For a first horse riding lesson, the basic equipment includes an approved helmet, riding boots, chaps, paddock boots and a pair of gloves. Learn about protecting the body in horse riding with help from a horse riding teacher in this free video on horse riding equipment.
This is Maggie Connolly with Hawthorne Stables and I'm going to go over just a few pieces of equipment that you'll need if you're going to consider taking riding lessons. First let's start off with an approved helmet. You can get one at any tack shop and now they are regulated and they are approved so you want to make sure that it does have this strap underneath to keep on and always assure that it is a perfect and snug fit. Your tack shop representative will help you pick the proper helmet for you but that is major important. The next component that any rider is going to want is what we call a riding boot. These, for example are a paddock boot and you can ride with these in accordance with a pair of chaps which I will go over the two types of chaps that there are but you can see there are many different types of paddock boots. This is a standard paddock boot with the zipper up the front with a heel you can pick up at any tack shop or there is many different varieties whatever your tastes like. As you can see there are many different styles of paddock boots, it's a short boot and we ride with those in accordance with a chap, either a full chap or a half chap to help protect your leg. I recommend that a rider that's first beginning that maybe go to what we call a full chap because it's going to cover your entire leg from the top down and until your leg gets really secure and gets stronger and may give you that little added security in the saddle. What goes mostly with your paddock boot is what we call a half chap. So it just fits over the boot, as you can see it has the boot strap there, it goes over the boot and just slides up the side of your leg. This helps protect your shin and also keeps your pant leg or your riding pant leg from bunching up and getting between the stirrup leather and your leg and causing a rub or a blister or anything of that sort. You can find riding pants at any tack shop. There are all varieties, any pair or style that you feel or you like is entirely up to you. I ride in riding pants or in a jean with a half chap in the boot either is sufficient when riding in a lesson. You may also want to pick up a pair of gloves. There are many varieties and types. This just happens to be a type that I particularly like and care for but as I said there are many different types and many different colors to choose from but anything that can help you grip the reins especially as your hands and your fingers are developing will be helpful. These are just the basic components in order to get you started or what you should use when taking your first lesson. This is Maggie Connolly with Hawthorne Stables and these are just the basic components for taking a riding lesson.
