Dc want to start riding - what do I need to buy?

[Millarkie]

7yr old ds and 5 yr old dd have had 2 'taster' lessons and loved them. To continue we have to get them some equipment (they were allowed to borrow hats for the taster lessons and wore jogging bottoms and wellies).
I feel completely at sea with the choices on websites.

Is there a particular type of riding hat that is better? Any not worth trying (I've seen the adjustable size Polly hat is quite cheap)?

Do they just need jodphurs and should I get riding boots of some sort? Am wary of spending a fortune only for them to give up (have a nice expensive ballet kit gathering dust).

Anything else I should think of? Body protectors???

Thanks in advance.

I rode when I was young, and still do occasionally today. you can pick up stuff quite cheaply on the net nowadays.
Leave the body protectors until they are sure they want to do it for the long term.
You need something like this! : pickyourownkit
I tried a quick google, and found this, but im sure with more time you could find what you were after, similar! As for hats, the adjustable polly is good for a starter, but would best to buy it from a shop your self, and take the kids to try on, rather than from the net.
Anything with seams down the inside ie jeans is really uncomfortable to wear because they start to rub, so jodhpurs would be ideal. try ebay, again. jodhpurs, boots, hat, a good jacket, and maybe half chaps?
Check with the instructor if you are still stuck. they will point you in the right direction.

I usually get stuff for ds from here. I got him a pair of cheapo jodhs and was surprised what good quality they are (think they were Requisite ones) for only £10.
If you aren't sure your dcs will stick with it and are looking to spend the bare minimum for now, I wouldn't worry about jodhpurs as they aren't essential safety equipment whereas hats and boots are. If you buy them the long rubber riding boots they can easily get away with wearing some leggings or jogging bottoms for now.

Just boots & hat really. Jodphurs if you can afford them as you can get bad pinches from (thin) leggings and jeans etc. rub alot. All hats will have the min. safety standard (don't buy 2nd hand), the expensive ones are just more aerodynamic/vented etc. Rubber dotted gloves are a godsent too for litte hands and tackshops sell them for a few pounds a pair.

*godsend

Or if you fancy splashing out the Buddies stuff is sooo cute!

Oh my, 'bling bridle'!

they only really need body protectors for jumping and x country

those long rubber boots are cheaper than jodh boots and chaps

I was brought up in a "horsey family" and remember being told NOT to ride in welly boots as the ridges can get caught in the stirrups and if a horse bolts and you fall then your foot can get caught!

You can get very cheap children's jodhs on Ebay which they may find more comfortable and less slippery than jogging bottoms. Jodphur boots are quite cheap too and have more of a heel than wellies, so are better to ride in though they could easily ride in wellies for a few more lessons.

Hats are something you'll need to go to a good tack shop for as you should never buy them second hand as if the previous owner had a fall in them the protectiveness of it could be seriously compromised, plus it must fit correctly. When the hat is on the child's head you should be able to move it backwards and forwards without the hat itself moving (watch the eyebrows to check they are shifting when you're moving it!) and it should stay on when the child bends over with his head upside down. It shouldn't be too tight though or it'll cause a headache. Get the cheapest one that fits and is up to current standards as I expect they'll outgrow them soon enough!

Our riding school doesnt like the long rubber boots (but I'm not sure whether it matters for beginners) dd wears jodphur boots and half chaps.
Gloves pretty handy against cold and also them getting sore hands.

boots (not wellies) straight sided, black basic ones that look like wellies are prob the cheapest and most simple option.

hat (new - safety thing, like a car seat) Must try it on and get one that fits properly -even if you then go and buy that make and model off the internet. They weigh differently too so helpful to check different kinds out as small children can find some very heavy. (Avoid the velvety ones - look nice but a nightmare to keep clean, few falls, left on a muddy tack room floor etc)

gloves - own winter ones are fine. Rubber grip riding gloves are better and child ones can be as little as £3 Really essential as naughty riding school ponies need a good grip on the reins or you get sore hands

Jodphurs - false economy to wear leggings or joggers. They will be ruined in no time and could allow rubbing and sore bits on legs. Leggings from £10 all over the net. The prices don?t really reflect quality - just like clothing, you buy labels or fancy prints at more expensive prices. The basic navy blue leggings should be no more than £15

Waterproof - obviously and warm long sleeved tops. No need for riding tops, thermals on a cold day are good though!

