Essential outdoor riding gear?

[Super*Nuka]

So in the New Year, I will be attempting to move to a yard that is nearer home! YAY! But I will be giving up the absolute LUXURY of having an indoor arena to just having an outdoor.

Tell me what your essential outdoor gear is? For rider and for the horse! Oh and horse currently has a blanket clip.

January sales are going to be very helpful this year, I think!

[1whitesock]

To be honest not that much different from indoor! Have a pair of waterproof pull-ons for very wet days over my jods, a decent waterproof jacket that's not too bulky (so you can put back protector/lots of layers on underneath), boots are waterproof (ariat bromont insulated - love these boots and live in them year round)
I have never used an exercise sheet with Sid even though he's fully clipped out - just one more thing to give him an excuse to be cheeky! Should confess I don't boot him up in the outdoor either!

[Druid]

Decent waterproof jacket that covers your bum - ie not blouson style! (Horseware, Musto, Mountain Horse)

Showerproof/windproof jods (Ariat powerstrech, Irideon 3 seasons, Splash) or full chaps either leather or synthetic (Rambo ones are good)

Decent gloves - Roeckl & Ariat do good winter riding gloves. Sealskinz are fab too and 100% waterproof. Silk glove liner shelp keep your fingers toasty.

Neck warmers - we use fleecy ones & they keep your neck toasty between your coat and hat.

Exercise sheet - all ours wear wrap around ones for warmup/hacking to school and cool down. Take it off once you've moved out of walk in the arena. Waterproof ones are handy for riding in rain!

Decent cooler to dry horse off quickly after a soaking!

[Little-Miss-Muppet]

Decent waterproof jacket that covers your bum - ie not blouson style! (Horseware, Musto, Mountain Horse)

!

god yes make sure it covers your bum the ones that come to your waist are not much good when riding in the rain! I have a musto paddock jacket and its fantastic

- a pair of gloves you can ride in

- waterproof pull ups or chaps they have them in horseware and tri horseware newbridge has the sale on already but things will be even cheaper after christmas.

- If you use boots on the horse get a pair that you can just hose off after riding. My homestead brushing boots with the velcro straps and plastic shell were only 15 euro and still going great 4 years on

- welly warmers these are a lifesaver when working round the yard in the cold.

- neck buff

I dont use excercise sheets as my mares got a blacnket clip.

Basically SN with an outdoor anything that is fancy or fur lined that used to go on the horses legs will get wrecked! :D
Your martingale and girth will become scratched from wet sand and fail to ever look proper clean, horses legs will need brushing/hosing after riding, fancy boots are saved for shows and you will crave a nice sit down infront of the fire on those freezing cold/p*ssing rain evenings :D!

[Super*Nuka]

Basically SN with an outdoor anything that is fancy or fur lined that used to go on the horses legs will get wrecked! :D
Your martingale and girth will become scratched from wet sand and fail to ever look proper clean, horses legs will need brushing/hosing after riding, fancy boots are saved for shows and you will crave a nice sit down infront of the fire on those freezing cold/p*ssing rain evenings :D!

So I must be mad moving then!! :lol:

Ah I dont mind - looking forward to the new yard, just wanted to be prepared and get opinions on what are the essential must-haves :)

Its just a badly-disguised excuse to shop!

[Little-Miss-Muppet]

aw dont worry its not too bad. Just keep any very fancy stuff for shows or indoor riding e.g. nice boots for the horse or expensive tack etc and have the everyday essentials for winter outdoor riding so that you wont mind if they get dirty and worn.

[Karnon316]

riding boots that you dont mind getting covered in loads of wet sand - so ones that can be hosed off are best
and large enought that you can wear 2 pairs of socks to keep your feet warm

thicker pairs of jods to keep the cold out

chaps that you can ride in

those fleece neck warmers are great

jackets that cover your bum are a must ( they have an extra vent that sticks out over the saddle to keep the wind off your bum ) Stock man coats are great for hacking out but I dont like them for schooling

good gloves ( riding with cold hands is not nice at all )

I'd also recomend a second helmet when your normal one gets drownded and you have to wait for it to dry

extra wool rugs for nuka when he gets wet to get the wetness out of him after riding

extra numnahs

also if you are planning on washing the sand out of his legs after riding you might want towels to dry his legs off ( I cant remember if he has white socks )

[Little-Miss-Muppet]

and liquid parafin, brilliant for applying to the horses legs before riding stops the sand getting into his skin and stops sand between leg and boot rubbing them.
be good for nuka if he is usually ridden indoor.

