Can I go horse riding...

[Croczzzzzzzz]

In these?

It's just a holiday activity with the kids, so probably no longer that an hour, but will they let me ride in these? I know tight would be better, but literally my only pair of tight "trousers" are a pair of running leggings which come just over my knee (so probably too short?). These are cropped too but come down to my lower calf.
I have straight leg joggers but they'll be hot and take up a lot of space in the suitcase!

(pic of cropped jersey culottes under review)

Most reputable centres wouldn’t nor would they let you in capri length leggings. You could get a pair of thicker leggings off vinted for a few quid

Thanks. Unfortunately Vinted is not an option as I'm flying at 7am tomorrow 😂

Will try the supermarket

What are you going to wear on your feet?

Most supermarkets will have full length leggings for a few quid.

Does your travel insurance cover horse riding? They often don't, unless you have extra cover.

Trainers?

Will trainers be allowed? You usually need something with a bit of a heel, so your foot won't slide right through the stirrups. It's why high heels were originally invented, though obviously riding boots these days do not have that big a heel.

The danger with those is serious chafing from the inner seam.

Riding in trainers is more your issue than the trousers tbh. Can you pack some wellies?

Good point, thanks. I checked and it looks like we are covered for the cost of treatment if we have an accident, but they won't pay out benefits for permanent injury or death....

There's no way wellies will fit! If they insist on heels I think we'll have to skip it

If they let you ride in those it isn't somewhere you want to ride.

They might provide boots, especially if it’s set up for total beginners as a holiday activity and not a proper riding stables. Call them to ask?? But as for trousers supermarket long leggings are what you need.

You need long leggings as the stirrup leathers will bruise your legs otherwise. And a pair of boots with a slight heel. Riding in trainers is very dangerous, if you fall, your foot could go through the stirrup and you could be dragged and trampled. Most places will not allow it.

Absolutely not. The stirrups will chafe your legs horribly and you'll have no grip on the saddle.

Wherever you're going on holiday, there will be shops – find yourself (and the kids) something appropriate once you arrive.

Unless you're an experienced enough rider to trot (which it doesn't sound like you are), you're not going to be doing anything where your foot is likely to slip through the stirrup, so I wouldn't worry too much about a heeled boot.

You're far more likely to just lose the stirrup entirely and spend half the ride trying to get your toe back in.

I used to work at a riding stables in Greece and people almost always showed up in trainers; it just meant we knew they hadn't ridden before, and we did the whole hack at a walk, and had someone leading anyone who seemed particularly wobbly.

Horses can still spook at a walk. My worst fall was when standing still. Loud noise right behind, he jumped out of his skin, spun and took off. He was a 20 year old schoolmaster. Shit happens.

Thank you that is helpful!

Of course they can – all kinds of things happen on horseback, and in general I completely agree a heeled boot is what you want. I'm certainly not jamming about in my Veja's when I ride 😄It's a question of likelihood, and prioritisation given the OP's context.

I wear a body protector to ride in some places after being thrown onto some pretty inconvenient objects – I wouldn't recommend that for a beginner taking a 45-minute walking hack on holiday.

I’ve ridden in Crete and Zante in trainers and cycle shorts. They just say no crocs/flipflops usually.

I found a pair of thin, full length straight leg joggers... If I bring a pair of hiking socks and tuck the bottoms of the trousers into the socks would that be ok?

I'd rather not buy a pair of leggings I'll likely only wear once, even if they are cheap.

I rode in shorts on holiday once (experienced rider) with trainers
The trainers were ok but my calves were ripped to shreds on the stirrup leather and my inner thighs were majorly chaffed as well
You really do need something tight fitting and preferably full length

I dare say your only light weight option is going to be leggings. I detest them per se but for a horse riding activity I would relent.

They'll be fine. It's the trainers that are the bigger issue. Do you have a pair of ankle boots or anything?

Yes fine

Yes fine!