What To Wear To Your First Horseback Riding Lesson (And What We Provide)

Wondering what to wear for your first riding lesson? This practical guide covers the essentials, what to avoid, and what Faewood Equestrian provides for free.

*Quick answer

The short answer to ‘What To Wear To Your First Horseback Riding Lesson (And What We Provide)’ is: wear form-fitting pants such as yoga pants, an athletic top, and boots with a small heel. Faewood Equestrian will provide the helmet and horse equipment, and can give recommendations on where to buy your own in the Louisville and Shelbyville area.

Booking your first horseback riding lesson is an exciting first step into a whole new world! As the day draws near, however, you may find yourself wondering, “What exactly should I wear?”

As a new equestrian in Louisville or Shelbyville (horse country!), you want to be safe and comfortable, but definitely aren’t ready to spend hundreds of dollars on specialized riding gear before you’re even sure you enjoy it.

The good news is, you probably already have nearly everything you need in your closet already. Here at Faewood Equestrian, we provide the most critical safety equipment needed for your evaluation lesson.

Here is a practical, budget-conscious guide on what to wear, what to avoid, and what we’ll provide to keep you safe.

The Essentials: What You’ll Want to Bring

For your first few lessons, the main goal is safety and preventing chafing. You won’t need anything specialized yet.

Long Pants

You must wear long pants. Our saddles are made of leather, and the stirrup leathers can move and pinch your skin or cause chafing from friction.

Your best options are leggings, yoga pants, or cotton joggers. They should be fairly form-fitting and not too baggy, since loose material can ride up on your legs, or wrinkle under the leg. Shorts, skirts, and dresses are strictly prohibited for safety reasons. Nylon track pants or other slippery material is also best avoided. Jeans are acceptable, but many pairs of jeans have a thick inner seam that can cause discomfort.

Closed-Toe Shoes with a Small Heel

Footwear is the second most important piece of safety equipment. The shoe must protect the foot if a horse accidentally steps on it, and it must prevent the foot from getting stuck in or sliding through the stirrup iron.

A sturdy boot covering the ankle with a low heel (about one inch) and a smooth sole is ideal. A paddock boot, cowboy boot, Chelsea boot, or even certain hiking boots or a sturdy rain boot with a slight heel is totally acceptable and will work for your first few lessons. Sneakers, sandals, Crocs, UGG boots, or anything with a steel toe is strictly prohibited. Sneakers are dangerous because they lack a heel and are often wide enough to get stuck in the stirrup. Steel toe boots should never be worn around horses because if a horse were to step on them, the steel could crush your foot.

A Comfortable, Athletic, Weather-Appropriate Top

A fitted t-shirt or polo shirt works well. Layer with a fitted sweater or light jacket (zip-up is more easily removed from horseback). Avoid baggy shirts and sweatshirts, long scarves, or hoodies with strings. Loose or bulky clothing can get caught in the saddle or other tack, and make mounting and dismounting hard, and flapping fabric can spook a nervous horse.

Hair Ties

If your hair is long, it must be tied back. A low ponytail or braid is best, as a helmet won’t safely fit over a high pony tail or bun.

Jewelry

Please remove all metal rings, necklaces, bracelets, and dangly earrings. Jewelry can get caught in horse tack and cause injury.

What Faewood Equestrian Provides

We understand that investing in safety gear before your first ride is daunting. That’s what we provide the most important specialized equipment for your first few lessons.

ASTM/SEI Certified Riding Helmets

A properly fitted, certified equestrian helmet is the number one most important safety item for horseback riding. Bicycle helmets, skateboard helmets, or motorcycle helmets are not acceptable substitutions, as they are not designed to withstand the specific impacts associated with equestrian falls. We keep a full range of sizes in our helmet library, and our instructors will personally fit a helmet to you before you mount for your lesson.

All Necessary Horse Tack

You will never need to worry about providing your own saddle, bridle, or grooming supplies. All our lesson horses are outfitted in their own custom-fitted English tack, which keeps them comfortable and you safe and secure from day one.

When Should You Buy Your Own Gear?

If you complete your evaluation lesson and decide to join Faewood Equestrian, you will eventually want to invest in your own gear. We recommend starting with your own helmet and paddock boots, then half chaps, then breeches or riding tights.

The best place to get these items in the Louisville and Shelbyville area is The Hitching Post Tack Shop. They can ensure your new gear fits correctly.

The most important thing to bring to your first lesson is a positive attitude and a willingness to learn!

We would love to start you on your equestrian journey. Book an evaluation lesson today!

Key Takeaways:

• Wear long fitted pants to prevent chafing

• Wear a closed-toe boot with a small heel

• Wear a fitted t-shirt or polo

• No dangling jewelry

• Faewood Equestrian will provide an ASTM/SEI certified helmet for your first few lessons