Preparing and Packing for an Equestrian Vacation

How to Get Fit for and Choose Gear for Horseback Riding Vacations

Feb 22, 2009 Karen Berger

Whether horseback riding on a hunter course at an English manor or at a dude ranch out west, a few preparations can make for a smoother equestrian vacation.

An equestrian vacation can be the trip of a lifetime, but not if the rider is in pain or doesn't have the right equipment. A little pre-planning and a pre-trip fitness routine can help ensure that the trip goes as smoothly as a Tennessee walking horse.

How to Get Fit for a Horseback Riding Vacation

What's so hard about sitting in a saddle all day? Just try it. The muscles used in horseback riding are almost never used in real life, even in a gym. The only way to get ready to spend a vacation on horseback is to spend some time riding before the trip. Yes, it's expensive, but the dividends include refreshing skills before the trip and getting long-unused muscles in shape. For those who don't ride on a regular basis, riding once a week for about six weeks before the trip should make a big difference.

A little bit of resistance work with weights or resistance machines will help, too. Focus on the inner leg, which is what riding uses the most. A strong midsection (abdomen and back muscles) is also important for a good seat.

Packing Riding Clothes and Equipment for an Equestrian Vacation

• Clothing and gear will very much depend on the type of horseback riding vacation: A dude ranch is different than a formal English hunter-jumper program. It also depends on the type of rider: Experienced English-style riders may feel more comfortable in formal gear, especially in a European hunter-jumper program, whereas western riders don't need much more than jeans and maybe a pair of cowboy boots.
• English riders are required to wear horseback riding helmets and shoes or boots (boots are preferred, either low jodhpur style boots, which come up over the ankle, or full-length riding boots.) At the very least, footwear must have a hard sole (no running shoes) and a small heel (about 1/2 inch).
• Traditional footwear for western riding is cowboy boots (Think Tony Lama boots.) Although most real cowboys would sooner fly to the moon than wear a riding helmet, a riding helmet is an important piece of safety equipment, especially for beginners. Western style helmets are available. The outfitter will tell you if helmets are required, and whether or not they are available for rent or included in the package price.
• Western riders usually wear jeans, although in rough country, some wear chaps (a sort of leather apron with legs that fits over the jeans). Traditionally, chaps provided protection against thorns and scrub when riding cross country; they aren't usually necessary though.
• Clothing for non-riding activities also depends on the type of trip: The dress code is different at an English castle than at a western dude ranch. For less formal trips that involve riding from B and B to B and B or hotel to hotel, some comfortable informal travel clothes can serve for both touring on foot and evening meals.
• For overnight packing trips, the outfitter will provide a list of camping gear they provide, and a list of what the guests should provide (usually personal gear and clothing).

Having gotten in shape before the trip, and having packed the right clothes and equipment for horseback riding, travelers on an equestrian vacation will have only two things to worry about: learning as much as possible, and having a good time.

The copyright of the article Preparing and Packing for an Equestrian Vacation in Volunteer & Eco Adventures is owned by Karen Berger. Permission to republish Preparing and Packing for an Equestrian Vacation in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Equestrian Vacation