Friday, December 26, 2008

Horse English Riding Boots

Having a horse or getting one calls for the buying of proper horseback riding apparel. This is because apparel of this kind is important for a safe and more comfortable ride. However, there are many things that need to be considered before buying apparel for horse riding.

One of the considerations that anyone should look into before spending money to buy horseback riding apparel is the type of riding they would be getting into. Will you want to ride English or Western style? Will you be be doing any hunting on horseback? Are you planning to join in some horse events like barrel racing or horse jumping? There are standards and restrictions when it comes to apparel in these kinds of competitions. The climate of the place where your horses are boarded should also be a consideration.

Buying horseback riding apparel can be frustrating if you have no inkling as to what you need. Above all else, there is one thing that these that a horseman needs: a proper pair of riding boots. This footwear is very important because it prevents feet from losing their footing on the stirrups. Boots are also very critical in controlling the horse. There are different types of horse riding boots; among these are the paddock, field and dress boots. Their cuts are different from each other and they are worn for different occasions. There are even some types of sports involving horses (like a foxhunt) that call for particular types of boots to be worn.

Other important horseback riding apparel includes coats, breeches, belts, hats, gloves, helmets and chaps, among others. If you're horse riding just for fun, then there is really no need to buy fancy riding apparel. However, there is one precaution that should still be adhered to and this is the wearing of close-toed shoes or boots. Wearing a riding helmet is also very idea because this lessens the risk of head injuries, in the event that a horse gets spooked or throws his rider.

Although anyone can definitely have fun in buying horse riding apparel, it should not be forgotten that the main goal in buying this is for protection and not just enjoyment. This is quite crucial as it involves your personal safety, as well as the safety of your horse. visit our Web Sitewww.saddleonline.com

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Horse English Riding Boots

Horse riding helmets - horse riding apparel that ensures safety. Once you have decided that you want to do some serious horse riding, carefully choosing the horse riding apparel is something that most horse riding lovers look forward to. Though there are various aspects of the horse riding gear that you may need to consider including horse riding pants, chaps and horse riding boots, horse riding helmets need special mention due to the safety that they provide.

Horse riding headgear ranges from traditional cowboy hats to caps. However, only a well-fitted helmet can actually provide the protection that is required in the unfortunate event of a fall. The need for a helmet cannot be stressed enough. It helps in breaking a fall and is probably most critical if you fall and hit your head against a hard surface. Most ASTM-SEI certified horse riding helmets have layers of air bubbles that can help reduce the damage on impact. They keep the brain from rebounding inside the skull.

Many horse riders complain that helmets are too hot to wear and that they result in flattened your hair. But such complaints are meaningless, given the level of protection that they provide. Before you go out and buy a helmet, you should decide on your budget. Safety and comfort are the key factors that you should keep in mind while you shop for good helmets. Make sure that you do not use a motorbike helmet as a horse riding helmet since motorbike helmets do not protect the back of the head. They are designed for motorbike riding and not for horse riding.

Good helmets can be bought from local tack shops. Make sure that you purchase a helmet that is specifically meant for horse riding. Check for the ASTM certification. It is pertinent that you try the helmet before you actually make the purchase. If you do not have help from a trained salesman, you should ensure certain aspects when you try the helmet out.

- When you wear the helmet, it should fall down to the top of your head completely. - A well-fitted helmet should cover the entire skull including the back of the head. - The front of a helmet should end about an inch and a half above the eyebrows. - Upon shaking your head, the helmet should not shake. - When you nod your head vigorously, your skin should move along with the helmet. - After you have tied the buckle of the helmet, you need to ensure that you can open your mouth and that it allows movement of the lower jaw.

If the standard sizes available in the market do not have a horse riding helmet that satisfy all the points mentioned above, you can ask the salesperson for a helmet padding available with the slightly larger size. Remember, that a helmet that does not fit well cannot protect your brain from injuries adequately. A helmet that has been involved in a fall should not be used again and should be replaced. For the same reason, buying a second hand horse riding helmet is not a good idea since you will never know if it has been involved in a fall before. Visit Our Web Site www.saddleonline.com

Saturday, December 20, 2008

Horse English Riding Boots

Any type of horse riding usually begins with the rider buying riding clothes. Even a person simply going for a pleasure ride will benefit from the correct riding apparel. Horse riding apparel protects you and is designed specifically for being on a horse. Comfort and protection come in several styles and designs.

Depending on your style of riding whether western or English, your wardrobe will look slightly different, but consist of the same basics.

Riding Pants - Breeches, Jods and Jeans:

Jodhpurs (English Riding) could be described as kind of riding pants. The legs on these pants extend all the way to the ankles. At the end of the pants there is a cuff. This cuff fits over the top of a low riding boot. Modern breeches (English Riding) are skin-tight; they have either zippers or Velcro fastenings where they end at the calves.

