Horse riding is a popular pastime with many young children, many go on to take up horse riding in one of the many forms of professional horse riding whether that is horse racing, dressage or any other equestrian event. In the UK it is one of the most popular sports with members of the royal family even competing at an Olympic level!

Learning to ride a horse can be tricky though, it can take a few lessons to gain the knowledge and skills required in order to control the horse. It can also be a very dangerous sport as many people have been seriously injured after falling or being thrown from the saddle. It’s important then that for anyone wanting to take up horse riding they should get the right equipment and safety measures before getting in the saddle.

First of all you will need a riding helmet, a lot of movie stars are shown not wearing one but even professionals will wear a helmet as horse riding can be unpredictable and dangerous. People learning to ride should get a helmet that is both secure and comfortable to wear. Riding helmets can come in different colours which could make children more interested in wearing one as they can choose their favourite colour.

One other safety measure some riders wear, especially horse racing jockeys is a body protector, these look like bullet proof vests or under armour that American football players wear. The purpose of these is vital in horse racing as if the jockey falls off they could get trod on by the other horses. If you are learning to be a jockey or any other sport where there are a lot of other horses then a body protector may be what you need.

There are lots of other equipment specific to the horse such as saddles and bridles which you should be able to loan from your stables or riding centre. One part that is very important safety wise is the riding boot or shoe. The most important part of the shoe is how easily you can remove it from the stirrups on your saddle, in emergencies you will have to get your feet out of the stirrups in case of the horse’s weight falling on to your ankle and leg which could cause an injury.

Make sure you get the right safety equipment when learning to ride and you should be able to have a safe and enjoyable experience on horse back.

Horse equipment and accessories need not be incredibly expensive, buying horse tack online can save money as well as seeing a wide range of choice too.

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