Riding clothes suggestions for a hijab wearing woman?

[Cherryblossomss]

The hijab is the least relevant aspect to be honest, I just plonk the hat on top. But I’m not keen on the tight riding bottoms! I’m a beginner and only starting to think about my riding outfit. So far I’ve been wearing loose, thin joggers, which seem fine I think? But maybe they’re ok for now but will get uncomfortable if (hopefully when) I get more serious, do a bit of cantering etc.

Similarly, on top, I prefer loose clothing which is bum covering. I feel like I have a bit more flex when it comes to my top half whereas the riding world seems pretty set on breeches/jodhpurs (which isn’t happening unless I go down the old school flappy jodhpur route which would be entertaining for the yard I’m sure). Any ideas?? Can I just stick with my joggers? Would half chaps be a good idea?

Thanks!

This might be totally insensitive and I'm really sorry if it is but it is a genuine question. Is it because there are potentially men there? Would it bother you as much if it were just women, or would that not make a difference?
It's just that when you're learning you really don't want anything that's going to make it more difficult or get in the way/spook the horse. I'd go for long boots, jods and a jacket if that makes you feel comfortable enough. I hope you continue to love horse riding. Such a lovely hobby to have!

I agree for winter, there are lots of options for long riding coats with splits which could be worn over whichever trousers you feel comfortable in.

Honestly I think as a beginner you will find you are fine in joggers as long as you find them comfortable. A lot of people don't invest in proper johds at the beginning!

www.eqco.co.uk/products/riding-skirt has a choice of linings and weights and isn't horrendously priced? Might be an option?

Look up the Thi dri riding apron. Designed to keep you dry in the rain but possibly suitable for your needs too.

If revealing any shape to my body were a problem due to religious/cultural mores; I might be worried about there being males present, stable hands? Other riders? Owners? Anyone, really.

I think that if this possibility is real, to you, you might need to rethink horse riding.

Would you be comfortable in jeans?

If you are wearing short boots and just starting out, pop some knee high socks over the top of your trousers. It helps to stop the leathers from pinching.

A riding skirt would give you more coverage but once the weather gets a bit warmer, you'll be pretty hot.

Unfortunately a lot of riding wear is form fitting, but if you look at western outfits, they are a lot baggier.

Full chaps may be an options as they won't show your body shape so much.

You may find it easier to wear a long top/dress to add coverage.

Enjoy your lessons, horses are very addictive!

Freelance riding instructor here. First of all welcome to the wonderful world of horses!

I'm presuming since you mention you are complete beginner, you ride at a riding school on their horses, so below advice is completely based on that assumption :)

Before buying riding skirts / long coats, it is worth speaking to your riding school to see what their policy is about clothing, just to make sure what you are planning is allowed... Also what works now might be redundant when it's 20+ degrees outside (over trousers, full chaps & such)

Loose & long clothing in general, unless specifically designed for riding, might be uncomfortable when you start moving to faster paces. Long coats & tops have tendency of getting stuck in saddle & hindering riders ability to rise to the trot for example. They'll also hide your body from the instructor, which means it will be more difficult for them to advice on correct riding form & help you to progress (I've used baggy jumper many a times when feeling slightly tired, and not wanting to be told of about sloughing )

Riding skirt - tinyurl.com/dxehzkji

Top - Baggy is not quite as bad if the back part of the jumper / jacket is flat, and does not cover riders hips / bottom too much (or is taken in on the waste and then flares out). So for example this would be ok tinyurl.com/4h4ty4du Also gillets are your friends here.

Half chaps - Yes for these, not just to cover your legs, but to give nice lower leg stability! They do need to be correctly fitted though, not overly loose.

Breeches - Little Bit Racey (ignore the name, it refers to racing, not style!) breeches are jockey style but designed for ladies hips. Loose at hips, tapered at the bottom. Go a size up for extra looseness. I dont race, but love these. (pcracewear.ie/collections/paul-carberry-a-little-bit-racey-collection)

Hijab - You probably know this already, but Adidas does sports hijabs, which might be more comfortable under hat when you start moving to faster work. Also bear in mind that hat still needs to be correctly fitted with hijab, and not just whacked on top of it loosely. If not properly fitted it'll do more damage than good should you fall off and hit your head.

Enjoy your new hobby, and hope you'll find the riding outfit which works perfectly for you!

The problem is form fitting clothes help your instructor and correct your positioning .

My instructor needs to see my spine , hips pelvis etc

I wore thick leggings when I rode many years ago with DHs loose, baggy T-shirts! Don't over think it.

@Miljea

If revealing any shape to my body were a problem due to religious/cultural mores; I might be worried about there being males present, stable hands? Other riders? Owners? Anyone, really.

I think that if this possibility is real, to you, you might need to rethink horse riding.

That's a really mean message. Stop trying to put her off.

