A riding hat is probably one of the most important pieces of equestrian clothing you will buy. So important it might even save your life one day - I've been saved by mine a time or two!

Some western riders don't like wearing safety hats, and take natural horsemanship to mean riding without a safety hat - but it seems only sensible to protect yourself as much as you can in what can be an unpredictable and dangerous activity. There are lots of thing you can do to keep yourself safe when you're riding, and one of them is to get a good hat. Most livery yards and equestrian centres won't let you ride on their premises without a hat anyway.

Riding hats are one area where you can't really save money or go for budget options. You really must buy your hat new, as you don't know what a second hand hat has gone through. And once yours has had a knock, get a new one, as it might no longer protect you.

 Go to a reputable tack shop for your riding hat, and make sure that someone who's trained toBETA standards fits it for you. The shop should display a BETA Safety Course Certificate.  It should fit snuggly and not wobble about, and it should have a strap. Make sure the tack shop follows the guidlines for fitting hats, and that the riding hat you buy has all the safety labels. There are some fantanstic equestrian bargains on line, but make you get sure you get your hat from a real shop - it's too important to save money on.

 
Wellies and boots
Jodhpurs
Riding jackets
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