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A Complete Guide to Equestrian Wear

Monday, September 7th, 2009 | Shopping | No Comments

Individual equine sports are unique and require different rider skills so the apparel is as much for functionality as for display. There are numerous types of clothing that equestrians need to protect the horse rider from head to foot. For equestrian activities, the essential items of apparel are the boots, chaps, gaiters breeches and jodhpurs for the legs, the jacket and body safe-guardor for the torso, and the hat for the head. For a novice it is important to know each of this apparel. Each individual’s taste may be different but it essential to know the basics before buying any clothing because horse back riding can be costly and its apparel is no exemption.

Horses can be trained, but situations are unpredictable, whether in competition or riding for pleasure - so the equestrians helmet is the most essential clothing as it protects the horse rider from falls. The hat, with its hard shell and shock absorbing lining, provides safe-guardion for the horse rider in case of a fall. When you’re not horseback riding, it is still essential to wear them, since the horse may kick when you are on the floor.

Any fall can cause the hat to lose protection, so it should be replaced after any fall. The protection also decreases over time as the padding compresses from daily use so horseback riding hats should be replaced ever three to four years. The first of the three basic hats available for horse riders is the classic riding hat constructed with a hard peak and traditionally made from velvet fabric in brown, black, or navy.

The 2nd is the skull cap which is also alluded to as the jockey cap which doesn’t have a peak and is generally worn by jockeys. It’s now popular with other horse riders for leisure or competition and silks which are peak covers can be placed over the skull cap giving the visual aspect of a riding hat. There are also novelty silks ideal for young ones with eyes and ears sewn on them for example. Similar to a cycling horse riding helmet is the skull protector, it is ventilated and lightweight, making those warm summer day rides a lot more comfortable.

Bona fide riding hats are equipped with a chin strap and are made to conform to horse riding hat safety standards such as the three that have been established by the United Kingdom. Riding headgear should follow one of these measures for optimum safety of the horse rider so the chin straps should be able to secure the hat safely and securely on the riders head. A starter should be sure to buy a hat that is comfortable, and all horse riders must remember to always secure their headgear when horse riding. Riding hats are critical pieces of equestrian clothing that safe-guard the rider by reducing the risk of severe injury during potentially fatal falls. Horse horse riders should not buy a previously owned horseback riding hat because previous damage cannot be seen from the outside and it is possible they will have reduced safety, so invariably buy a new hat for guaranteed protection.

Tags: , breeches, chaps, compresses, equestrians, equine, eyes and ears, gaiters, guardion, horse rider, horse riders, jockey cap, jockeys, jodhpurs, riding helmet, silks, skull cap, torso, velvet fabric, visual aspect, young ones