January
1
Should I go all the way back to Beginners lessons in Horse back riding?
I am 13 years old, and around 2 years ago I did half day long riding lessons, for about two weeks. I don’t completely remember how to ride properly and this weekend, i am going into my local stables for a riding exam/test, so they can place me. I’m very nervous and embarrassed about being kind of older than the other students if i am placed in a very low graded class.
ALSO:
I am extremely nervous on what i should wear for the first day, as well as every day.
I did my online researching, but i would REALLY appreciate it if i could hear it from a real person. Are running shoes, jeans, and a T-shirt okay? Or should I spend some Cash on some riding boots, pants etc.?
I don’t want to seem like the odd one out if everyone is wearing professional REAL horseback riding apparel.
So PLEASE tell me as much as you know, as well as asnwer my questions!
Thank you SO much! I very much appreciate it!
<3
Yes, you can wear blue jeans- I do that all the time, and they work great and are very comfortable to ride in. However, don’t wear sneakers or athletic shoes- you need shoes with a heel of at LEAST two inches, for safety’s sake. Flat bottomed shoes like sneakers are DANGEROUS, sweetie- you can get your foot caught in the stirrup and get DRAGGED if you should fall while wearing them. I’ve known riders who’ve been BADLY HURT and even KILLED that way, so BE SMART and don’t make this mistake. If you want to wear breeches, that’s fine too, but make sure they fit you properly- they shouldn’t sag or ride up on your legs. T-shirts are fine for riding, but make sure you dress for the weather- there’s nothing worse than being too hot or too cold when you are trying to learn to ride.
Lastly, and perhaps most important of all, you MUST WEAR A HELMET, EVERY TIME YOU RIDE. NO EXCEPTIONS, and NO EXCUSES. The purpose of the helmet is to protect the most vulnerable part of your body in a fall- namely, your HEAD and brain. Riding without a helmet DOESN’T make you look cool- it sends the message that you are immature and don’t know enough to take some responsibility for your own safety. If grown up professionals like ME can wear a helmet ( which I do every time I ride) then you can too. They even have this rule at the racetrack, which is something I thought I’d point out, since you’ve asked your question in the horse racing section. NOBODY who rides at a racetrack does so without a helmet on their head- and I mean NO ONE. Even the big time trainers respect and follow this rule.
Good luck- and try not to be nervous. There will be people there who are older than you, who are beginners too- we all have to start somewhere. Just relax, and have fun. Ask questions if you don’t understand something ( and try to remember that there are no stupid questions- the only question like that is the one YOU DIDN’T ASK) and make sure you listen carefully to what you are told.
January 1st, 2010 at 3:53 pm
First of all, there will probably be someone older than you learning how to ride, so don’t worry about that at all. And even if there isn’t, don’t worry about it, seriously.
I don’t blame you for being a bit worried, it really will depend on the barn and what the style is. Um, a lot of barns won’t let you ride unless you have shoes with a heel on it, not tennis shoes. If riding is something you’re serious about and planning to stick with, I’d go ahead and invest in riding boots. (I <3 Ariat!) I think you’re fine with jeans & a t-shirt for now, you didn’t specify whether the barn you’ll be riding at is a hunter, dressage, western, etc. barn (or all around), but either way, I really do think you’re fine for now.
Good luck and don’t stress!
References :
January 1st, 2010 at 4:27 pm
It’s okay to be nervous to go take a riding test or exam. Everyone’s nervous in that stage. Just try to think of it this way. When you’re going to be in the low graded classes, then you’ll learn double because of the previous lessons you had. That would make you extra ready for the next level classes. And, remember, there will always be encouragement, help and advice from your instructor and other fellow riders at your stable. As for the clothes, unless your stables is a fancy stable, then I would stick with some skinny jeans but the jeans will have to be a bit loose.. Do you get that? It should be able to expand and contract and you should be comfortable in it. They should be able to stretch a bit. Tight pants are really not the right choice. The reason I said skinny jeans was because you will have to use half chaps or full chaps. If you have flares, then it might be a bit uncomfortable because you’ll have to stick the extra "jean" inside of the chaps. Or, if you want to be a bit more comfy, then go with some stretchable breeches or jodphurs. As for the top, it goes for your choice. Tank tops, sweatshirt, t shirt, polo, jacket, etc. You shoould buy some paddock boots or some full show boots. With the full show boots, you won’t need the chaps. Always have boots with a flat heel. You might want a helmet. It doesn’t matter if you buy a schooling helmet or a show helmet. I don’t think you would want to be so professional. Such as new show breeches, a full on show boot, a velvet show helmet, a showing jacket, hair net, and a nice show blouse. However, some of these would work such as breechs a show boot and a velvet show helmet. Good luck!!!!
References :
Riding and being with horses for 7 years of my 13 years of life… <3
January 1st, 2010 at 5:08 pm
There are different clicks in riding circles (although most people will say that there arn’t) I had a horse when I was 12 he was eventually stolen when I was 14 (there are some mean people out there) and I used to wear a T shirt, jeans and joggers.
When I was 18 I bought a horse he died last year (I’m 29) an put him at a couple of different stables throughout his life. My common dress was boots (the short brown dubbin ones) jodphers any colour I usually had dark ones for casual so thet they did’nt get stained or marked to eaisily and bone/beige colour i used for shows. and a loose fittind t shirt. however somtimes I wore jeans sometimes sneaker but this was more of an occasional thing. People who just came for lessons were a bit different they did seem to dress more to the code. people who just bought or leased horses dressed to start with but usually ended wearing the t-shirt boots, jodpher combo.
