Getting all set to realize a long-held dream: ride a pony? This forthcoming first experience of yours possibly has you otherwise twitchy, anticipative, concerned, ecstatic. It's easy to get over a lot of your nerves by simply ensuring you make all of the right preparations.
Begin by making sure you have the right clothes. Your attire should be chosen solely on consideration of safety and comfort. Leave the bling for later on the more advanced stages in your horse life.
One thing you just cannot do without is a helmet that's correctly certificated. Most riding schools do let you use one of their helmets for the initial few learning sessions, in the expectation that when you make up your mind to continue you will get your own helmet. You should bear in mind that a borrowed helmet will have been used by countess other aspiring riders, and even while they're routinely disinfected and sprayed in front of you, you might still prefer to go with your own helmet.
Note that helmets to be used with bicycles are inappropriate for pony riding because they're made to different standards of impact measures and safety. The better riding facilities won't allow you to use helmets without ASTM/SEI validation, so be sure not to let some silver tongued tack shop man charm you into getting a barely suitable helmet. Do some homework, learn all about the hottest brands, get a helmet with a correct label, your riding school will probably be doing some inspection of its own on the first day you turn up.
Your next procurement should consist of a pair of boots with square heels and smooth soles. You can think about cowboy or jodhpur boots when you purchase them, but don't spend just yet on real riding boots. Just settle for a good pair of ankle boots with smooth soles and square heels. Preferably, your boots cover and support the ankles. Sneakers, military boots and dockers are definitely not acceptable. Military boots come with extraordinarily thick treads, and your foot could well get caught in the stirrup if you tumble, with the possibility of serious injury ensuing. By the same rule, footwear without square heels let your feet slide right through into the stirrup and again, this might be dangerous. Remember: boots without treads, with smooth soles, with square heels.
Your next decision is on suitable pants for riding. Plenty of new riders find this choice a little bit of a dilemma. Denim pants usually fit loosely and have prominent seams, which can badly scrape your inner legs and knees and maybe your calves, as well. Jeans also tend to ride up the legs, exposing your calves and letting them get chafed by the stirrup leathers. Most leg wear for running is rather slick on the exterior, which can potentially make you slip while you are in your saddle. All this means that you will need pants that don't have thick seams, do not rub and do not ride up. You could try jeans with pantyhose underneath, don't laugh, I've known masses of men to utilise this mix , or you can use thick tights. Rather than panty hose, you could use long johns with jeans, but this could be workable only in winter. If you use long johns, ensure you tuck them into your socks, so they won't ride up. In winter, thick tights usually work fine with leg warmers, which have recycled into fashion. Ultimately, you need breeches or riding tights. You might also try out jeans especially made for riding, which are made of stretch material and have no inner seams.
You are all set: you have got your certified helmet, correct footwear and approved clothes. It's time to get onto that horse and have a great time!
Begin by making sure you have the right clothes. Your attire should be chosen solely on consideration of safety and comfort. Leave the bling for later on the more advanced stages in your horse life.
One thing you just cannot do without is a helmet that's correctly certificated. Most riding schools do let you use one of their helmets for the initial few learning sessions, in the expectation that when you make up your mind to continue you will get your own helmet. You should bear in mind that a borrowed helmet will have been used by countess other aspiring riders, and even while they're routinely disinfected and sprayed in front of you, you might still prefer to go with your own helmet.
Note that helmets to be used with bicycles are inappropriate for pony riding because they're made to different standards of impact measures and safety. The better riding facilities won't allow you to use helmets without ASTM/SEI validation, so be sure not to let some silver tongued tack shop man charm you into getting a barely suitable helmet. Do some homework, learn all about the hottest brands, get a helmet with a correct label, your riding school will probably be doing some inspection of its own on the first day you turn up.
Your next procurement should consist of a pair of boots with square heels and smooth soles. You can think about cowboy or jodhpur boots when you purchase them, but don't spend just yet on real riding boots. Just settle for a good pair of ankle boots with smooth soles and square heels. Preferably, your boots cover and support the ankles. Sneakers, military boots and dockers are definitely not acceptable. Military boots come with extraordinarily thick treads, and your foot could well get caught in the stirrup if you tumble, with the possibility of serious injury ensuing. By the same rule, footwear without square heels let your feet slide right through into the stirrup and again, this might be dangerous. Remember: boots without treads, with smooth soles, with square heels.
Your next decision is on suitable pants for riding. Plenty of new riders find this choice a little bit of a dilemma. Denim pants usually fit loosely and have prominent seams, which can badly scrape your inner legs and knees and maybe your calves, as well. Jeans also tend to ride up the legs, exposing your calves and letting them get chafed by the stirrup leathers. Most leg wear for running is rather slick on the exterior, which can potentially make you slip while you are in your saddle. All this means that you will need pants that don't have thick seams, do not rub and do not ride up. You could try jeans with pantyhose underneath, don't laugh, I've known masses of men to utilise this mix , or you can use thick tights. Rather than panty hose, you could use long johns with jeans, but this could be workable only in winter. If you use long johns, ensure you tuck them into your socks, so they won't ride up. In winter, thick tights usually work fine with leg warmers, which have recycled into fashion. Ultimately, you need breeches or riding tights. You might also try out jeans especially made for riding, which are made of stretch material and have no inner seams.
You are all set: you have got your certified helmet, correct footwear and approved clothes. It's time to get onto that horse and have a great time!
About the Author:
Horses are Heather Toms
passion and she enjoys sharing her extensive knowledge through her 100s of
articles with other horse lovers read more
passion and she enjoys sharing her extensive knowledge through her 100s of
articles with other horse lovers read more
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