Clothes are very personal. My priorities again are function, comfort and value.
I prefer:
-Breeches without a full seat – just good knee strapping (eg alcantara) that doesn’t twist round. Fabric wise I prefer a quality cotton mix with elasticity;
-Thin gloves in summer; neoprene in winter; essential if you compete anytime, but absolutely essential in winter to avoid cold weather injuries.
-Jodphur boots and half chaps give me more leg freedom and are easier to get on and off. I find that modern boots with a contoured supportive sole are better than the old fashioned varieties.
-Well balanced dressage whip. This is one of my “props”. I don’t carry it always. I leave it at the side of the arena in reaching distance. When I carry it I believe my horse will canter on the aid and usually he does. I don’t use the whip. It is a psychological prop for me. It works as a prop for me because he isn’t whip shy and it doesn’t make him tense. If he was I would de-sensitise him by carrying it always.
-Short jumping whip. Easy to carry all the time and doesn’t get in the way. Can be used on your own thigh or on the numnah. The sound the whip makes is important, rather than the physical impact.
-A lightweight, well fitting, comfortable hat constructed to the current standard. I find it is amazing how many “celebrities” do not wear a hat.
-T-shirt in summer or thermal wicking tops and layers in winter.
-Riding waistcoat provides warmth where I need it but less restricting than a normal jacket.
Spurs – I believe that riders shouldn’t wear spurs until they have a stable leg. You can’t maintain a stable leg until you have self control and you can’t have that until you have self carriage. I have witnessed riders being urged to use spurs by their trainers because their horse is lazy. It doesn’t work. Spurs are for finessing leg aids, not for punishing the horse with legs the rider can’t control. At one yard that recommended this approach the horses all had scars on their sides. An overactive, clinging leg can create enough damage without spurs. If you are wearing patches off your horse’s coat it is time to stop and think and change your riding.
What about rider injuries? And I’m not talking about accidents and broken bones here! In the past I have had rubs under my left seat bone and blisters inside my knees. Blisters means rubbing which means movement and chafing. Why? The blisters were caused by some poorly fitting breeches and riding a rather lazy horse. Some saddles with thick stirrup leathers can cause problems so try single thickness dressage leathers.
You shouldn’t need to use plasters, strapping, thick padded pants and gel/prolite seats or pads on saddles. This addresses the symptom rather than treating the cause. Usually the cause is too much rider movement due to instability. More work on position is what is required. Good riding is not about bumping and grinding. Stop clinging, gripping and pushing and simply let go and allow.