If you own a horse it is different in the fact that where you fit in honestly depends upon what ridding style you have, what type of horse you have, what personality you have, what equipment you have. I personally never gave a dam about what people thought had a (slightly mad) arabian, won alot of shows, never dressed up regardless of what people thought, and broke in horses for others (although I only had two my best friends family had lots a racing stable I spent most of my time at with her family.) because of this I was pretty cool. Having said that with the "better" well to do riders I was not because they seemed to think I should be more of a snob.
I think that it is about enjoying yourself doing somthing you love, and if you spend the whole time worrying about what people think you miss that. you will always do the wrong thing by one click no matter which one it is how well you ride or what you wear having said that other clicks will like you for the same reason others hate you.
It may or may not be helpfull But you asked for honesty It also depends upon the stable. If you are placed in a low class that is ok you can only go up from there It would be worse to be placed down from a higher class because you were not up to scratch and going over the basics is a good Idea for – every one there are your core everything comes from that. there is less presure on you. When I rode at open comps other riders from my club put so much presure on me to suceed
I did usually but at times It became so overwhelming sometimes It made me make mistakes and not concentrate on what I was doing or asking my horse to do It made him a bit edgy too (he seemed to know) and eventually I refused to do it anymore, as it was no longer fun.
Just enjoy youself, People love to tell you what they know and it might help I got further through listening that speaking. don’t put to much presure on yourself. I still get nerves on a new "unkown horse" as It is not My horse and have spent over 10 000+ hrs riding (was also a jillaroo/cowgirl) for a few years in a place where motorbikes couldn’t do it properly (the mountains).
Hope it helps
References :
January 1st, 2010 at 5:17 pm
Don’t worry! You will be fine :] you where in the same position as me,
No don’t wear jeans and running shoes.. they wont let you ride in that,
usually the normal riding clothes are jodphurs..boots & hat..
but don’t go buy a pair of 40-80 Pound boots just for one lesson,
you could maybe borrow the riding schools..if they have that sort of thing..or wear wellie boots..jogging bottoms..jeans can be ok if there skinny fit or boot-cut..jeans do Look nice to..but jodphurs look professional..chances are with horsey people most of them don’t look professional, they wear whatever..because usually it gets muck on it anyway..so don’t worry, being in a class with wee kids isn’t a very nice thing but try and improve as much as you can, look on the internet on how to canter..sitting trot..trotting..everything you will improve much quicker (:
i hope everything goes well for you:D
References :
you in the same positon i was! ive been riding a year now (:
January 1st, 2010 at 5:32 pm
I wouldn’t worry about your age, many people of all ages learn how to ride. You stable is going to put you in the class where you can learn and progress the fastest. Remember everyone has to start somewhere.
I would get riding boots for the first day, especially since many barns will not let you ride in runners. A good used pair will do the trick until you know that this is something that you definitely want to do. Jeans and a t-shirt would also be alright for the first day. After that you can see what everyone else is wearing and dress appropriately. That is what I always do when I go to a new barn for the first time.
Best of luck!
References :
January 1st, 2010 at 5:58 pm
Hey, we all have to start somewhere. Don’t worry about your age. =) I know how you feel, though; I’m 13 too and just started last year. It seems like everyone’s been riding since they’re four, doesn’t it? Anyway, I would go and buy some ankle boots and half-chaps to go over them. If you really look, you can find some that won’t destroy your college fund.
As for pants, I just wear jeans. I don’t own a pair of breeches, and I think skinny jeans work well. Good luck with your test! I’m sure you’ll do fine, and if that two-week thing is the only lessons you’ve had, I would start at the beginning again.
No one really wears the professional stuff to lessons, so jeans, a t-shirt (preferably a polo), boots and half-chaps will probably be just fine.
References :
January 1st, 2010 at 6:17 pm
Yes, you can wear blue jeans- I do that all the time, and they work great and are very comfortable to ride in. However, don’t wear sneakers or athletic shoes- you need shoes with a heel of at LEAST two inches, for safety’s sake. Flat bottomed shoes like sneakers are DANGEROUS, sweetie- you can get your foot caught in the stirrup and get DRAGGED if you should fall while wearing them. I’ve known riders who’ve been BADLY HURT and even KILLED that way, so BE SMART and don’t make this mistake. If you want to wear breeches, that’s fine too, but make sure they fit you properly- they shouldn’t sag or ride up on your legs. T-shirts are fine for riding, but make sure you dress for the weather- there’s nothing worse than being too hot or too cold when you are trying to learn to ride.
Lastly, and perhaps most important of all, you MUST WEAR A HELMET, EVERY TIME YOU RIDE. NO EXCEPTIONS, and NO EXCUSES. The purpose of the helmet is to protect the most vulnerable part of your body in a fall- namely, your HEAD and brain. Riding without a helmet DOESN’T make you look cool- it sends the message that you are immature and don’t know enough to take some responsibility for your own safety. If grown up professionals like ME can wear a helmet ( which I do every time I ride) then you can too. They even have this rule at the racetrack, which is something I thought I’d point out, since you’ve asked your question in the horse racing section. NOBODY who rides at a racetrack does so without a helmet on their head- and I mean NO ONE. Even the big time trainers respect and follow this rule.
Good luck- and try not to be nervous. There will be people there who are older than you, who are beginners too- we all have to start somewhere. Just relax, and have fun. Ask questions if you don’t understand something ( and try to remember that there are no stupid questions- the only question like that is the one YOU DIDN’T ASK) and make sure you listen carefully to what you are told.
References :
I’m a horse owner and horse professional, and a certfiied instructor.