Riding Boots:

Typical English riding boots are long to prevent the saddle leathers from chaffing the leg of the rider. The heel of the boot protects the rider's foot from sliding out of the stirrup and the toe should be sturdy to protect the rider's foot when on the ground. The sole of the boot is smooth enough so that in the event of a fall, the rider's foot will not be caught on the stirrup.

Western riders wear cowboy boots. The heel of the boot varies depending on the style of boot, such as the "roper" style heel that is similar to that of English boots.

Riding Shirt:

Riding Shirts can come from your existing wardrobe unless you are riding in competitions where a more formal type of show shirt is called for.

Helmet:

A riding helmet is an essential part of riding; it is specifically designed to protect your head. Do not overlook the use of a helmet.

Riding Chaps:

There are two basic types of chaps - full or half length. Chaps in the case of full length is used to protect the complete leg whilst working; they also help to keep the legs warm and dry. Half chaps are worn with Jodhpur boots. Jodhpur boots are short and the chap covers the leg from the ankle, overlapping the boot slightly, up to the knee. Half chaps provide protection to the leg from chaffing and help the jodhpurs stay in place whilst riding.

There is no harm in checking out what is in fashion and what is not. You do not want the focus placed on you in a show ring instead of the horse. Many local tack shops stock new and used riding apparel for you to try out. What ever your budget your ride will be far more comfortable in the correct horse riding apparel. visit our Web Site www.saddleonline.com

Friday, December 19, 2008

Horse English Riding Boots

If you are going to ride a horse then you better be ready to ride," is what any real horse person will tell you, and that means you need the right kind of horse riding clothes. Even if you are just going out for a little pleasant ride, you still need the right attire. The right kind of clothes protect you and are designed just for horse riding, which means they will protect your legs, arms, head and other areas from the horse, the brush, and the elements.

Horse riding clothes will differ depending on whether it's western riding or English riding. Although the basic elements are similar, the styles will be entirely different. The basic riding clothes include, Breeches (riding pants, just in case you didn't know), Jodhpurs or Jeans, riding boots, riding hat, and riding shirt, and in some cases Chaps.

Western Horse Riding Clothes

When using western horse riding clothes, you will usually either wear jeans or breeches. Breeches are tighter than regular jeans. Jeans are probably the best type of western riding pants because they don't attract stickers, brush, prickly pears or any other sticky stuff you might find out there. If you're riding in areas with a lot of brush, then you'll need to find some Chaps. Chaps are usually made of leather, just like pants but they tie over your jeans. Chaps come in two types, the full length and half-length.

Full lengths are usually worn when working with animals or in heavily brushed areas, and protect the leg and keep your legs dry in wet weather. Half-length chaps are used from the ankle up to the knee and are used to keep your legs from chaffing on long rides. Western riders usually finish their attire with cowboy boots, which come in different styles, a riding shirt, which can be any long sleeve shirt (long sleeves are used to protect against the sun) and a cowboy hat.

English Horse Riding Clothes

When you are English riding your pants and horse riding clothes will be a little different. There are a couple of different types of riding pants here. There are Jodhpurs, which are fitted pants that have a cuff down near the ankles. This cuff goes over the top of a low riding boot. Another type of English riding pants are the breeches, and these are skintight and either have a zipped or a Velcro closure.

English riding boots, unlike western boots are usually long to prevent chaffing of the riders leg. The English riding shirt on the other hand is very similar to the western riding shirt. The only other difference is that in English riding the rider has a helmet, to prevent injury should he/she fall from a jump or some other mishap.

Of course people who ride whether English or Western have their own sense of fashion and so there are different styles within the horse riding clothes, and you might want to step into one of the specialty stores to find out what's hot and what's not. Site www.saddleonline.com

Thursday, December 18, 2008

Horse English Riding Boots


Wearing the right pair of riding boots is essential for every equestrian. However, boots are not just solely meant for the person riding the horse. They are also essentially worn by the horse. Horse boots are worn by the animal to protect its legs from injuries during racing or traveling. Horse boots are typically wrapped around the legs of the horse with the feet left uncovered. Most of them are made of leather or padded fabric and can be secured with buckles and straps.

Get your horse a set of speedicuts

You should considering getting speedicut boots for your horse. These boots are similar to brushing boots that are used for prevention of scratches caused by friction when the horse's feet rubs against its legs. Like brushing horse boots, they can function as protectors for general purposes to avoid bumps and knocks and they can be secured on the rear and front legs while being fastened by Velcro straps.

