made to order to specific design and colour requirements, including screenprinting and embroidery. AVAILABLE ITEMS » Cross Country Shirt – Rugby Style » Cross Country Shirt – Round Neck Style » Helmet Covers » Helmet Rain Cover » Riding Vest » Reversible High Visibility Vest www.captainclothing.co.nz

Hats are normally made of hard shells, which contain both light and strong materials like fibreglass, carbon fibre, etc. This depends on the brand you buy. The size of the hat is normally given on the inside. There are a wide range of sizes available from child to adult, and they will be measured in both centimetres and inches. Normal sizes range from 49 to 65 cm or from 6 to 8 inches.

When you buy a horse riding hat:

1.  Make sure that the hat fits your head properly. It should provide good ventilation too. It shouldn’t be too loose or too tight. When you wear it, the hat should come down to your eyebrows, covering your whole forehead. At the same time, it should not expose the back portion of your head. When you tilt or move your head, it should not shake forwards to backwards or from side to side.

2. If you have long hair, get a horse riding hat that has a ponytail port. This will help you to avoid stuffing all your hair inside the hat and making it too tight.

3. Look for any kind of seal of approval on the hat. Get a hat that guarantees safety. Trying to save money by getting a cheap hat can cost your life. Similarly, do not go for used hats. It might have met with a severe blow earlier and not be as safe as it looks. Moreover, even if the horse riding hat has not had any accidents, the average lifespan of a hat is four years, after which it needs to be replaced anyway. So go for a new one from the start.

4. Do not opt for a hat that is meant for another sport. Each sport has its own safety codes and the equipment is designed accordingly. Hence it is always better to get a horse riding hat for horse riding.

5. There are hats meant for basic schooling in horse riding to the advanced derby and cowboy style hats. Go for the one which suits your skills and experience. Also, for each riding discipline, there are specific horse riding hats designed. So when you buy your hat, get the one that suits the riding discipline that you intend to focus on.  

6. Make sure that the manufacturers have a replacement policy for their hats, so that you can replace your horse riding hat once it is damaged, dropped or been subject to a severe blow.

Types of hats:

There are various kinds of hats now available.

1. Jumping hats, which have ventilation in the shell and a secure harness

2. Dressage hats, which have a lower peak towards the rim. This is used for dressage and showing.

3. Cross-country hats, which come with ventilation slots and without a peak. This hat gives more head protection.

4. Top hats, which have no chin strap and are worn in dressage competitions and eventing.

5. Skull caps, which have no peak but do have a chin strap. This is often used for racing and pleasure riding.

6. Polo hats, which have a fixed peak, detachable face shield and air holes in the shell.

Storing a horse riding hat:

1. Avoid dropping or kicking it. Hats should be taken proper care of.

2. If it’s summer, don’t store it in a hot trunk. Overheating of the hat can affect your head when you wear it later.

www.horseridingvideos.org gives you tips on learning to ride horses

www.equinesuperstore.co.uk – Advice on choosing the right bit for your horse from the team at Equine Superstore. Equine Superstore is a great new online store for all of your equestrian supplies. We stock a huge range of equestrian equipment for horse and rider, including equestrian clothing from Toggi, Mountain Horse, Dublin, Musto and many more equestrian clothing brands. We have an extensive collection of horse rugs, saddles, tack and other quality equestrian supplies at low prices. And remember to check our special offers section to find our latest great deals on equestrian equipment.

Some people like to collect horse blankets and use them as decoration around their home.  The western décor is a popular one, especially in some areas of California, Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, Wyoming, and Colorado.  Although not limited to these areas, the horse blanket has reached high levels of popularity.

If you have ever been to a rodeo, you are sure to have seen a horse blanket.  It’s all part of the western charm of the rodeo.  Maybe you aren’t a rodeo fan, but just love horses.  You may be a horse racing fan, own a farm, or just have a horse for a pet.  You don’t have to own a horse to own a horse blanket.

Horse blankets are often sold in tourist attractions across the United States.  Along the route from Texas to California, you can find horse blankets in the tourist stores along the interstate.  Almost any farm clothing store will carry horse blankets to sell.  Some hardware stores stock a few.  There are those made in Mexico, for sale to the tourists who want to take home a warm or decorative memento of their travels.  You can find them at stores or flea markets held on Indian reservations.  You may be lucky enough to pick some up at garage sales.

Some like to scatter them around their home for use as throws to keep them warm as they watch television or a movie in their living room or den.  They can be quite attractive tossed over the couch or favorite recliner.  You can even use them as curtains or throw one on your bed to complete your room!  Do you have an unsightly mess you wish to cover?  Put that horse blanket to use!  Give an old one to the kids to play with, for use with their outdoor picnics to spread on the ground for a nap, or to arrange their toys for a pretend farm scene.

