Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Picking The Right Equestrian Clothing For Comfort And Safety

By Mary Curtis


Like there are for any sport, there are proper clothes for horseback riding and improper clothes. The right equestrian clothing affords riders security, comfort, and safety while on the horse. The wrong clothing can lead to discomfort, or even potential dangers.

The choice of what to wear on the top half of the body is largely left to the individual riders. Both long and short sleeves, including tank tops, are worn. Long sleeves do provide better protection for the skin in the event of bumping into something or falling off, though. Whatever the choice of top is, it should fit well enough that there is not a lot of loose fabric to catch on anything or spook the horse.

Pants are a controversial subject in the world of horseback riding. Everyone agrees that riders should always wear pants, though occasionally someone will don a pair of shorts. Pants give comfort and safety, because they don't stick to the saddle the same way that bare skin does, and provide some protection against scrapes and cuts, as well. Riders don't, however, generally agree on what type of pants should be worn. There are two favorite choices: jeans and jodhpurs or breeches.

Traditional Western riders wear jeans, as do many pleasure riders. Choosing the proper pair of jeans can make a difference between comfort and safety and discomfort and danger, though. The jeans chosen should be tight enough not to have any loose fabric that might catch on something, and short enough that the rider can't step on them. Overly pronounced seams should be avoided too, because they can rub in the saddle.

Jodhpurs or breeches are stretchy pants made of an elastic type of fabric. They usually have patches made of tougher materials on the inner knees, and sometimes the seat. This is because the elastic material, while extremely comfortable, is not very durable. Often, the patches of stronger material are made of suede. These are the official show wear of English riders, as well as a popular pleasure riding choice.

Boots are very important to equestrian safety. They should fit well, and have a heel of at least one inch, in order to prevent the rider's foot from slipping through the stirrup and getting stuck. The rider should also always make sure that any laces are tucked away, so that they can't be caught on anything.

Many people choose to wear a helmet, though Western riders are more likely to balk, since their tradition does not embrace them. The risk of head trauma can be reduced by choosing a properly fitting helmet, though, and more and more people are choosing to do so. Gloves are sometimes used by people who find that the reins chafe their hands, but this is a more personal choice.

Any choice in equestrian clothing must be considered from both a safety and comfort perspective. Clothes for this purpose should be snug enough that there is no excess fabric available to catch on anything, and helmets must fit well enough that they are not likely to slip down over the rider's eyes and obscure their vision. Using the right gear will help produce a safe and comfortable experience when horseback riding.




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