After the helmet, the next important part of the horse-riding gear is off course the jacket. Jacket is worn in almost every discipline and activity with and around the horse. It must be carefully tailored for a good fit, and still it has to allow the riders movement. Choosing the right jacket can be an important factor of your success as a horse rider. How?- an inexperienced rider might ask. Well, choosing a jacket that is too tight will not only harm our appearance by making you look unprofessional. The jacket that doesn’t fit your size and body type can prevent you from moving correctly and the result of that can be loosing the competition or even falling off the horse and being seriously injured. That doesn’t mean that you have to spend a small fortune on getting a custom fitted jacket, don’t worry.  Careful shopping and trying out  few different models will help you find out which one is the best for you. When you are buying a jacket always have in mind that a good jacket must fit you completely, like it’s custom made for you. Also, different jackets are intended for different purposes so you have to also pay attention to that.

Horse riding jackets can be divided in few categories:

Hacking jackets- A hacking jacket is a traditional three button ,tweed style jacket. It’s usually much tighter than a casual blazer to prevent it from bouncing around you while riding a horse.

Show jackets- Show jackets are more elegant, formal and usually in one color. The traditional colors are navy blue and black but nowadays colors like green and dark purple are also worn.

Hunting jackets and coats- These jackets and coats resemble hacking jackets in color. They are tweed styled but they also come in red color and are often worn by hunting masters.

Horse riding jackets are available in many styles, colors and in a wide price range. Today, new trends are being set so you don’t have to go for a traditional gray, khaki or brown look. A good and quality horse riding jacket is a smart investment so it’s maybe a good idea to spend a little more money on it. A jacket made out of quality materials will make you look good and professional while ensuring you maximum comfort and protection from the injuries. It will also last longer so it’s a smart and lasting choice.

When training and especially when participating in horse races and competitions proper outfit is needed. The reasons for that go beyond esthetical, all horse riding gear is standardized and designed to protect the rider from possible injuries. A riders gear is a head to toe uniform made to fit him, allow movement and still secure maximum safety. It includes helmet, jacket, pants, various special protectors and riding boots. An equestrian helmet is a must have headgear if you want to participate in riding events, especially the ones that includes a horse running really fast or jumping over fences.

The styles and regulations regarding the helmets differ from country to country. Even thought wearing a helmet is recommended not just while being involved in racing events, but also in all the occasions while a person is around the horse, there is not an international law to regulate this.  In England, for example, helmets are an obligatory accessory even for children while in US statistically only 1 in 8 riders wears a helmet.

The helmet itself has a special design that ensures that the rider will not injure his head in case he falls down from a horse. An equestrian helmet has a hard shell made out of plastic or other kinds of impact resistant materials. On basic models that plastic can be seen while more luxurious models have a material over it for better appearance. Beneath the plastic shell are materials that absorb the impact and protect the head in case of a fall. All that is sealed with a padded linen that allows the helmet to be comfortable for the riders head. A helmet also has a particularly flexible brim and a strap that secures that the helmet will remain on the head.

An equestrian helmet is a standardized piece of riding equipment and cannot be replaced with other types of hats like cowboy hats, hunting hats or even bicycle helmets. Its design ensures that the riders head is not injured even if he has a really bad fall, hits a hard object with his head or gets struck with the horses hoof. A helmet must meet strict safety standards to be allowed to wear in competitions and races. For example, some helmets with thin shells can’t be worn in jumping over fences competitions. Although the design and features of the helmet might slightly differ from country to country the basic principle is the same and safety is top priority. Every horse rider must posses a helmet and today many laws are being introduced to ensure that.

I’m sure you already know what chaps and gaiters are because they can be seen in any cowboy movies. Although at first they were a piece of the western horse riding outfits, today chaps and gaiters are worn by riders all across the globe. Chaps and gaiters are not a necessary part of the riding gear, but they do give the rider some extra comfort so they are very popular and used a lot. If you are putting in your time and money to become really good in this sport, I suggest getting a pair because they can be very useful to you.

Chaps and gaiters can be classified as additional riding gear or accessories, that, when placed on the riders leg, prevent it from chaffing and bad weather conditions like wind or rain. They can be made from leather, waxed  waterproof materials or suede, and the choice between the materials depends on the conditions in which the person will be riding.

There are two types of chaps- full length or half length. Full length chaps are basically two leg covers that are attached in the waist- to the belt, to be precise. They cover the entire leg and protect it from the rain and wind so they are a great choose to wear during the winter. The description sounds familiar? I’m sure it does, because this type of chaps originate from western period when cowboys wore them during working and riding to protect them and keep their legs warm.

Half chaps are worn on jodhpur boots and provide the cover for only the lower part of the leg- from below the knee to the ankle. They are secured in place with a strap that goes under the boot. Half chaps are very useful because they prevent the pants to bulk or go up while riding. Today, the chaps, both long and half ones, are available in many colors and fabrics and the choice depends only on your preferences.

Gaiters are, however, a bit more elegant and are usually made from leather. Like half chaps, they also cover the lower legs, but are more close fitted then regular half chaps. Because they are tighter than long riding boots, many riders prefer shorter boots combined with gaiters. That gives the rider more safety because he can get a better grip during the ride. Gaiters are usually black or dark brown and cut out in the traditional style.

