First riding hat fitting

[soundsystem]

I''m very new here so hope this isn;t an annoying question... I did search through previous threads but couldn't find anything..

Can anyone recommend somewhere in London to get a hat fitted? My daughter is at the stage she needs one of her own (has previously borrowed from the riding school) and I've read a lot about the standards they need to comply with and not to buy one from Decathlon but to get one properly fitted but.. I'm struggling with where to take her for this!

Any suggestions greatfully received. If it helps, we're in East London and don't have a car...

www.ridersandsquires.co.uk/ might be worth a look in?

Why don’t you ask the riding school where they’d recommend? They’ll know all the local tack shops

Yes, or if you are really struggling to get to a tack shop, can you look to see what the make and size of the hat she borrows at the riding school is (presumably this has been fitted for her by a trained member of staff) and then buy the exact same online? Disclaimer, this will only work if she has a fairly standard shape head and therefore one of the riding school hats fits her well and is comfortable?

If you do need to go and buy in person, you will struggle to find a proper old fashioned tack shop inside the M25, College Farm in Finchley is the only one I can think of aside from a few central London boutique-y type places that are more clothes shops. But it might be a bit of a trek for you from East London. Or there's Ingatestone in Essex www.ingatestonesaddlery.co.uk/contact/

Or, for a day out at Christmas, go to the London Horse Show at excel which has a huge shopping section, I'm sure there will be hat sellers there and she gets an awesome horsey day out too! In fact I think you should do that either way 😉

Thanks all

Ooh that's a good tip about the London Horse show. It's her birthday before Christmas so was thinking of that as a present!

Will ask the riding centre as well though

I second Riders and Squires in Kensington.

I got my hat, gloves and dressage whip there.

Very helpful and knowledgeable staff. The hat fits perfectly :).

I only used Decathlon to buy cheap riding clothes. The Surrey Quays branch is good for that. But you are right you should not buy a hat (or gloves) from them.

Get the train out to ingatestone and go to ingatestone saddlery

Where in London? We know a few just outside the m25 (south).