Getting children started with riding kit: where to buy and what

[MattDillonsEyebrows]

My children started riding back in November and I’ve decided it’s probably time to bite the bullet and get them their own kit. They’ve already got jodhpur boots and chaps, but beyond that I’m feeling slightly… overwhelmed

I grew up around horses, but I haven’t ridden in about 25 years, and everything feels very different now. Back in the day you’d just go to the horsey shop, get hats properly fitted, and come out with everything you needed in one go — jodhpurs, coats, gloves, the lot. There’d be a noticeboard with ponies looking for riders and horses for sale… it all felt very straightforward!

Now it all seems to be online and, for some reason, I’m finding that completely baffling. What on earth are riding tights — and where have jodhpurs gone?!

I keep seeing LeMieux everywhere — is it genuinely good or just the fashionable label at the moment?

I know hats should be bought new, but what about body protectors? Do they need replacing after a fall like hats do, or are they a bit more forgiving?
And hats seem to be sold everywhere now — Go Outdoors, Decathlon, even Sports Direct. Are those actually okay, or is it better to go somewhere more specialist?

Basically… where on earth do I start? I think we need hats, body protectors, jodhpurs/tights and gloves to begin with.

Sorry if I sound a bit clueless — I just feel like I’ve woken up in a completely different horsey world and I’m trying to catch up!

Same here. My kids started riding and my eyes nearly fell out of my head when I saw all the clobber that accompanies kids to their lessons! Never mind all the colours, glitter and expensive brands.

Decathlon is a good place to start. Reasonably priced and a good choice of clothing/equipment. The helmets are fine for starting. My daughter graduated onto more expensive helmets/protection vests when she started jumping and competing.

Otherwise farm shops often have a riding section.

Also try Vinted for clothing - lots of Lemieux on there.

You don't need much to start off - decent helmet correctly fitted, jods/footwear, a rain jacket and whip (basically to learn how to hold it correctly/use appropriately).

Quite soon your kids will probably request their own grooming kit, saddle pad, halter, stirrups, rugs bla bla until you have enough stuff to open a shop!!!

Re protection vests. Mine didn't get them until they started jumping/competing. Some instructors prefer kids to start without as the vest can interfere with their position. You shouldn't have to replace them after a fall (?). I never did. I bought Komperdell as they were comfortable to wear/very neat.

With the hat, make sure that you go to a decent tack shop and have it properly fitted. They come in oval and round shapes, to suit different heads, and its very uncomfortable if you buy the wrong shape!
I wouldn't bother with a vest until the start jumping larger fences. They may find them restrictive at this stage.

I’d find a good tack shop for a hat and back protector.

They'll fit them properly for you. She didn’t need the back protector until she started jumping, but again, we took her to the tack shop and they fitted it correctly.

To be honest, there’s so much stuff available, and DD barely needed any of it.

She likes riding tights more than jodhpurs - you can get thermal lined and normal - Amazon

Le Mieux is good, but expensive.

We’ve got a Moles Country Stores near us - is there anything like that near you? They have a whole equestrian section

Hats definitely new as you say, and personally I would go to a proper hat shop for a fitting, Decathlon etc. hats are fine so long as they are certified to current safety standard, see this Link . But there's quite a variation in shapes and how they feel - some head shapes are more comfortable in a rounder hat and some more oval etc - so I'd visit somewhere that has a big range of different brands and an experienced fitter to help, as an uncomfortable/ pinching hat can really put kids off. Plus also this may be pure nostalgia but both my kids and I have happy memories of choosing our hat silk colours from the huge wall at our local (now sadly defunct) tack shop so that's a nice thing and good way to support a local business.

Body protectors I would say are a bit more forgiving than hats and I would buy second hand lightly used/well looked after, but again there's a variation in fit and brands, different kids feel more comfortable in different brands / types, e.g. if they have a short torso they need a shorter body or it will bash or get stuck on the back of the saddle and again they can be restrictive/uncomfortable for kids. So benefit again in identifying your preferred brand then you can potentially size up second hand in future.

Everything else you can definitely get second hand, there's loads on eBay and vinted and it's just personal preference really. LeMieux is popular with the kids as is Aztec Diamond, they're reasonable quality IMO but not worth the price new (tell that to a teenager though!), but you can pick up lots of outgrown second hand for a reasonable price. But there's nothing wrong with cheaper brands like Harry Hall or dublin or Decathlon own brand either. For kids I'd say don't spend too much on clothes as they outgrown them so fast, and things like gloves get lost easily. A decent riding coat is a good investment though as a well cut coat is much nicer to ride in that one not designed for riding...

As pp have covered most points, just wanted to reiterate definitely get hats properly fitted.
decathalon will be fine for jods/riding tights, gloves etc. body protectors will be fine secondhand though some impact protection is lost on impact
lemieux are overpriced and generally poor quality, the saddlecloths have stitching that rubs many horses, and their headcollars don’t last.

We bought DD’s kit from the farm supply shop, was pretty reasonable, the back and chest protector was a hand me down from the kit board at the riding school. Definitely called jodhpurs though normal leggings work at first.

You can still go to saddleries and get everything in one place, I did. Riding tights are amazing.

They're basically water repellant, fleece lined(if winter weight, mesh for summer) leggings with silicone grip on the bum and inner thighs. Super comfy and come in all colours and patterns.

I haven't seen anyone ride in jodhpurs for years unless it's at affiliated shows.

I was a bit taken aback when I started riding again, but I second your opinion - riding tights (they are more like leggings really) are fabulous! I started out in the days of thick jodhpurs and the tights are so much better.

Plus I often wear them when going out walking or for other 'legging' type activities, so much more practical!

I was a bit anti LeMeiux but I have to say their riding tights are the only ones that fit my tall skinny daughter and she finds them comfortable due to the thick waist band and no waist fastening

We got hat and body protector from tack shop properly fitted.

Boots, coat, tights, Le Mieux matching base layer / hat silk off Vinted