Riding Kit & Gear
Kit & Gear · Well Equipped

Riding Kit & Gear

6 guides
Holmescales / Kit & Gear

You need surprisingly little to start, and a hard hat is the one thing never to compromise on. Here's what's worth your money.

This is the kit edit: what to buy, in what order, without overspending — from a properly fitted helmet and beginner boots to jodhpurs, gloves, first-horse tack and a grooming kit. Amazon UK picks where useful, and honest advice on what a beginner genuinely needs.

The Best Riding Boots for Beginners
Editor's Pick

The Best Riding Boots for Beginners

The best beginner horse riding boots in the UK — comfortable, safe jodhpur boots and affordable long boots, plus what a riding boot actually needs.

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1
Rider KitWhat to wear in the saddle.
The Best Riding Helmets: A Buyer's Guide1

The Best Riding Helmets

How to choose a horse riding helmet in the UK — the safety standards that matter, why fit is ev…

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The Best Jodhpurs and Riding Tights2

The Best Jodhpurs and Riding Tights

A guide to buying jodhpurs and riding tights in the UK — the difference between them, what to l…

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The Best Horse Riding Gloves3

The Best Horse Riding Gloves

A guide to horse riding gloves — why they matter, the difference between summer and winter glov…

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2
Horse KitTack and grooming essentials.
Essential Tack for Your First Horse1

Essential Tack for Your First Horse

The tack and equipment a first-time horse owner actually needs — from a well-fitted saddle and …

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The Best Horse Grooming Kit for Beginners2

The Best Horse Grooming Kit for Beginners

What goes in a horse grooming kit — the essential brushes and tools every owner needs, what eac…

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Good to Know

Frequently Asked

What kit does a beginner rider need?
To start, you need only long leggings or jodhpurs and boots with a small heel — the school lends you a hat. Once you commit, buy your own certified helmet, jodhpur boots, jodhpurs and gloves, spread over a few months.
What riding helmet should I buy?
One certified to a current safety standard such as PAS 015 or VG1, professionally fitted at a tack shop. Replace it after any fall or hard knock, and never buy a hat second-hand or share one long-term.
Are jodhpur boots or long boots better for beginners?
Jodhpur boots with half-chaps are better for most beginners — cheaper, comfortable and usable around the yard, with the same safety and a similar feel to long boots, which are best left until you compete.
What should be in a grooming kit?
A hoof pick, rubber curry comb, dandy brush, soft body brush, mane and tail comb, two sponges and a hoof-oil brush. A boxed beginner set is the cheapest way to buy everything at once.