Could anyone help me choose footwear for first riding lesson?

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Hello, taking my dc riding at the weekend and frantically looking through my shoe drawers for something suitable. I know I need a small heel, and (I think) a smooth sole? I might have to buy something for the dc so really don't want to for myself. (This might lead to other lessons but might also just be a one-off).
Would anyone be able to peruse my choices and say if any would be suitable? Thank you!

I’d really recommend against wellies. Soles should be smooth to stop feet getting stuck in the stirrups if you fall (which is unlikely on a first lesson, but I’m just explaining why) and a small heel as footwear with no heel can potentially slip all the way through a stirrup and again get stuck. Very rarely people have suffered horrific injuries when their foot has got stuck in a stirrup (including my mother in a pair of wellies) when their foot has got stuck.

Every beginner I’ve ever seen at our stables rides in wellies.

I used to work in a riding school & beginners tended to wear wellies, then bought proper boots if they started to ride regularly.

Out of your choices, I'd go with number 2.

As a result of this thread I dreamt about horse riding last night

Very rarely people have suffered horrific injuries when their foot has got stuck in a stirrup (including my mother in a pair of wellies) when their foot has got stuck.

My dad, a lifelong and extremely experienced rider, had his spine broken in two places after having his foot caught in the stirrup and being dragged during cross country.

Re. riding in wellies. It just feels wrong - short/jodhpur boots would be opreferable to wellies. Just to be able to feel what your doing with your lower leg.

Thsi reminds me of a time when, for some God knows why reason, I was riding on the lunge - no reins, no stirrups and, for some reason, no boots as well. Talk about feeling vulnerable to getting stood on..... yes, even in the saddle.

(I have had too many black nails, broken toes and crunched feet to count.)

Wearing wellies is just a bit too casual ---- imho

@DumbestBlonde

Re. riding in wellies. It just feels wrong - short/jodhpur boots would be opreferable to wellies. Just to be able to feel what your doing with your lower leg.

Thsi reminds me of a time when, for some God knows why reason, I was riding on the lunge - no reins, no stirrups and, for some reason, no boots as well. Talk about feeling vulnerable to getting stood on..... yes, even in the saddle.

(I have had too many black nails, broken toes and crunched feet to count.)

Wearing wellies is just a bit too casual ---- imho

People are literally talking about a first lesson here- I think that's the definition of casual. There's no need to buy specialist footwear for what may be a one off.

OP- I think second/third should be ok, as long as they aren't too thick/wide. The riding school will usually have spare boots to borrow, though!

Anything with a heel over about 1 inch is out, as it will put your leg in the wrong position, and may actually contribute to your foot getting stuck, as well as twisted ankles getting on/off. Ideally you'd want your ankle covered too.

I would contact the yard and see if they supply boots to borrow. Most do!

OK - casual; wrong word. Unsafe - sloppy -tacky - whatever you want to call it.

Hopefully the first of many lessons, so why not start out right and be, you know, prepared, especially as - as I posted - a lot of shoe shops are on the riding boot trend, and they can be worn otherwise if it turns out to be a first and only lesson.

Never ridden in wellies (and have had some nice/expensive ones.....)
in my life - that's for Appleby Fair.

The OP said she had ridden before - surprised she doesn't know anyway what she should have on her feet/ legs - for the BEST experience.

(And there will no DOUBT be people there who will - silently - judge...)

I would not wear boots that have been worn by other random people. News to me anyway that schools would have a box of them in the tack room. Horse's boots maybe - but I wouldn't share those too much either.

There are four of us going, dh will have to just wear shoes at least small heel and smooth sole, I have purchased boots from decathlon for the little one and a pair for dc2, and I will wear the one that looked most suitable from my list.
Last time I rode regularly was the early 1980s and I know from that about the small heel, but literally no idea what I put on my feet back then!
This looks like being a very expensive hobby so I don't think it will become a regular thing sadly. Though I might like to keep going myself, haven't had a "thing" just for me for a long time.
Thank you for all the advice, even the ones I found a bit extreme! I know you have the best interests of your horses at heart.
Will post to say how it all went

This looks like being a very expensive hobby

Umm yeah! basically just open your purse and let the horse eat the money straight out of it!

