Posts Tagged ‘many different types’

Whether you’re a new rider or the parent of a new rider, you’ve no doubt already discovered one of the most enduring truths about riding horses: horse riding clothing is expensive. And confusing. There’s so much of it, in so many different styles, for so many different types of riding, it’s hard to know what to buy. And once you finally do pick out a few items, the prices are so shockingly huge you begin to think it might be better to forget about the ponies altogether and get into scrapbooking instead.

But don’t give up yet! Byavoiding the most common mistakes that beginners make, you can save yourself lots of time, money, andfrustration.

Horse Riding Clothing Mistake #1: Buying Everything

When first starting out,many new riders think they needto own every piece of horse riding gearunder the sun. They loaddown their shopping carts and wipe out their budgets only to eventually discover they didn’t need half of it, orthey bought the wrong kind. Or, worse yet, their interest in riding was only a phase and all that expensive equipment is now sitting on a shelf collecting dust.

To make sure you avoid this mistake, just keep in mind one simple phrase: You don’t need all that stuff. All you really need when starting out are three simple things:

1. a horse riding helmet
2. a comfortable pair of pants
3. some horse riding boots.

And that’s it. With just those three items, you can take your first riding lessons, learn the basics,and figure out whether or notriding horses is something you really want todo before you throw piles of money at it. This, of course, brings us to…

Horse Riding Clothing Mistake #2:Buying the Wrong Helmet

There are many different kinds of horse riding helmets, all designed for very specific disciplines or skill levels. Unfortunately, many of them look the same and it would be very easy for a beginnerto spend way too much money on the wrong one.To avoid this common mistake,all you really need to know aboutare two differenttypes: show helmets and schooling helmets.

Show helmets are exactly what they sound like: helmets you wear to a show. They’re very formal and very expensive, often reaching several hundreddollars apiece. Now here’s the good news: Until you reach a level where you’re ready to compete in front of judges, you don’t need a show helmet.

Schooling helmets are also exactly what they sound like: helmets you wear while schooling, or lesson riding. Schooling helmets are wayless formal andway less expensive;a decent one can be gotten for around $30-$40. They’re alsomuchmore durable and easier toclean, meaning the wear-and-tear of weekly lessons won’t be such a strain onyour time or pocketbook.

Horse Riding Clothing Mistake #3:Buying theWrongBreeches

Breeches are those stretchy pants you see professional equestrians wear. They’re made of a special material that allows for freedom of movement andwicks moisture (aka sweat) away from the skin. They also have very soft seams specially stitched to keep from chafing the rider’s legs at the points where they make contact with the sides of the horse’s body. These are all good things.

When you shop for breeches, you’ll find many different kinds with many different names: knee patch breeches, full-seat breeches, low-rise breeches, etc.The kind you ultimately need will depend on which style of riding you get into, but, in the beginning, you can easily get away with a nice, cheap pair of schooling tights.

Note: Some people will tell you that you can just wear a tight pair of jeans, but that really isn’t a very good idea. First of all, most trainers will only let you get away with that for a couple of lessons (until you decide if you want to keep riding or not), and, secondly, the seams on a pair of jeans will quickly begin to chafe — and eventually scar — your legs. Do yourself a favor, and find a nice pair of riding tights.

Horse Riding Clothing Mistake #4: Buying the Wrong Boots

As with all the other pieces of horse riding clothing, there are many different kinds of boots, all made for specific types of riding. Many beginners immediately go for the tall, glossy boots that they see so many other riders wearing, but this is a huge mistake. Not only are those tall boots extremely expensive, they’re also very tough to break in. If your new rider is still growing, by the time the boots are fully broken in, they will likely have outgrown them; meaning all that money you just spent has gone straightdown the drain. And finally, as with show helmets, the wear-and-tear of lesson riding will quickly cause the value of your investment to dwindle.

When starting out, the only horse riding boots a beginner needs are paddock boots. Paddock boots are short, ankle-length boots that look a bit like “granny boots.” They have the same safety features as tall boots, but are far less expensive,far lessdifficultand time-consuming to break in,and not so heartbreaking to get dirty. Also, for kids under 12, paddock boots are perfectly fine to wear for shows, meaning you can definitely get your money’s worth from them for quite some time.

And That’sIt!

Sure, it’s easy to spend a lot of money on horse riding clothing. And it’s really easy to buy the wrong kind. But by avoiding these common mistakes that beginning riders make, you canminimize your cost and maximize your time enjoyingthe reason you got into riding in the first place: spending time with the horse!

Author: John P Harris
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: How Electric Pressure Cookers Work

Whether you horse is a show horse, racing, competitive or jumper you need to take care of it accordingly. This means spending time each day to ensure he/she is comfortable, well fed and exercised and, in this weather, warm. Food is as important for the horse as it is for you so ensure that the horse has all the nutrition it needs. Pasture is the horses’ favourite and it gives the horse the nutrients and protein he/she requires, as horses are constantly grazing you need to ensure you have the right type of pasture for them

As well as pasture, Hay forms an important part of the diet of a horse and is a good replacement is fresh pasture is not available. There are many different types of hay such as Tifton and Alfalfa so make sure you pick the best type of hay for your horse to ensure it is fit and healthy. Alfalfa in particular contains a considerable amount of protein.

Once you have brought the correct type of hay it is important that you store it in a well ventilated area but it must be dry. If the hay is wet and mouldy then the horse can become very sick so check the hay before you feed it to the horse. One thing in your diet is not good for you and it is the same for horses so consider adding things to it such as horse pellets to ensure it is getting all the nutrients it needs.

Your horse needs a lot of water each day with many horses drinking up to 12 gallons a day. This is a massive amount of water and if the weather gets colder then it is a good idea to purchase heated buckets so that the water does not freeze. Salts, Minerals and even treats are important for the horse as well but each horse is different so consult your local vet for the best advice on what measures you should be giving to them.

As with humans, horses need the exercise to keep healthy. The intensity of the exercise will depend on what the horse does (race, jump, show etc) but even if you just have one to ride on occasions they still need regular exercise maybe 3 days a week to keep its fitness levels high and stop it from getting arthritis when its older.

Bob Brightside is an experienced author in the equestrian field. Horse riding boots are an essential product to buy when horse riding. If you are looking for horse riding equipment then search online where there are some great deals available.

Often people buying a used horse trailer make a decision based on looks alone. This is probably the worst way to shop for a used horse trailer. When purchasing a used horse trailer you should try and see it from the horse’s point of view. You want to find the right horse trailer to ensure that your horse will not have a difficult time during transport.

Having the right horse trailer will help keep your horse healthy during travel. When a horse is not properly transported it will not be able to give its best performance at a show or other competition. The overall well being and happiness of your horse also needs to be a consideration. First you will need to think about how much room your horse will have to move around in the trailer. Most horses will be around 15 to 16.5 hands.

You want a trailer that gives your horse at least 10 feet of long foot space. The space also needs to be wide enough so that the horse can move around during travel. There are many different types of horse trailers for sale. They differ in terms of the way the horse is positioned in the trailer.

The stock trailer is the least expensive type of horst trailer available. Stock trailers are usually comfortable for horses that are not too large. If you have a large horse you should consider buying a straight horse trailer where horses go in straight. Small horses often do well in a slant horse trailer where the horse are at an angle. It is important that horses get enough ventilation during transport. You want a trailer with ventilation slats at the horses eye level.You also need enough lights in the trailer to prevent the horse from panicking. You will want to make a thorough inspection of the floor of the horse trailers and make sure it is not worn out. It is a good idea to check the ramp for wear as well. Examine the trailer to see if there are any sharp pieces which could injure the horse.