"No hour of life is wasted that is spent in the saddle" Winston Churchill

First time riders can come to introductory lesson in long pants and a hard soled shoe with a heel.

We STRONGLY recommend getting proper riding gear as soon as possible.

• Boots: The most important piece of safety gear when working with horses is proper riding boots. They protect your feet when working around the horses from ground and provide a secure base in the stirrups. We recommend paddock style leather riding boots. Amazon carries an inexpensive pair for beginners: Tuff Rider Starter Boots. Serious students prefer Ariats for long lasting comfort and durability.
• Helmets: Highly recommended and required for students under 18 years old - we recommend a proper horseback riding helmet not a bike helmet. Ovation makes a great low profile adjustable size schooling helmet available on Amazon: Ovation Schooler Helmet.
• Riding Pants: These should have ultrasuede knee patches for a comfortable grip with the saddle. Regular pants have seams right where your leg lays on saddle. Breeches are fitted at bottom of leg and Jods are bootcut (tie downs preferred). Brands include TuffRider, Kerrits, Piper Jods, Alympic Equestrian, Irideon, Mod Jods or our personal favorite: Freedman Jods.
• Gloves: Optional but helpful for creating a better grip on the reins and keeping hands warm during winter months. Look for ones designed specifically for riding (leather or other types of non-slippery, thin material gloves) such as SSG or Heritage brands.