Riding equipment for children – the checklist

The time has come – your child will soon be sitting in the saddle for the first time. Maybe your child has already done their first laps on the lead rein. Children often wear a cycle helmet and wellies when sitting on the back of a pony for the first time. You can find out why you should opt for special children’s riding clothing for riding lessons and which components are part of a complete riding outfit in our guide.

Why should your child wear special children’s riding clothing?

Many parents put off buying riding equipment for their child for the time being – all too often it happens that the desired hobby doesn’t fulfil their expectations after all and it only takes a few trial lessons.

To make your child’s introduction to riding as comfortable as possible, they should wear well-fitting children’s riding clothing that meets the requirements. On the one hand, your child should have a good grip in the stirrups and saddle, freedom of movement must be guaranteed by stretchy textiles and, first and foremost, the risk of (life-threatening) injuries can only be minimised with special equipment.

You should start thinking about buying children’s riding equipment after the first successful trial lessons at the latest.

6 myths you will encounter when buying children’s riding clothing

Unfortunately, there are still some myths circulating among parents and children about buying children’s riding clothing, which we would like to correct:

A cycle helmet and wellies will do just fine

A very clear no. There are different helmets for each type of sport, as the typical accident scenarios in the event of a fall from a horse, bicycle or inline skates are different in each case. Cycling helmets are primarily designed to safely cushion falls from the front, whereas riding hats focus more on protection against falls to the side or back of the head. The details and testing procedures of the helmets also differ significantly and are designed very specifically for the respective sports:

In addition to a children’s riding hat, the right footwear is also important for safety when riding. A small heel suitable for riding and a non-slip sole without a rough profile are a must in order to have a good grip in the stirrups and not slip. However, it doesn’t matter whether you choose jodhpur boots for children or children’s long riding boots.

The soles of commercially available rubber boots are usually smooth and slippery, so there is a risk of the child slipping through the stirrup with the wellie. They are also cut very wide so that the child could lose the boot while riding and the horse could be frightened by the falling boot.

The more expensive the riding hat, the better it protects

All riding hats for children must fulfil the requirements of the current riding hat standard VG1 and are therefore put through their paces in an extensive test procedure. A cheaper children’s riding hat can therefore protect just as well as an expensive model. While inexpensive models usually have more basic features and a simple design, more expensive models are equipped with innovative ventilation holes, a particularly skin-friendly lining or an attractive design. In any case, inexpensive children’s riding hats do not skimp on safety.

Used children’s riding clothing is cheap and good

Buying children’s clothes can be expensive, especially if you have to change your child’s clothes every few months after a growth spurt. Many parents therefore like to shop at children’s flea markets or digital flea market platforms. Is this also a good solution for children’s riding clothing? Yes and no. Children’s breeches and tops are usually still in top condition and can be bought second-hand without hesitation. With safety equipment such as riding hats, back protectors and body protectors for children, a perfect fit is essential to provide reliable protection, so you really have to be lucky to find something suitable for your child when buying second-hand models. In addition – and this is especially true when buying second-hand children’s riding hats – it is impossible to tell whether the riding hat has already been involved in a fall, whether it may have fallen out of the child’s hand onto the ground several times (yes, even the smallest hairline cracks can occur here, which significantly reduce the protective function of the hat) and where the hat has been stored (hot temperatures, such as when the riding hat is stored in the car in summer temperatures, cannot be tolerated by the material).

Buy larger so that you can use it for longer

The same applies here: safety equipment only protects if it fits perfectly. Children’s riding hats, back protectors and body protectors must fit perfectly to ensure protection. Advice from trained specialists is strongly recommended here.

A good fit is also important for children’s riding boots, riding gloves and breeches to ensure they are comfortable to wear. This can help prevent sores and blisters on hands and feet.

Children’s riding clothing is expensive

Riding clothing for children doesn’t have to be expensive. Whether it’s a children’s riding hat, breeches or riding boots for children – there are always affordable alternatives and basic models that are available at affordable prices without having to compromise on quality and safety. What’s more, the child doesn’t have to be covered from head to toe in riding clothing. While riding hats, riding boots and breeches/jodhpurs as well as riding gloves are mandatory for children due to their safety-relevant properties, it only plays a secondary role in children’s tops whether the child is wearing a special functional riding shirt or a conventional shirt from the fashion shop. Although children’s riding tops offer many advantages, e.g. particularly breathable material, nothing stands in the way of a riding lesson in a cotton shirt. Just make sure that shirts and jackets are not too long and loose-fitting so that the child doesn’t get caught on the cantle.

Children’s riding clothing is stiff, uncomfortable and looks uncool

Many parents who took riding lessons themselves as children remember the classic rigid velvet riding hats with chin guards that everyone wore. A lack of ventilation, a poor standard fit and a pinching chin guard made of hard plastic material (which is now banned for riding hats and poses a safety risk) are just as much a part of the memories as the stiff corduroy breeches that were worn in summer and winter, with a rigid waistband that cut into the waist and a Velcro fastening on the leg that caused chafing around the ankles.

If you look at today’s children’s riding fashion, nothing reminds you of the riding clothing that was available in the early nineties. Highly functional textiles that ensure maximum breathability, comfortable cuts for maximum freedom of movement, practical details and fashionable designs show that the days when children’s riding clothing was uncomfortable and boring are long gone.

Particularly noteworthy here are the children’s riding tights, which offer the optimum conditions for maximum comfort in the saddle with their flexible waistband and stretchy material. Children’s competition fashion, which was the epitome of uncomfortable with its heavy competition jackets and competition shirts with stiff collars, has also adapted to the needs of children with breathable and stretchy materials, without compromising on elegant design.

The checklist – What riding equipment does my child need?

We now know what to look out for when buying children’s riding clothing. Before the first riding lesson, you and your child may be looking for suitable children’s riding clothing online. To make sure you don’t forget anything, we’ve put together a checklist for you of what you need to think about and what you should look out for when buying:

MUST HAVES

NICE TO HAVES

For many children, taking part in a horse show is a dream come true – in the appropriate outfit, of course. In the next chapter of our guide to children’s horse shows, we will provide you with all the important information you need for your child’s show participation and you will also receive a competition checklist to download free of charge so that you are guaranteed not to forget anything.