Necessary Equipments For Horse Riding

The saddle helps many young and old riders stay on the horse, it is a means of providing comfort for riders over long distances. They come in many styles and varieties, and sizing can be an issue. When buying a saddle, second hand or brand new, don't always go for cheap or expensive, its true, you do get what you payed for, but most of the time a mid range saddle is ideal and can last up to and past 12 years, depending on how its treated. When selecting a size, make sure you have the horses height and breed as well as conformation and size (as in fat or skinny).

        A child rider usually is a 10 inch or so, but some saddles are suited to stocky fat ponies and some are suited to elegant lanky horses. The rider should always try the saddle, even just by sitting in it at the saddlery. Saddles come in many styles and varieties each depending on the style and purpose of riding. A Western Saddle is usually only used for Western and a Jumping Saddle is used for Show Jumping. The best type is a General or All Purpose. They have a seat that allows a child to compete in Dressage, Flat Riding, Hacking, Showjumping, Cross country and games. The saddle cloth should be large enough to fit the saddle and have about an inch or two all the way around the saddle. This helps protect the saddle and stops the saddle from pinching the horse.

Bridle.

         The bridle provides a means of control. In laymens terms, the bit helps control the horse, the reins help to turn. Though this is only partly true, your riding instructor will do the teaching, so you only need to know what type is better. A general bridle, Cavesson or Hanovarian is best, a Cavesson has a Flash nose band, which helps prevent the horse opening its mouth, a Hanoverian does not. Each are basically the same, it really depends on the horse and rider combination. The bit and bridle must be proper for the horse, and different bits and bridles must be tried with the horse to find the best combination, as each horse is unique and sensitive to minute changes within the bridle setup. Most bridles now have a cavesson to prevent the horse from opening its mouth, and may have one or two bits, depending upon the skill and preference of the rider, and the preference of the horse. It is highly recommended that this component be handled by a trainer or other person highly experienced with horses, as an improperly chosen bit or poorly adjusted bridle may result in difficulty, and possibly danger while attempting to control the horse.

Grooming kit.

         Brushing a horse helps blood circulation, lets the rider bond with the horse, and makes him clean and shiny. You should always groom a horse before going for a ride and after, before removes any dirt and prickles that may cause the horse to react as he is in pain,, after allows you to remove any sweat marks which at a later time will be harder to remove. A basic grooming kit should have: Curry Comb (Used to remove dry dirt and excessive hair), Dandy Brush (A stiff brush used to remove mud and hard stains), Body Brush (a soft bristled brush for bringing a shine and used on the face and delicate areas), hoof pick (to remove mud and stones from hooves), Mane comb (used to brush mane and forelock), a sponge (for cleaning nose and eyes and remove sweat marks after riding). Many kits do not include a hair brush, which is very good for brushing the tail. You can pick them up at any cheap outlet, they are the same as human brushes. It is also recommended, however not necessary to have a towel to towel off sweat after a ride (for horse and rider), and to have a grooming glove (a plastic or rubber glove with small studs, specifically for grooming very delicate areas, such as the face).

Riding attire.

         The rider should have a helmet designed specifically for riding, that is ASTM/STI certified. Helmets such as bike helmets are not satisfactory, as riding helmets cover more of the head and are specifically designed for safety against falls while horseback riding. Boots should be flat-soled, preferably pointed, and they must have a heel, all to facilitate the easy removal of the boot from the stirrup should anything go wrong. Material, lace vs. zipper, and height are usually a manner of preference, or dictated by the discipline one wishes to compete in. These two components are of high necessity for safety reasons, while other articles are more for comfort. Jodhpurs (tight pants designed specifically for riding) are usually considered the best choice, giving the most flexibility and give for riding, although any long, durable pair of pants would be satisfactory, as long as they allow for a full range of movement. A shirt would usually be another choice, preferably with sleeves of some sort for outdoor riding to prevent sunburn, or simply any shirt which breathes well, for comfort while on the horse. Gloves may be another choice, as some may see their fingers irritated by the reins, or they may prefer the grip provided by the material.