In my experience, the # 1 regret that Ranch Guests have when selecting their horseback riding photos is a poor choice of clothing!   This guide is intended to help you select the appropriate outfit(s) for horseback riding at Southern Cross Guest Ranch without sacrificing safety, comfort or style!  For outfit ideas and inspiration, download my complimentary 9 page PDF style guide!

WHERE TO SHOP

There’s no need to spend a fortune on your riding clothes! Stores like Tractor Supply carry basic western boots, jeans and some shirts and websites such as Countryoutfitter and Sheplers carry a wide range of brands at all price points. Personally,  I find Wrangler to be the most comfortable jeans and most affordable quality clothing. My preferred boot brand is Ariat.  It’s probably best to do your shopping before you arrive so that you can maximize your time on-property and get the chance to break in those new boots and jeans before riding in them. Shopping for this kind of apparel in Madison isn’t great, though we do have a few nearby choices:

• Tractor Supply – Located less than 10 minutes from the ranch. They carry a limited supply of boots, jeans and shirt. Plus essentials such as socks, ball caps and horse treats! At a pinch, you could order online to collect from store.
  
• Equine Consign – Local consignment store that carries a large inventory of clothing and tack. They have now moved from Madison Downtown and are located on Athens Highway about 20 minutes from Southern Cross Guest Ranch. The owners are Frank and Shirley – Give them a call before you set off to check their opening times.
  
• Horsetown – These stores are worth a visit even if you have not intention of buying anything! They are chock full of Western and English apparel and tack. Horsetown South in Locust Grove is a little over an hours drive from the ranch. Horsetown East is located the same distance, in Snelville. The one a Locust Grove has a very nice lady who works in the hat department where she can fit and shape hats to order! They also has a nice selection of Western homeware and gifts.  Both stores have many, many great examples of taxidermy on display. Personally, I find the store at Locus Grove a little more welcoming and a more scenic drive.
  
• Marys Tack (Athens) – Mary’s tack & Feed Store is a bit closer, just a 45 min drive in Athens. They carry a selection of western apparel and a limited supply of English tack. This is the place to go if you are feeling guilty about leaving your dog at home! They have a great selection of dog food and treats to take home for your pooch!
  

GENERAL ADVICE

It is generally recommended in all seasons to dress in thinner layers as to avoid overheating. In summer, the trails tend to be much cooler than the barn/mounting areas and pastures. So they can provide a welcome relief from the heat. In summer, lighter, long sleeved layers are a good idea to help prevent overheating and sunburn. Even in the winter, physical exertion from horseback riding can cause your body temperature to increase, so keep this in mind when selecting an outfit.

In colder weather, typically we find that most of our riders arrive at the barn wearing all of their layers but may have removed some by the time they leave for the ride. We suggest that, before you leave for your ride, you make a judgement call as to what you will be comfortable wearing for the duration of the ride. Avoid having items of clothing or tied around the waist when riding. Also avoid having excessively loose items of clothing that may get hung up on the saddle horn, flap about or fly away during your ride. Besides the inconvenience of losing your clothing, items such as fly away rain jackets, shawls or scarves may present a safety risk.  

Ponchos are not permitted at the Ranch when riding as they can can pose a safety issue, but you can wear them around the barn area, prior to mounting your horse.

HEADWARE

As per Georgia Law, anyone under 18 years old must wear a safety helmet! It is optional for anyone 18 and older, but always recommended.  The ranch can supply helmets or you can bring your own.  Even if you wear a riding helmet during trail riding, you will still have plenty of opportunity to rock your new cowboy hat during your stay! We can still take photos in your western hat before you get on your horse. Generally, straw hats are worn in  the summer, whereas felt hats are reserved for the colder weather.  

SHIRTS & TOPS

 Of course if you want to rock the Western style then a Western button down shirt is the answer for men, women and kids alike. When selecting a shirt, make sure that it is long enough to tuck into your jeans and not restrict movement. Check that the buttons across the chest are not gaping. Polo shirts are also a good choice for anyone, but lend to a more ‘English’ style. 

For your horseback riding photos I strongly suggest staying away from neon colors and T-shirts and huge logos/graphics/text on them, so guys (and girls) best leave your orange hunting T-shirts at home!

Ladies, if you are on the bustier side of the spectrum – wear a sports bra. I promise, you will thank me for it! 

There are many other options for tops such as sleeveless tanks coupled with a lighter jacket or shirt, a cute (but practical) top or an all out Cowgirl shirt with sequins and fringe – Have fun with it!  

GLOVES

Although generally the reins used at the ranch are kind to the hands and the guest horses are quite ‘soft in the mouth’; you may wish to wear gloves during your ride to protect your hands from the elements. Remember, your hands will be exposed for the entire ride. Regular wool knit winter gloves are totally fine, you may loose some dexterity with thicker gloves so these are not recommended. Thin riding gloves with grips can be purchased relatively inexpensively, and lined leather gloves are great for the colder months on the trails.

PANTS

Wear long pants to protect your legs from chaffing or rubbing against trees if you get too close. Since we do Western riding here, if you want to be comfortable and look the part, we recommend jeans.  Most people own at least one pair of jeans that will suffice; but if you need help in selecting the right jeans, CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD MY FREE STYLE GUIDE where we have some recommendations for the brands and types of jeans that are best suited to horseback riding. Be sure that they are a good fit, but are not so fitted that they restrict the movement of your legs. Avoid low rise jeans, not only are they uncomfortable for riding but the rider behind you may end up seeing more of you than they wish to! English riding pants are also fine if that’s more your style.

ACCESSORIES

I strongly encourage the use of accessories to finish your look. However, use your judgement and stick to those that are functional (such as a nice belt) and will not present a safety or comfort issue to you.

SOCKS

You may want to invest in a good pair of warmer hiking socks for the colder months, just make sure that they are not so thick that the constrict blood flow when you have your boots on! For the rest of the year, regular cotton socks are fine to wear under your jeans – the longer the better as to help with chaffing. 

FOOTWARE

Footwear must always be closed toed and closed heeled. For better fit and protection, we suggest boots over sneakers. Steer clear of shoes that may fall off or ones that don’t  cover your entire foot properly, such as pumps and slipper type shoes. When looking for boots, you may already have something in your closet: The most suitable boots for horseback riding are have a low heel (1-1.5 in) to help keep your foot from slipping through the stirrup. Anything much higher than this would probably be considered a fashion boot and not really suitable for riding in. Some work boots and hiking boots are ok, but they tend to be wider with a lot of grip which will make it harder to slide your foot in and out of the stirrup. Western riding boots come in many variations, check out our free style guide here

I hope this guide helps with your preparation for your ranch visit!  What are your favorite riding brands?  Leave a comment below and share this blog with your friends!

Note:  Information in this article is based solely on my personal opinion, the brand/product links found on this page are provided for my readers’ convenience only – I have not been compensated in any way.   With the exception of Southern Cross Guest Ranch, I have no affiliation with any of these brands/companies.