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Basic things you might need when starting to ride
jodphurs are very inportant but if you dont have them straight away you could use tight jeans ( not baggy). they cost about £15 at the most depends were you get them from. a grooming kit consists of a hoof pick 50p dandy brush 50p swet scrapper £1.00 curry comb about £1.00 thats the basic grominhg box. a riding hat is very important you have to make sure its fits around your head properly if you are not shore what kind of hat you need then ask a member of staff im sure they would love to help. if you ever fall of your horse and hit the hat on the floor the air bubbles move further away inside the hat the best thing to do is get a new hat that is very important. tack saddles you have to choose the right sort of saddle for your horse and what you are hoping to do with the horse like show jumping dressage and just hacking out and make sure you have you have the right fitting. but if you get a horse on loan/lease then saddles bridles and rugs should come with it. A snaffle is the most suitable type of bridle for horse training, flatwork, jumping, and riding out. It is made up of two parts: 1. Basic bridle, the bit and reins A Basic Bridle consists of a headpiece, cheek pieces, throatlatch, and brow band. The size of a bridle can be adjusted at the buckle attached to one or both of the cheek pieces. The Snaffle bit acts on the horses tongue and the bars of the mouth. As a general rule, the thinner the bit, the more severe its action. A thick mouthpiece, provided it is not too thick to fit comfortably in the mouth, is readily accepted by most horses. The bit lies on the bars, the space in the lower jaw where there are no teeth.
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Horse buying tips When considering a horse, don't make the mistake of buying a young one unless you are an experienced trainer or plan to make use of one. A horse over 5 years old is probably manageable and will forgive your mistakes, showing you the right way to do things. An experienced horse person can help you evaluate a horse's conformation - how the horse is "put together". If you intend to compete, you'll want conformation that lends itself to the kinds of competition that you have planned. A horse with conformation problems is not necesssarily a bad horse, but you may find its abilities limited. Other buying tips Determine your purpose before you start looking. Do
you want a horse suitable for trail riding or showing, or both? Are
you capable of starting a young animal, or do you need an older animal
established in its gait? Will you want to raise foals later or is a
gelding better suited for your purposes? If a gaited horse, make sure of the gait. Whatever
use you have in mind for your horse, remember to look for the chief
distinguishing characteristics of the breed. How well the gaits are
performed often depends on the horse's age and training. Are you buying potential or proven ability? Many
buyers who are looking for a potential show contender will purchase
their horse as a two year old. Top two year olds frequently demand top
dollar even though they are unproven in the show arena. There are advantages to buying an aged horse. By
five years, a horse will have reached maturity in terms of
temperament, gait, and size. It may have proven its worth in one or
more areas of expertise such as pleasure riding, field trials,
versatility events, ranch work, or in the show arena. As with any purchase, if you are unfamiliar with the
product, you should know the seller. And, if you don't know the breed
or the seller, you would be wise to seek the assistance of a
knowledgeable professional to help you evaluate the horse and its sale
price as they relate to your intended usage. Many buyers consider a pre-purchase exam by an
equine veterinarian to be well worth the cost. Overall soundness is
important and, if you will be using your horse to produce foals,
suitability for breeding should also be evaluated. Familiarize yourself with the breed's registry rules and regulations. Make sure the last recorded owner on the horse's registration certificate matches the seller on the transfer form.
Chaps are made of leather or suede, and may have fringe. English riders will wear riding breeches that fir very snugly. There are different kinds of breeches, some with suede patches inside the knees, and others with the suede running from the knees all the way up and around the backside. These are the best. Some riders like to color coordinate their shirt with the horse's coloring, and the styles will change from time to time. Footwear English riders, in competition, wear knee-high leather boots. Leather (not rubber) heels are best. Never wear sneakers (tennis shoes) when riding as they can be slippery in the stirrups. When working around the barn, wear sturdy and waterproof boots. Hats / Helmets English riders can wear a derby hat or a cap with a button on top, but generally today usually wear helmets. This helmet must be ASTM-certified. Helmets come in various styles but with few color choices. The helmet with the button at the top is the common choice. Be sure your helmet fits snugly, has ample ventilation, and look into decorative helmet covers. Many riders chose not to wear a helmet because they complain that they're too hot or they flatten the hair. But think about it, the helmet's job is to provide a stopping distance between your head and the ground. A fall on the head causes the brain to ricochet inside the skull, which causes bruising and swelling. With this in mind, designers have built into the helmet a "bubble wrap" system. The padding of your helmet has been injected with millions of gas bubbles set in many layers. When you fall, the bubbles burst, taking much of the impact. The idea is that the bursting will slow the impact and help keep bruising down to a minimum. The outside shell of the helmet offers protection against outside factors such as hooves, rocks and branches. Wear a helmet! Safety Vests |