Personally my favourite riding gear atm is actually saggy tricky bottoms and a pair of long boots. It’s not attractive, but I’m comfy. Being comfy is the most important thing. If how you look is part of what makes you comfy, well, it matters. I’ve got friends who wear riding skirts for comfort, style and warmth, and this oneseems to be popular. Ignore people who say a flappy skirt will make a horse spook of get tangled in branches. 1. My only rules on clothing are safe footwear and no hoods ;don’t want a hood catching on a branch!) 2. Horses get used to weird stuff happening on their backs! Flappy clothing is the least of their worries. My horses will carry me in an ankle length waterproof coat with saddlebags bouncing in front and behind the saddle, past flapping silage pits and all manner of stuff. Unless you are riding very spooky horses (and even they can be trained) you’ll be ok in a skirt. Just start out in a walk and keep it quiet while you make sure they are ok with it.

Thanks @NeverWrong, so many helpful tips! Yes I’m at a riding school and I’ll definitely talk to them about clothing long-term once they reopen. The top you posted looks good. Something like that with my joggers (actually tracksuit bottoms is probably a more accurate description) and some half chaps would work quite well during the warmer months. The riding breeches also look good!

@Gooseygoosey12345 yes hijab is generally worn in front of men outside of the family. But it doesn’t stop me doing things, I just need to be a bit more creative at times!

Thanks for all the responses, I’m overwhelmed by how kind and helpful you all are!

No problem at all, glad to still be able to help newbie riders while lessons are on hold!

If your RS is any good, no-one will judge you on what you are wearing style wise. I've given lessons to numerous women wearing hijabs, and all I care about is that their clothing is safe, allows them to sit in the saddle to the best of their ability, and if they want to improve, for me to see their posture so I can correct it.

Loose joggers will be 100% ok for now, you'll be the first one to notice if the amount of fabric starts to annoy you.

Here's for hoping organised outdoor sports are on the list of activities allowed to return soon!

Amen to that! I’m desperately hoping for good news on Monday...

@Cherryblossomss can understand only wearing short boots if you’ve just started.
You may find as you start doing more riding that the stirrup leathers will pinch your legs if you’re only wearing short boots. I cannot ride in just short boots, even in summer, it feels totally alien to me.

@Cherryblossomss oh no I just meant that maybe you could request female groups if it made you more comfortable. Quite a few of the riding schools near me do women's groups.

@rosettesforjill

I haven't ridden for a while but I think I would go for something loose over jodhs. I have had really horrible chafing from riding in trousers that weren't tight fitting enough!

I would second the recommendation for jodhpurs with a cover up over the top. Chafing is not fun! Jodhpurs really are very practical.

I own a long riding coat which is great, although it would be too hot in the summer. A light tunic or long shirt could be an option for warmer weather?

Hi OP again! I mention Gulf riders actually because they do look super 'normal' and practical but still covered enough. No swirling cloaks among them!

I've met a fair few hijab wearing riders but most wore quite normal style jodhpurs with a baggy/long top, sort of like the south asian kurta/leggings combo. Mens rugby shirt style.

Also, I don't know about your riding school but around here most of them have some sort of ladies night where the lessons are all adult women. If there was something like that it might help a bit? Anyway, enjoy, horses are great!

Why not wear actual jodhpurs? As in the cut that was invented in Jodhpur with baggier thighs and bum for the heat, not the ersatz Lycra legging style.

You’ve had some good advice, but the key points are to do with flapping, anything that might touch the horse behind the saddle, and also summer temperatures might be more challenging.

I would hope the RS are using fairly ‘bombproof’ horses, but all horses are unpredictable and a tickle behind the saddle can provoke an extreme reaction.

In addition to the full length riding coats, you can also get sort of thigh length ones, again with a flap for the saddle - what you really need to avoid is anything that might get caught on the saddle when trotting, but also if you did come off.

Unless you’re in a really undiverse area it might be that the RS has encountered this before and can help. Ask them and see what they say!

Would Australian jeans or moleskins (designed for riding in ) cover enough?

What about getting a back protector? With a longer rugby style top underneath or a t shirt and over sized brushes cotton long shirt that would hide a lot of your shape and keep you safer too and the back protector would keep the top part of your clothing from flapping around. Not sure what to suggest for your legs though as any covering could make you quite warm on summer days. However if you are happy in the jogging bottoms then stick with those and just see how you get on. As others have said you will be the first to know when they aren’t working for you.

I think that if this possibility is real, to you, you might need to rethink horse riding

And yet here we have many posters with suggestion which mean the OP does not need to rethink horse riding. Where as your suggestion is just plain unhelpful.

Thanks everyone! My plan for now is to carry on with the joggers along with either some half chaps or long boots (I don’t want to splash out too much at such an early stage but eBay has quite a good selection of second hand but good condition boots so might just go for the long boots). I’ll pair them with a longish top and a gilet for when it’s cold. For some reason a proper riding coat feels a bit pretentious for a beginner! Maybe that’s just me?

Later on when I feel the need for proper riding legwear I might get the little bit racey breeches. A body protector is also a great idea, which I might invest in a bit later. And a riding skirt for next autumn/winter - have to say I love the riding skirt look!