Horseback riding is a fun activity, no matter whether you are close to home or away on vacation.

You can go horseback riding on a dude ranch, on a farm, on the beach, and in many state parks.

What should you wear when you go horseback riding?

But if you’re not a seasoned rider, do you need to invest in chaps, breeches, jodhpurs or riding boots?

I decided to talk to an expert to find out.

Anne Trear, a trail guide at Marshall Canyon Equestrian Center in Southern California, provided a lot of solid advice.

You don’t need to spend a lot of money on clothes to go horseback riding. In fact, you probably already have everything you’ll need in your closet.

What to wear horseback riding for the first time

Trear advises wearing jeans and a long-sleeved fitted shirt. In fact, when I took a look at the Marshall Canyon Equestrian Center website, I noticed long pants are required for trail rides.

Jeans will protect your legs from rubbing against the saddle and the horse and also cover you from getting poked or hit by tree branches and shrubs.

The same goes for a long-sleeved shirt. You’ll likely be out riding for several hours, so long-sleeved shirts provide sun protection and cover from branches and bushes.

What Shoes to Wear Horseback Riding

Horseback riding is not an activity to wear sandals, high heels, or flip flops. Trear recommends wearing closed-toe shoes, preferably with a low heel.

The advantage of low heels is that they allow you to hook your feet into the stirrups.

She also notes that riding can be muddy, so choose clothes and shoes that may get dirty.

What to Wear Horseback Riding in Summer

If you choose to go riding in the summer or a tropical location, always start with the basics: a fitted shirt, jeans, and closed-toe shoes.

Avoid any loose clothes or strings that can get caught in the riding gear.

Besides, you’ll want to keep covered from the sun, so be sure to wear a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen.

It’s also a good idea to bring a bottle of water along for the ride.

What to Wear Horseback Riding in Winter

Layers are the key to being comfortable when riding in the spring, fall, and winter.

Just as with summer riding, start with the basics: a long-sleeved shirt, jeans, and closed-toed shoes.

Add layers such as a sweater, vest, jacket, neck warmer, hat, mittens, gloves, long underwear, and warm wool socks. That way, if you get too warm, you can easily remove layers as needed.

Can you Wear Leggings Horseback Riding

If you have seen more seasoned riders wearing leggings, you may think it’s okay to wear them riding. However, those are not actually leggings; they are riding tights.

Although they look like leggings, riding tights are designed for horseback riding, not yoga. They have extra padding and grip in the seat and knees to keep you comfortable and in the saddle. Learn more about why you don’t want to wear leggings for horseback riding here.

Horseback Riding Clothing Don’ts

As you can see from everything we’ve mentioned so far, being comfortable and protected are the most important priorities when horseback riding.

That said, here are some clothing don’ts to avoid when saddling up.

Dresses or Skirts - Saddles are not made for either of these garments
Shorts do not provide enough coverage to keep your legs protected from rubbing on the saddle or horse, as well as branches or brush that could cut you
Thong underwear - Equisearch recommends avoiding thongs at all costs if you want to be comfortable
Flip flops, sandals, or any open-toed shoes
Loose-fitting clothes or ties that can get caught in the gear
High heels
Bralette, unsupportive bra, or no bra at all - the girls will be bouncing a lot, so opt for a sports bra to keep them in place