Body Protector. As soon as you know they are hooked and in it for the long term, buy one of these. Can make the difference between walking away with a back injury or jumping back on the pony with a bit of bruising but ok. Not necessary at first when on lead rein but as soon as they are riding without an adult helper, please consider one of these.

Stick - no need until they are riding independently. Also, riding schools tend to have loads around and will tell you when your child is ready to use one.

Lemontart sums it up for us. DD has ridden since she was 2 and is nearly 6. She has:

Riding hat - jockey style crash hat from Champion which do little sizes. It will need a cap cover as well and I'd recommend silk type rather than velveteen.

Jodphur boots - they last at least a year and she wears her ones every time she rides and they get cleaned up for shows. She wears jodphur clips for shows, pony club etc but not for every day hacking.

Half chaps. She doesn't really like them but has them for when it is cold. Older children would probably wear them a lot.

Jodphurs - she has cheap purple ones for every day and corn coloured for showing etc.
She's never work anything other than jods because they are cheap and comfortable and it means her ordinary clothes don't get worn out.

Body protector - she has to wear it for pony club and jumping. She doesn't wear it on her older pony for every day but she does on her new 4yo. We got a hand-me-down. If you ask at your pony club or riding school they may know of other children who have outgrown there ones. Unlike hats I think it is safe to use a 2nd hand one.

Gloves - essential all year. She wears woollen ones for everyday and leather ones for showing etc.

Waterproofs - she wears ski type waterproof trousers and her normal anorak.

Because she is keen she also has a show/hunting outfit as well but they would only be needed if you do these activies.

Don't bother with a whip and I'd council against long boots - uncomfortable on small children and they can slip into their wellies for jobs around the yard.

To start with, boots. Nothing else. The riding school should have a supply of hats. She can easily wear ordinary trousers.

Once she has settled in and wants to carry on then you can spend to your hearts content . Until then I wouldn't.

I would suggest (short) boots or boots and (new) hat if you are worried about the quality of the stable ones.

Everything else can follow once they make it through the first few weeks (or the first fall whichever is sooner ) and you can see if they are likely to stick at it.

Once you have hat and boots I would go for

Johds (cheap from ebay - £5/10)
Body Protector (again cheap new one)
Gloves (£1 each at my local market) if you can get these at the begining do, nothing puts a child off like the leather burn they get the first time the pony tries to get at some grass)

Other than that they can use their old outside clothes for almost everything. People say don't worry about a body protecter unless jumping but a lot of schools insist on them and, personally, I would say they are nearly as essential as a hat. Small children and small ponies are notoriously unpredictable

Thanks all. Had problems getting back to this thread since it was MLP and is now in the tack room!

Will look for (well fitting) hats, short boots, gloves and jods for now. Riding school will only let the kids have 2 trial lessons before they need to arrive with own hats (something to do with insurance) so it's all on hold til the hats are bought.

try a different riding school... every school I have been to has the most up to date hats to loan to kiddies.

You need to be careful you buy the latest standard.. or the riding school won't allow them.

To get a properly fitted hat, you are looking at £50 minimum.

I will have a rake through my dd's wardrobe ,beacuse i might have some jodies for your 5yr old ,TBH i have bought most of dds clothes from charity shops , and there are always boots in charity shops too. Its also worth asking at the school gates for stuff people might of outgrown or who have kids that have given up .Dont riding schools normally have hats to borrow ? that way you dont need to fork out until you know they really want to do it