| Safety gear is critical not only for the health and well | | | | different manufacturers, models, colours, with some |
| being of your children, but also for your own personal | | | | variations in style, and considerable variations in price. |
| sanity. Who needs the stress of worrying about your | | | | I've seen them priced anywhere from $30 to about |
| kids, while they're out having a great time? Additionally, | | | | $300. Average price is in the $60-$70 range, and of |
| safety knowledge evolves over time (sadly, often out | | | | course you tend to pay more for helmets designed to |
| of tragedy), and technology evolves and matures, that | | | | be worn in shows or competitions. Troxel and |
| often gets applied to safety gear in new and | | | | International Riding are the most popular brands around |
| innovative ways, so you should take advantage of it. | | | | where we are, and the Troxel Sierra (tan) is by far the |
| Take skiing for example. Speaking for myself, I never | | | | most popular with local horse kids at the moment. If it |
| wore a helmet when I was growing up. In fact, I never | | | | is the very first time riding, many people will simply use |
| wore one until I had kids and had the opportunity to get | | | | a bike helmet they already own, until they determine |
| them up on the slopes, and realized that I need to | | | | whether or not their child is going to become a real |
| make them wear one, not only to protect them from | | | | horse kid. |
| themselves, but also to protect them from the other | | | | Now I was naive enough to believe that buying boots |
| yahoos flying down the slopes at something close to | | | | was going to be a simple task. Pick up the kids a pair |
| Mach I. So that's evolution in thinking. Biking has evolved | | | | of cowboy boots, and we're done. Silly me. Paddock |
| even more such that the law in many places requires | | | | boots, field boots, who boots, western boots, English |
| wearing helmets. The focus on safety and the quality | | | | boots, hunt boots. Sigh. I'll write an article on the |
| and variety of safety equipment available today in all | | | | different types of boots and when or why you need |
| sports and recreation is orders of magnitude better | | | | them when I have some time, but from a safety |
| than when I was a child, and it continues to evolve. | | | | perspective, there are 4 important characteristics: |
| Horseback riding is no different. Consider the following: | | | | |
| - Horses are animals and inherently unpredictable. | | | | 1. A distinct heel to prevent the foot from slipping |
| - Horses out-weigh horse kids on the order of 20 | | | | through the stirrups on the saddle. |
| times. | | | | 2. A sturdy toe (steel if possible) to protect the riders |
| - Beginning horse kids by definition have little or no | | | | feet while on the ground, particularly from random hoof |
| control of the animal. | | | | movements. |
| - Horse kids do not have enough strength to regain | | | | 3. Non-slip sole. |
| control if something does happen. | | | | 4. High cut enough to prevent the leathers of the |
| - Horse kids are inevitably surrounded by other horse | | | | saddle from pinching the leg of the rider. |
| kids, and other horses, over whom they have zero | | | | Most cowboy boots will do, but note that a lot of kids |
| control. | | | | boots don't have very sturdy toes, and some have no |
| In fact I would argue that particularly for horse kids, | | | | heel on them. You may decide you can live without a |
| safety equipment is the single most important | | | | steel-toed boot, but I wouldn't risk a riding boot with no |
| acquisition you can make to ensure their enjoyment | | | | heel. Frye, Ariat, Roper, and Smokey Mountain seem |
| and comfort, and your own peace of mind. So what | | | | to be the brands with the best reputation that we've |
| do you need to start? The answer is simple - a | | | | discovered thus far. |
| helmet, and boots. Just like buying a bike helmet, ski | | | | And that's it. |
| helmet, motorcycle helmet, etc - there are many | | | | |