I got turfmaster jods in TRI last week only 30 euro but lovely and warm :nod:

[harvey]

My biggest problem riding outside is wearing clothes that don't breathe and I end up a cold sweaty mess, so last January I treated myself to Northface 3 layer system. Base layer (nice thin vest), fleece lined mid layer and soft shell (waterproof) top layer, adding a neck warmer if it's really cold. If it's really spilling rain I top this off with a breathable waterproof light jacket. I wear base layer long johns under ordinary jods keeps me warm once I get off but usually change out of the jods if they're soaking after riding. Ariat long winter boots are brilliant. I just use ordinary gloves for schooling find waterproof ones too thick, use them for hacking out.

Don't forget rubber covered reins for really wet days. I use saddle shaped numnah rather than squares less to get wet. I use a waterproof breathable fleece lined sheet to warm-up and cool down/dry him off.

If you use boots on him have 2 sets, make sure they're light. I use Equilibrum brushing & fetlock boots they dry really quickly. I use heavier ones for hacking.

Have some system set up so you can hang boots to dry and defo have a towel to hand.

I also use cheap cheap furry girth covers, have 4 or 5 so your girth doesn't get covered in wet sand.

[1whitesock]

interesting re the North face stuff - they've just opened a shop in the outlet in Kildare so may be taking a trip there in the New Year

[Niamhy]

Muck Boots - best winter boots ever.

Waterproof Chaps.

SSG / Roeckl - Winter weight gloves.

Waterproof pull ups when not riding.

Polo Necks, and a neck warmer (I got mine €10 from Horze and its brilliant)

[High_Stepper]

essential!

neckwarmer (i have a buffs one)
Waterproof flourescent rain legs (8 euro in Lidl)

Good sturdy gloves, especially for handling poles and building jumps in muddy damp outdoor arenas. I'd a greasy pole slip out of my hand and resulted in stiches, he'res a pic of the gorey! http://www.stabletostable.com/forums/album.php?albumid=46&pictureid=505

[Teezer]

And a supply of cuppa soups for when you get home indoors to warm up your fingers and toes...............

[Little-Miss-Muppet]

I cant ride in gloves muchl. Got lovely hac tac leather ones with lining great for when I teach or work in yard but cant ride in them.

The only ones I can ride in are the cheap cotton ones with the velcro strap but they end up fingerless as my fingernails end up going through the tops grrr

[High_Stepper]

The only ones I can ride in are the cheap cotton ones with the velcro strap but they end up fingerless as my fingernails end up going through the tops grrr

always happens to me too with those ones, my nails spike out the top!

[harvey]

LMM I agree re the gloves I used to ride in the cheap cotton ones but then discovered Ariat

http://www.ariat.com/products_detail.aspx?pcid=13&cid=37&scid=76&pid=289

they have mesh on the backs of your hands and the thinest material on the rest but SO hardwearing, have mine 3 years and they're still perfect

[Little-Miss-Muppet]

oh they look nice harvey thanks for the link.
I was lookig at ariat stuff just the other day so now I know that they are good I must look again at them. I go through so many pairs of the cheap ones that its better to buy a good pair. (or as the YO said I could just cut my nails :D but they grow really fast)

[FoxyDee]

Even when my nails are short i still end up with holes in all the fingers.

Think i will add those ariats on to my shopping list for tomorrow, hope they have them

[Little-Miss-Muppet]

yeah FD I now own several 'madonna style' pairs of riding gloves!

[FoxyDee]

yeah FD I now own several 'madonna style' pairs of riding gloves!

Possible Festival Costume - - I think so !!

[Little-Miss-Muppet]

ooooh I like it :D

[bob1984]

Harvey - totally agree, got these as a Christmas pressie 2 years ago and I LOVE them!!! Fab :D


LMM I agree re the gloves I used to ride in the cheap cotton ones but then discovered Ariat

http://www.ariat.com/products_detail.aspx?pcid=13&cid=37&scid=76&pid=289

they have mesh on the backs of your hands and the thinest material on the rest but SO hardwearing, have mine 3 years and they're still perfect

[Little-Miss-Muppet]

thanks guys was looking for these on saturday unfortunately they did have them but I did get nice ssg light leather ones that hopefully feel thin enough for me to ride in. bought an 8 rather than a 7 so theres room for my fingers so that will make it easier to hold the reins I hope.

oh, meant to add I got the YO sheep skin insoles in Berneys a while back. she said they are the best thing ever as they have kept her feet so warm when shes teaching in the cold. only 10 euro from berneys dont worry if they dont have exact size you can cut to fit - im going to get a pair for myself!