A horse blanket can be carried in the car to use on long trips.  It can cover your stained seats, your valuables bought along the way as you make trips to shop or visit the tourist attractions, or to keep you warm if your heater is on the blink!
Horse blankets are made of sturdy, durable materials and are long-lasting.  There are blankets made of softer materials that just have a horse’s picture on it and not for actual use on a horse.  It would probably be a stretch to even call it a horse blanket.

Training a horse is very exciting and challenging at the same time. When you care for a horse or are enthused about it, the best part is always riding. Riding is practically the finale in horse training. After teaching the horse to walk, paw, bow and lunge, it’s time to make him mobile and ride with him. However in some cases, horses are just really used for travelling, so riding may also come first. How to train a horse to ride will just take 3 basic steps: go, steer and stop. First you get on the horse and make sure he is used to the weight and wearing a bridle and a saddle with stirrups. Climb up the horse always from the left side, and use a stepping stool if you’re too short for it so as not to put so much weight on the horse. To go, squeeze the horses body with you legs a bit or pat him with the lead rope or a small whip. To steer, pull the rope on the side from which direction you wish to go to, and just pull the rope back if you want to stop.

Now you must train the horse to ride in different ways: to walk, to trot and to canter. For the horse to walk, the cue ‘go’ is somehow enough. Trotting is the way a horse moves usually when attached to the carriage, that’s like jogging for humans. How to train a horse to ride or trot will only take asking the horse to speed up a bit. Just slam the handler’s rope a bit or whipping the horse’s hip. To teach him how to canter (running for horses) do the same procedure but with more force. Cue words like ‘Hiyahh!’ will help. Just remember the rope that you hold on to while riding is your steering wheel and accelerator. If you learn to control the horse with it then there won’t be a problem. Learning how to train the horse to ride will be fun and easy for you.

There are several farm houses that offer fun filled vacations along with horse riding tours and you do not need necessarily to be an expert in horse riding to avail this wonderful experience. Although there will be professionals to guide you along, still you would have to follow certain regulations while on a horseback adventure.

You must wear a helmet which is for your own safety.
The pants you wear should be long in length and comfortable in fittings. Wearing a short pant is not ideal while horse riding.
Remember to wear long sleeved shirts.
In order to have the right grip, wear powerful shoes preferably cowboy boots and avoid wearing anything fancy like sandals and open footwear.

The important things to remember during a horse riding vacation

It is best to book holidays through a well known equestrian holiday tour operator who guarantees you a free flowing vacation that has already been tested and cleared by professionals. The holiday operator provides financial assistance to their customers by paying compensation against any kind of service they fail to render.
Properly check the stable and the appointed experts who would train you on horse riding. It can be quite dangerous to be accompanied by someone who is unaware of his duties and is not properly qualified to be trusted. It can add a bad flavor to your horse riding vacation.
Always remember to fix a limit to your vacation and opt for a package that suits your standard of living. It is very essential to stick to something that you can afford to bear otherwise things could end up in an uncomfortable manner, putting you in an awkward position.
Before confirming your equestrian holiday, you must consider which time of the year it would be best to visit. Although there is no particular season to visit, but it would be better and pleasant if you go in the spring. The summers are expected to be hot and sweaty that might not please everyone but springs are comparative cooler and comfortable for a horse back ride and will cost you almost the same price.
Before you set out for your horse riding vacation, remember to pack all the necessary clothing and accessories. If you keep it for the last moment, you will definitely forget something or the other. Few essential accessories includes the hat, the gloves, sun glasses, shoes with heel and light colored comfortable fit shirts and trousers.
It is very important that you insure your holiday from an appropriate insurance company, which covers all the possible risks and grounds that may arise in such a vacation. So in case any such mishap occurs where you are confronted with a huge medical bill, you can easily meet that with the support of your insurance coverage. Otherwise bearing such a big amount could ruin your savings as well as your vacation.
You must be in a good physical shape and condition to take the utmost pleasures of a horse riding vacation. In other cases, things can get really discouraging and exhausting giving you a bad taste to the whole experience.
In case, you are not alone and traveling with a group or family, make sure to choose the appropriate holiday package that suits everyone, so that no one feels let out.
When you are outside on any trip or vacation, you should be aware of the possible consequences that may befall you or members in your group. The safety of this equestrian holiday varies from operator to operator and is offered such that the customers can enjoy the vacation to the fullest.
Even after engaging yourself into activities like horse riding and training, you will get ample of time where you can just relax by the pool side, enjoying the food followed by a short nap. This leisure amusement is necessary after a toiling session of riding.

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