My DD want's to start horse riding - HELP!

[LoonyLyndsay]

Hi all,

My DD want's to start horse riding! She's just gone off to Uni and has fallen in with a 'horsey' crowd.

I was on the phone with her last night and she said that she's going to start taking riding lessons in the new year, I'd like to help but I can't afford a horse!

So I thought I'd help by trying to get her a few bits for Xmas to help her start out.

What would she need and what and where can I get it all from?

Thanks,

LL

-Note-
I accidentally started this thread in Sport & Exercise as I hadn't seen this part of the forum before, a nice user pointed me in this direction :)

How about paying for some lessons for her for Christmas? She might find she doesn't like it in reality and it would be a shame to buy expensive kit if she doesn't stick with it. A riding school will lend hats and boot. If you want to get her some kit though the priorities are:
Riding hat (about £45 - £50) You'd have to take her to the shop though as they have to be fitted
Jodphur boots and half chaps (don't get long boots for a beginner) (again about £40 - £50 for basic ones)
Jodphurs (anything from £20 upwards)
Riding gloves (£2 for 'magic' gloves £20 for nice leather ones, a few options in between)
Layers on top are the best thing as you get surprisingly warm

You could try Robinsons or Derby House (online) for everything except a hat, otherwise there are likely to be tack shops somewhere near you (we horsey peope get everywhere) Try yellow pages or google.

Are you going to give it a try as well?

Derby house have got some good offers on at the moment - nice jod boots for £35 and free delivery, so worth a look

Would definitely agree with getting her some lessons before investing in all the gear. She will be able to borrow a hat from a riding school if she goes for lessons.

I get all my stuff from Equestian Clearance online- they have some fantastic bargains. As said above, you will need to go to a tack shop to get things like hats/body protectors as they need to be fitted.

Hope she enjoys it, it is very addictive!

Hi everyone,

Thanks for the info. she's had a few 'taster' sessions already and has borrowed hats etc from the riding school, she enjoyed herself immensely and wants to continue :)

As you said PerditaMcLeod it's addictive!

I've done a search on Google for Equestrian Clearance and I've come across this site: Dogwood London

It all looks cheap enough, It's not massively far from us so I might see if they are open and nab my daughter to get a hat fitted out for her.

There are so many brands to choose from, are they all basically the same or are there particular brands to go for?

Thanks again,

LL

i started riding about 2 months ago, and DD started about a month ago.

i went to a local equestrian store and got kitted out - my boots were £20, half chaps £32, jods £20 and hat was fitted for me while there and was about £50.

ive not kitted DD out yet as i need to be sure she is going to stick with it before i go shelling out - she is 15.

Ive also asked for some books for xmas as i would like my own horse eventually.

i love it and DD seems to really enjoy it too - just another lesson or so and i will go and buy her the kit she needs!

I buy most of my stuff online from here...

www.equestrianclearance.com/

Personally, I don't have any great loyalty to any brand, I just tend to buy what the have on offer. The only thing I won't penny pinch on is safety equipment.

Just bought some fabulous riding wellies that are warm and keep the mud and water out for £28 :-)

Vicar, I recently signed up for a horse share- I ride up to three times a week and get much more of the 'horse ownership' experience. Good way to find out how ready you are to take the plunge!

I use equestrian clearance too, if you have got a local tack shop though that's a great place to start. Re hats, yes there are safety standards. I think they HAVE to be en1384/bsen1384 for you to wear one at a riding school. The next level is PAS 015 which I believe you need if sj or Xc competing? Could be wrong though!

I wouldn't worry about buying a horse yet, it might just be a uni phase? Maybe you could have a lesson with her too over Xmas?!

Oh, I wasn't serious about buying a horse :D

I could never afford the upkeep!

Thanks for the info on the safety standards.
I keep coming across Charles Owen, they seem to be pretty good hats.

Charles Owen are very good

Tescos do riding kit as well ....

GD has someTesco Value jods that she wears for shows as they are such a good fit, and my best jods are from Tesco

Those Dogwood people are high end and expensive. I agree that Equestrian Clearance, Hope Valley Saddlery, Derby House are the way to go. Ebay can also be ideal for horsey stuff - we buy most of our gear online but definitely start with a tack shop for hat (Charles Owen are great) and jodphur boots.

Also think about a back protector - a definite if wanting to jump.

If she decides to specialise in any specific disiplines then come back to us because that is a mine-field for the uninitiated!

my hat is a Charles Owen one - my head is too round for a traditional riding hat so a skull cap was the best fit for me. my hat was about £47 i think. Its best to go and get a hat properly fitted to ensure its going to do its job properly.

Thanks for all of the advice and warnings everyone!

I've done some Googling again and I might be wrong but does a Skull Cap not have a Brim? I've also been looking into KEP, are they like Charles Owen?

Thanks for the heads up Butkin, I've been looking at their hats page www.dogwoodlondon.co.uk/shop/equestrian-clothing/riding-hats/riding-hats-all - It doesn't seem too expensive, especially around their clearance section (If DD has the right size head I can buy one on the cheap).

Unfortunately I can't find any other retailers near me besides Dogwood London, I know it's best to get the hat fitted instead of just blindly ordering off the net so I think I'll still have to take DD over there if DH will drive us :3

Hi again :)

Just so that I can brush up on my lingo, I keep seeing the phrase 'Saddlery' pop up, do they only do Saddles, is it different to a 'Tack Shop'?

Skull caps don't have a brim and you buy a cap cover (either silky or velvet) to cover them in your daughter's choice of colour/s. They are used for general hacking, schooling and jumping. They are your starting point and much less than 100 quid.

You can buy ones with a peak but they are more expensive and for the committed/competitors.

A saddlery usually implies a tack shop that also sells leatherware ie saddles and bridles. They will also serve a good selection of "tack" and clothing and will usually be bigger than a "tack" shop.

Are you in Central London? If not then there should be plenty of saddlers/tack shops to visit. Give us a clue to your location...

Oh right, Skull Cap it is then if it's for just generally riding.

Thank you for explaining the difference between a Tack Shop and Saddlery, No I'm not in Central London, I'm up in Newbury.

Make sure the helmet is the most recent safety standard (the safest you can buy) I think this is PAS 015 / 2011 but check with your shop.
Also I would recommend a body protector.

It all costs money but you can't put a price on safety.

OK so Thresher's Barn in Thatcham seems to do hat/body protector fitting and presumably are quite close. They are open 7 days a week.

Alternatively Centell Saddlery in Tilehurst, Newbury have a good website so you can compare prices on line. They seem to stock all the good brands. They are also open 7 days a week and have late night shopping as well.

Thanks for the info Butkin, I've got more choice now :)

DD and I are going to try to visit a few places over the weekend!

EXCITED!