Although your riding arena might be a classroom of sorts, it is certainly not conducive to pleated skirts or double-breasted suits. What most professionals wear to work on a daily basis would not last five minutes at the barn.
So what should riding instructors wear to work? How can they find clothing that is both functional and presentable at the same time?
Looking the Part
The first rule in deciding what riding instructors should wear is to focus on professionalism. No, you aren’t passing down orders from the corner office on the thirtieth floor, but how you present yourself does make an impression on your students.
Look sloppy, and people will assume you do not care about your work. Look sharp, and students will perceive you as a dedicated, well-presented professional.
This doesn’t mean you need to find business casual outfits that will permit riding your student’s hard-to-control barrel racer. However, your clothes should be:
- Free of stains, smudges and rips;
- Appropriately modest for the workplace;
- Related to the equestrian profession; and
- Weather-appropriate.
It is a good idea to keep your barn clothes and your teaching clothes separate. After all, the days or hours when you aren’t teaching and you just want to fiddle around at the barn do not require official teaching garb.
Accidents Happen
Occasionally, you will accidentally spill coffee down your front or accidentally tear your shirt on an exposed nail. For those mishaps, keep a spare shirt and pair of pants at the barn so you can quickly change and make yourself presentable again.
I also recommend keeping a drawer or cabinet with socks, underwear and other clothing that you might need to change throughout the day. Again, mishaps occur and you don’t want to be stranded in uncomfortable clothes.
It is possible for the weather to change unexpectedly, as well. A cool front might blow in from the north or perhaps a rain storm suddenly gathers overhead. Whatever the case, keep various articles of outerwear at the barn, too, just in case you need them. Coats, rain slickers, jackets and umbrellas are handy.
Keep It Conservative
I mention above that your clothing should be appropriate for the workplace. In this instance, I do suggest you think business casual. If it would be considered too racy for the office, it probably doesn’t belong in your teaching wardrobe either.
Tank tops, flip flops, short shorts and tops that bare your midriff are not appropriate. I’ve seen it before and it looks terrible, regardless of the teacher’s body type. Remember that riding instructors are role models for their students, and you don’t want to send the wrong message.
Remember Your Environment
Although some riding teachers choose to wear clothing that is not suitable for riding, I find this practice counter-productive. You might have to jump on a horse every once in a while, and wearing clothes related to the sport you teach is appropriate.
For example, English riding instructors might wear breeches and paddock boots with a Polo shirt or button-down blouse. Western riding teachers might prefer jeans and western-style boots with similar tops to go with them.
Don’t wear your new pair of designer jeans to teach riding lessons. Not only will you ruin the material, but they aren’t conducive to your work.
Jeans for All Seasons
When the weather changes, so should your riding instructor outfit. Since you work outside, it is even more important for riding teachers to dress for the weather, and you’ll be miserable if you choose to ignore this particular warning.
In the winter, wear plenty of layers so you can shed coats and sweaters as the sun rises overhead. In the summer, avoid tank tops and thin t-shirts because you’ll get too much exposure to UV light, and consider wearing a hat to protect your face and neck.
Keep gloves at the barn so you can protect your hands from the wind during the winter. I’ve found that I am often most comfortable wearing thick full-seat breeches under jeans during the winter for extra protection against the cold.
Of course, you will start to learn new tricks of the trade as you continue teaching riding lessons. These are my opinions about what riding instructors should wear, and you might have totally different ideas. If so, share them in the comments below.
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- Should Riding Instructors Let Students Ride Outside Lessons?
About the Author: Laura Jane Thompson is the Chief Equestrian Officer of Riding Instructor University and the Feature writer for the horses section at Suite101. She believes that any horse business can succeed provided its owner practices smart strategy.
