What to wear?

Student

Rider in safe[1] and neat attire (must be worn in the barn area and when riding)

• Properly fitted equestrian helmet (ASTM/SEI-compliant), securely fastened, containing certification that it meets or exceeds the criteria established by a national or international safety body (required while mounted and encouraged during any equine activity).  Bicycle helmets do not provide adequate protection for horseback riders and should not be used for equine activities.

• Shirt with long or short sleeves (covering the shoulders). 

• Long pants (leggings/jeans), jodhpurs, breeches, or riding tights with shirt tucked in. (No “Bling” pants or pants that are bedazzled or have buttons on back pockets as they can damage the saddles.)

• Gloves are required for longeing, long-lining, and driving. 

• Footwear: 

  • Riding: Short or tall riding boots or shoes that cover the ankle and have a boot heel. Paddock/Jodhpur boots or tall boots are preferred  Tennis shoes are not allowed because shoes with no heel can slip through the stirrups, posing a safety hazard. Absolutely NO sandals or flip flops!

  • Driving: Structured boot or shoe with hard toe. Footwear should protect toes (you can test this by pressing down on toe with thumb).

• Long hair should be neatly up or back (pony-tail, braid, hairnet);

• Safety vest is required when jumping solid or XC obstacles or driving through marathon fences, and at the discretion of the student, parent or guardian for other equine activities. 

• Jewelry: Only stud earrings & watch may be worn.

Horse

• Equine neatly brushed; hooves picked out; tack/harness safe, neat, and properly adjusted. 

[1] For more on safety, please refer to p. 9 and pp. 23-25 of Harris, Susan E, et al. The United States Pony Club Manual of Horsemanship: Basics for Beginners/d Level. Howell Book House, 1994.