If you are going to be taking riding lessons or just riding in general, I have created a list here to make it easy for you to see what horseback riding equipment you’ll need.
Horses are a lot of fun and I love, love, love to ride. However, they are large animals that can easily hurt us by accident. Wearing the proper attire and learning how to work with your horse in a safe manner can dramatically decrease your chances of getting hurt and ensure that you can enjoy your time with your horse. Please note, that accidents happen no matter how prepared we are, but we can do several things to help protect ourselves better.
Riding Helmet ASTM/SEI Approved
First of all, it is legal in Oregon to ride horses without a helmet. However, we require all riders under 18 to wear proper protective head gear while riding on the premises for your safety and for liability purposes. Programs such as 4-H have required 4-H members participating in any 4-H equestrian activity to wear proper helmets. (see their rules below, these are what we go by). Many other equestrian activities require helmets as well.
Effective January 1, 1996, all Oregon 4-H members participating in any 4-H equestrian activity, regardless of riding seat, will wear the minimum performance standards imposed by the American Society of Testing Materials (ASTM) F1163 and includes certification and labeling required by the Safety Equipment Institute (SEI). Such headgear will be secured with the harness engaged and be properly fastened when mounted on an equine or in a vehicle (cart, buggy, etc.) being pulled by one or more equine.
Oregon State University Extension Service
Riding Boots
Riding boots are another very important part of your horseback riding equipment/attire. They serve a certain amount of protection for your toes in case your foot happens to get in the way of your horses hoof. But more importantly riding boots are designed to lessen the chance of your foot getting caught in the stirrup and being dragged in the event of a fall.
Horse riding boots should
- Have a smooth sole with no break from heel to toe so that there is nothing to catch on the stirrup.
- No less than 1/2 inch heel, which serves to keep your foot from sliding through the stirrup and getting caught.
- Light tread, again so the boot can slide easily out of the stirrup in case of a fall.
- Fit the stirrups you are using. Again, your foot can get caught if the boot is too big for the stirrup. It is recommended to have a 1/2 inch gap between the stirrup and the widest part of the foot.
My Riding Boot Recommendations
A great quality leather riding boot can be expensive, however there are some excellent budget friendly boots out there. If you are just starting out, especially if you are buying for your child, I would definitely start with a lower cost boot. If buying for a child, they are going to outgrow their boots in no time so it’s best to get something low cost, just make sure the boots fit properly and are comfortable. There’s not much worse than wearing uncomfortable boots!
I’ll start with some budget friendly boots below, some I have tried and some I haven’t. Then I’ll list my favorite higher end riding boots.
Laced, Zipper or Pull on?
When shopping for riding boots, you’re going to come across all 3. Generally western boots and dressage boots are pull on, but you’ll find a range in between. Paddock boots tend to be zipper or laced. I personally like laced boots because I like to be able to adjust the tightness. My legs are also thicker and many of the zipper and pull on boots tend to be geared toward thinner legs/ankles. Every zipper boot I’ve tried would not zip up lol. So it’s laces for me, but even if I had thinner legs, I’d probably still prefer laces since I can adjust the tightness and comfort level. It all depends on your preference.
DREAM PAIRS Children’s Western BootI haven’t tried this brand personally but they are very affordable and have great reviews. Plus, if they don’t fit right, you can always return them.
Dublin Foundation Ladies Laced Paddock boots
I just bought a pair of these for myself in December 2023 and as of writing this article I’ve had them 3 months. So far they have been excellent and I wear them regularly when I do lessons and when I’m riding. They are very inexpensive at just around $45-$60 on sale at several stores online, and so far have held up just fine and are comfortable.
Ariat Paddock Boot
I also have a pair of Ariat paddock boots. These are more expensive but they are leather and once broke in, they are very comfortable. I’ve had mine for about 7 years now and they are still going strong even with getting wet and muddy at times (I do clean and condition them sometimes, though probably not as often as I should).