Clothing Requirements

As with any sport, there are certain specialized items of clothing that have been time-tested for comfort and safety. The following clothing items are required for all students riding and/or participating in course labs and activities at the Equestrian Center.

RIDING CLASSES

1. ASTM-SEI approved helmet with attached harness properly fitted and fastened is required when mounted on any horse at the LEC George M. Humphrey Equestrian Center and for showing LEC horses, whether rider is a junior or an adult. Hair must be neatly pulled back under helmets; hair nets help. There are no exceptions.
    
2. Waist high breeches or jodhpurs - no jeans, sweat pants, or chaps. Riders must wear a belt.
    
3. Tall riding boots, leather preferred. Rubber boots are not appropriate for riding as they prevent lowering of the heel comfortably in most cases. Paddock shoes (NOT riding tennis shoes or dansko clogs) with well fitted boot style half chaps. Any other footwear is worn only with permission of the instructor (example: winter riding boots).
    
4. Shirt - well fitted, tucked in (NOT baggy). A polo shirt is a good example of an appropriate shirt. Remember, you are paying for the instructor to improve your riding skills; if you are "disguising" yourself in baggy clothes, the instructor will be unable to evaluate and correct your riding effectively. Please, no tank tops! Shirts with sleeves or sleeveless shirts with collars are appropriate. Shirts must cover the midriff. (Think "workmanlike" appearance.)
5. All riders should bring a crop or dressage whip to class as appropriate. Be sure to put some form of identification on it.
    
6. Any jacket, sweater, vest, or sweatshirt worn to a riding class must be well fitted except in the coldest of weather (20 degrees or below) when layering clothes may require a bulkier jacket.
    
7. Gloves for riding, lunging, and other ground work as required.
    
8. Facial jewelry is limited to non-dangling earrings only. Tongue jewelry is not to be worn when in the barn on a horse.
    

RECREATIONAL RIDING

These policies apply whether riding an LEC horse or a personal horse, and whether the horse is ridden with a western saddle or an English saddle.

1. Waist high jeans and full chaps are permitted; breeches encouraged. Jeans without chaps are not appropriate for recreational riding unless the rider is riding bareback.
    
2. Tall hunt boots, paddock shoes with boot style zippered half chaps, western boots or lacers are the proper riding attire. NO riding tennis shoes, muckers, work boots, hiking boots, clogs, etc.
    
3. ASTM-SEI approved helmet with harness fastened and hair tucked up under.

IN THE BARN (includes classes/labs where horses are handled from the ground)

1. Hard soled shoes (closed heel and toe), boots, muckers. NO tennis shoes, clogs, etc..
    
2. Shoulder length, or longer, hair tied back during classes where horses are handled from the ground; includes breeding/stud farm management practicum, stable management, and other labs/classes as required by the instructor.
    
3. Gloves for handling horses, especially in the breeding/stud farm labs.

   4.  Appropriate shirts as required for riding classes. Waist high jeans.

Your instructor, the herd manager, or staff supervisor may excuse you from class if you fail to comply with this dress code as set forth by the Equine Studies faculty and staff.