My dad, a lifelong and extremely experienced rider, had his spine broken in two places after having his foot caught in the stirrup and being dragged during cross country. 😱😱 Your poor dad! I am a bit safety stirrup obsessed after an accident that left me with a weak ankle - I have stirrups that come apart at the top under pressure in an attempt to avoid this.

I know @backinthebox. I remember his long recovery. He still went back to it afterwards. Bloody competitive streak wasn’t going to let a broken back beat him I hope you never need to test those stirrups!

Why can't you wear trainers?

I'd wear trainers or wellies

@coffeefi

Why can't you wear trainers?

I'd wear trainers or wellies

Although I have made it sound as though it aesthetic, it is for safety and ability to use the lower leg effectively. In trainers, the foot can possibly slip throuh the stirrup, if not fully, the to have the wrong part of the foot resting on stirrup, so throwing the rider off balance and affecting the weight distribution/centre of gravity. And with wellies - which IS aesthetic - they generally fit loosely to the calf and around the ankle and the tread is a bit deep, may catch on the stirrup; they are usually wider fitting, and again may be fitting too closely into the stirrup - and again, meaning that contact with the horse's sides - and being able to give gentle and effective leg aids is not as easy.

I don't mean to seem extreme (the hairnet issue was merely anecdotal - but it does happen); but there is usually a wrong way and a right way - the right way, coming from safety (human and horse) grounds and to be an effective rider and have a good time.

Best just to go with the right way grom the start - i.m.h.o.

(And I have done the whole spectrum - from a tiny animal sanctuary with rescues from Shetland and Dartmoor - to the fanciest and snootiest dressage yard in the area - by way of a yard of 33 huunters, looked after my me and one other - and a (very) brief stint with Chipperfield's Arabs in Spain. Seen many many close calls - some of which were caused by sloppiness and laissez-faire, and could have been avoided.)

This is completely personal opinion but I totally cringe when I see pony trekking businesses share photos of people riding in trainers and even worse, shorts! Ouch!!

from

Well I had a ball, though have a kind of John Wayne swagger just now! I think I possibly enjoyed it more than the dc I got a compliment for my rising trot which made me feel all glowy
Everything worked out, and thank you all again for the advice

Woohoo!! Glad you had a ball Op! Your arse will be sore in the morning what boots did you go with?

I wore my suede Chelsea boots. They have survived If I go again I am halfinching the pair I bought ds from decathlon (he's the same size as me).
Wondering if 50 is too old to learn to ride.. I was certainly the oldest one there today! Would be just for my pleasure I'm not entering any competitions or riding in a gala day

Thank you for your kindness @UhtredRagnarson

If you enjoy it there’s no such thing as too old! Go for it.

Glad you had a good time (but you’ll probably be pretty sore tomorrow Epsom salts in a warm bath will help!)

And 50 is definitely not too old to learn, especially as you’ve ridden before. My weekly lessons are one of the highlights of my week - It is lovely having something which is just for you

50 definitely not too late to learn! There's a lovely gent at my livery stables who started when he retired in his mid 60s, had lessons to begin with and has now bought himself a lovely stamp of a hunter type to bomb around the country on mildly out of control . His riding is a little 'agricultural' since he lacks the patience/time for lots of lessons, he says himself he did as many as was necessary to be able to stay on the horse reliably and then skipped direct to the 'fun stuff', he ignored the imprecations of YO/his wife to buy a sensible little kickalong cob to plod around on and went for something with more 'horsepower', mid life crisis, possibly, who cares, he and the horse have a wonderful time together!

Do report back on progress OP, lots of good advice/recommendations available here if you do want to kit yourself out a bit more...

I love viewing it as kind of midlife crisis! Have investigated and I could do adult lessons at the same place. I do not want to own a horse as I have seen how much hard work it is! But love the experience of riding. And not too sore today thankfully