The body protector is a necessary part of every horse riders equipment. Body protectors are worn under or over the jacket and they protect the rider from sustaining injuries if he falls off the horse or gets kicked by a horse. These west-like garments consist of two velcro panels that offer protection to the back and torso areas. The front and the back panel are attached by velcro shoulder pads and fastened around the waist. The protector has to be secured tightly around the body so it doesn’t move during the ride. Velcro material shapes to the riders body so although a body protector might seem uncomfortable when first bought, that should not be a major concern. When it’s used, it will adjust to the riders body. That’s also the reason why every rider must have it’s own protector. The protector must be completely new when first bought and only used by a rider it’s intended for. That way the protector will maximally fulfill it’s task.

Off course, not all the body protectors offer the same type of protection. There are three levels of protection and therefore three different labels of body protectors.

Low protection( Black label)- These protectors offer the minimum of protection and can be worn only by licensed jockeys.

Medium protection ( Brown label)- Brown labeled body protectors offer medium level of protection and they are a good for avoiding all general risks that exist in normal horse riding.

High protection (Purple label)- These protectors are the most efficient so they are completely suitable for races and competitions, for riding and working around young horses or for jump-riding. Purple label protectors prevent rib fractures, bruising and soft tissue damages.

Body protectors are available in many styles and sizes- for men, women and even children. Many manufacturers also offer custom fitting if necessary and additional or replaceable shoulder panels. The body protector must be replaced if a bad fall occurs because the dent from a fall may reduce it’s effectiveness afterwards. Some types of protectors have changeable panels so you can just replace the damaged part and you don’t have to buy the whole vest again. If a body protector is undamaged, the regular replacement frequency is 3-4 years. A good body protector must be manufactured respecting the BETA safety standards so when you are shopping for a protector check the tag to see if it’s tested and certified.

A very important part of the equestrian clothing are, of course, proper jodhpurs and breeches. When you find the good helmet, acquire a well fitted jacket and good body protectors, the next thing are jodhpurs and breeches. The name might cause some confusion, but don’t worry they are basically riding pants. You may wonder why they have such a name though. Well, in the Indian city called Jodhpur similar pants used to be worn during polo games, and when these pants became popular in Britain they simply called them “Jodhpurs”.

Jodhpurs and breeches are riding pants designed to solve the problem of comfort during the horse riding. Wearing regular pants can be pretty uncomfortable because they don’t fit tightly against the leg. These pants, designed specially for riding have knee and seat pads that ensure comfort, protection and good fitting on the saddle. The material from which they are made is flexible, it doesn’t overheat and allows the rider to move properly. Today there are various styles and they are available for men, women and even children. They are made from a stretch material and they close by a zipper or a hook, but pull-on models are also very popular because they are very easy to put on. These pants are the necessary part of the riding gear. Of course, there are some differences between this two types of pants, an knowing them will make the decision about which ones you need, easier.

Jodhpurs are ankle-length pants with a secure button or a hoop above the ankle bone. The hoop or a button makes them stay in one place and don’t raise or bulk in the boots during the ride. They are worn with jodhpur boots or long riding boots and they come in a variety of colors. Most popular are beige and white ones but there are many more colors and even patterns. Because they always have a foam padding on the seat they are mostly worn when show jumping, but also in cross country events, normal riding and dressage competitions.

Breeches are a little bit different. They are shorter than jodhpurs and in them seat padding is optional while knee padding is a must. Their length is mid-calf and they can be worn only with long riding boots. Their specific length reduces the bulk around the ankle so they enable wearing gaiters and half chaps. Breeches usually come in neutral colors like white, black and beige.

No, equestrian clothes are not some kind of Halloween costumes, don’t let an unfamiliar title confuse you. These clothes are specially designed outfits that provide maximum safety and comfort while doing one of the most famous English sports or leisure activities- horse riding. When you play hockey, ride a motorcycle, drive a race car, or do any other sport you have to wear the clothes that are fitted for that activity and that will allow you to move freely but still protect you from any possible injuries. So when riding a horse, you also need to have a proper outfit- that is equestrian clothes. It’s not for showing off or to look rich or maybe even funny, it’s for you safety and comfort. Have that in mind when doing your shopping for equestrian clothes because in this sport, like in many others, your health and even your success during the race, can depend on your shopping results.

Off course, if you are just a beginner you don’t have to buy everything because many horse riding schools do have hats and boots which you can use. But if you like horse riding and you plan to make it you frequent leisure time activity, or even do it professionally ,then it’s advised to get a proper set of clothes that will fit you completely and ensure maximum protection. When shopping for this type of gear have in mind that a necessary set includes the following items:

-a hat
-a jacket
-a body protector- foam padding that goes under the jacket
-a jodhpur or a breech- which are basically riding pants
-chaps or gaiters-  leather or suede protectors that are worn over the pants
- riding boots

There are many different styles and materials to pick from. Usually materials like suede, denim and leather are used but nowadays there are much more materials available. Buying a set of clothes like this may cost you a bit more than you expected. However, although there are many famous(and expensive) equestrian clothes brands, that doesn’t mean you have to spend a small fortune just for one head-to-toe outfit. Try finding affordable but good quality pieces to combine and create a good and comfortable set. It’s good to regularly check websites and you favourite shops. On sale you can get a really good piece of clothes or an item for you horse even for a half of the regular price.