Protect your horse's legs with the best fit

Speedicut boots are able to protect the upper legs of the horse so they are placed in a position that is higher compared to brushing boots. They should fit properly to prevent slipping while your horse is on-the-go. However, make sure that the straps can be adjusted to a suitable fit that won't make your horse feel uncomfortable. The boots have to be lightweight so they won't hinder your horse's speed and movement. Padded ones can be comfortable but make sure that they are not too thick because the extra weight can slow the horse down.

Speedicut boots should also be chosen according to the shape and size of your horse's leg to ensure a snug yet perfect fit. With the right set, you and your horse can be on your way to a more fun ride or race while making sure that both of you are comfortable. Visit Our Web Site www.saddleonline.com

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Horse English Riding Boots

Wearing the right pair of riding boots is essential for every equestrian. However, boots are not just solely meant for the person riding the horse. They are also essentially worn by the horse. Horse boots are worn by the animal to protect its legs from injuries during racing or traveling. Horse boots are typically wrapped around the legs of the horse with the feet left uncovered. Most of them are made of leather or padded fabric and can be secured with buckles and straps.

Get your horse a set of speedicuts

You should considering getting speedicut boots for your horse. These boots are similar to brushing boots that are used for prevention of scratches caused by friction when the horse's feet rubs against its legs. Like brushing horse boots, they can function as protectors for general purposes to avoid bumps and knocks and they can be secured on the rear and front legs while being fastened by Velcro straps.

Protect your horse's legs with the best fit

Speedicut boots are able to protect the upper legs of the horse so they are placed in a position that is higher compared to brushing boots. They should fit properly to prevent slipping while your horse is on-the-go. However, make sure that the straps can be adjusted to a suitable fit that won't make your horse feel uncomfortable. The boots have to be lightweight so they won't hinder your horse's speed and movement. Padded ones can be comfortable but make sure that they are not too thick because the extra weight can slow the horse down.

Speedicut boots should also be chosen according to the shape and size of your horse's leg to ensure a snug yet perfect fit. With the right set, you and your horse can be on your way to a more fun ride or race while making sure that both of you are comfortable. Visit Our Web Site www.saddleonline.com

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Horse English Riding Boots

Horse riding boots are generally considered to be more of a fashion statement than a requirement in comparison with other horse riding apparel. However, traditional horse riding boots were designed keeping various aspects of horse riding in mind.

Traditional boots had certain characteristics that ensured safety. High heels, typical of most cowboy style boots, help in holding the foot in the stirrup. Heels prevent the foot from slipping and therefore ensure that the rider stays in the saddle. The pointed toe of the boots ensures that they can be inserted in the stirrup with ease. Almost knee high, the traditional boots also ensured that the rider's legs were not pinched or chaffed by the saddle. These were almost always made from cowhide though more exotic hides like elk, alligator, snake, ostrich and elephant are being used now. The tall shaft of the boots ensured that the they were held in place while the loose fitting and absence of lace ensured that the boots would come off in the event of a fall. It is important that the boots come off easily because, if they do not, the rider can be dragged along by a frenzied horse if he or she gets unseated for some reason.

Though the design for horse riding boots that is accepted as standard has changed with the heel becoming shorter and rounded and squared toes coming into the market, the basic levels of safety are still kept in mind while manufacturing the various kinds.

The main types of boots that are considered by horse riders today are field boots, hunt boots, dressage boots and paddock boots. Each of these has their own characteristics and has adopted some aspects of the traditional boot.

  • Field boots - Field boots are generally used when riding with a short stirrup. They provide a certain amount of slack. Generally laced up to the ankle, the field boots are therefore, ideal for short jumps, fox hunting, show or event jumping and fence work.
  • Dressage boots - These boots are used mainly for dressage competitions. They are firmer and stiffer than field boots but can also be used for fox jumping and show jumping.
  • Hunt boots - The hunt boots are used mainly for fox hunting. They are similar to dressage boots but have a cuff at the top.
  • Paddock boots - The paddock boots are also sometimes known as Jodhpur boots. They are meant for everyday use, are generally ankle high and are used along with half chaps. In most cases, this is the option that is chosen for children since paddock shoes are smaller and cheaper. Sometimes, paddock shoes have additional cushion in the form of toe caps. They also have zippers so that wearing them or taking them off is relatively easier.

The key aspects that you need to keep in mind with horse riding boots are comfort and fit. The ones you buy should be made from soft leather and should be padded in the inside. They should also fit snugly. Chose boots that have an adjustable lace to the ankle so that you can tighten the boots based on how much is comfortable. If you are choosing boots that have a high shaft, ensure that putting them on or taking them off is easy. You may also need to invest in boot hooks to put the boots on and a boot jack to take them off.

Sean Prenderville is a retired Accountant and Horse Riding Instructor. Since my retirement I have devoted all of my spare time to horses and horse riding. I have over forty years experience of riding and teaching. For more information please

Visit our website www.saddleonline.com