Good morning!
I hope your weekend is off to a great start!
My Saturday morning kicked off with scrambled eggs.
I prepared my scrambled eggs with a splash of milk, shredded mozzarella cheese, peppers and onions.
A smear of jelly was also added to my bagel after I snapped the above picture because I need a little something sweet after all that savory flavor.
The plans for the day now include a morning walk with Sadie, a trip to the gym and something very Ocala-ish.
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With Ocala dubbed the “horse capital of the world,” Ryan and I decided we should do as the Ocala folks do and go horseback riding today. I purchased a Groupon for a 90-minute ride a few weeks ago and we’re excited to put it to use this afternoon.
The only problem is that temperatures are supposed to hit 90 degrees when we’re on the trails… and pants are “highly recommended.”
I am not about to wear jeans because I’m pretty sure I would have a serious case of swamp ass by the end of the ride, but I worry that more breathable pants will cause me to have one heck of a sore hiney.
If you’re a regular rider, do you have any recommendations? Yesterday on Twitter a few of you recommended dri-fit pants, leggings or black yoga pants with boots, which seems a lot more breathable than jeans, but I don’t want to look like a fool or be in pain because of thin pants.
This is the ensemble that I’m currently considering:
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Someone remind me to bring a wreath and some fresh blooms to drape around my steed.
Clearly I’m a a lost little horse on this one, so hopefully I’ll figure something out. It’s not like the ride is going to be very advanced (on the form I said we were “beginners… adventurous beginners”), so I’m sure I’ll be fine one way or another.
Off to walk Sadie!
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I’ve only gone horseback riding a couple times and both were when I was in girl scouts in elementary school – otherwise I’d help you out! But have a great time!
Wear jeans. Unless you have special riding pants the saddle will pinch your skin and you will be VERY uncomfortable.
😀
I’m sure if you wore leggings or dri fit it would be fine. My guess is they see people come in wearin all types of crazy get ups.
I have only been a few times and it’s been cold and I did have jeans on but I don’t remember anything about them preventing a sore butt! Lol
Have fun!!
I used to take riding lessons in the summer so I’ve ridden in my share of scorchers. It’s kinda going to be hot no matter what you wear because long pants are a must. It’s honestly better to have a sweaty tush than to be cut or blistered from the saddle. If you don’t want to wear jeans, wear something with sturdier fabric that won’t tear easily. A good quality pair of leggings will work, and Ryan could probably wear lighter weight khakis. I would definitely wear a really breathable top made of dri-fit or wicking material to keep you cool. Shoes should be close-toed (unless you like the feel of horse poo between your toes :)). Sneakers are okay but keep in mind anything with too thick of a heel might not fit well in your stirrups.
Hope this helps! Have a great time 🙂
Julie – this sounds so fun!! I rode horses competitively for over 10 years. I would say definitely wear jeans. Don’t worry about the swamp ass, it’s unavoidable in 90 degree heat anyway. If you wear jeans, you will avoid the nasty chafing and sores you could get from the saddle rubbing. It may seem silly in the heat to wear them, but the heat will also increase friction so if you don’t have thick pants on like jeans, your skin will pay the price. Have fun!!!!!
I definitely agree with Sarah. For our Honeymoon in the DR, I made my husband go horseback riding, which meant 2 hours on the beach in the sun. I insisted that we both wear jeans and I’m so glad we did – one woman was in workout capris and slid off her saddle every time the horse started to canter. The dry wick fabric pants will be too slippery, and you want traction.
As an avid rider I can say you will be hot period. Riding a sweating animal will warm you up at any temp (TWSS), let alone in Forida in June. Keep your top cool and just accept the fact that you’ll need to shower afterwards – but it will be totally worth it!
You should definitely wear jeans! In the summer I either ride in jeans and half chaps or breeches and tall boots. Jeans will be hot but they give you greater traction and protect your legs. Have fun!
I love horseback riding! I usually wear sweats when I go
Wear jeans. Even in 100 degree heat that is the norm (unless you have special riding pants).
Hey Julie!! So glad to hear you’re doing something so Ocala-y!! As a former equestrian I am going to echo what the other pony girls on here said and tell ya you gotta wear jeans. You’ll get bad pinches or chafes otherwise, especially inside your knees or inside your calves. Thought of you yesterday because I sent like 50 Surviving Meso books to a facility and had to put AMAG stickers on them all and your name is on there front and center haha. Published Author!! Miss you and glad you guys are enjoying Ocala! Xo
It’s funny how fashion can be so important in day to day life. The wrong outfit can make an outing pleasant or very uncomfortable, both physically and mentally. Honestly, I stick to the treadmill when it’s cold outside because I have no idea how to dress for cold weather jogging!!
I rode as a kid and though my fashion options were limited back then to my older sister’s hand me downs, I seem to recall always wearing jeans.
I only ride in jeans, and we try to be done riding by noon so we and the horses don’t get too hot.
Jeans!! Yoga pants or leggings have no traction, you’ll slip right off the saddle. Plus jeans protect better against brush, you don’t want a bunch of itchy scratches.
Jealous!! I have been a competitive rider since I was five and I would also suggest you wear jeans and make sure you wear at least a 1- 1.5 inch heel! dont want your foot slipping through the stirrups!
HAVE FUN!
I would just wear jeans. One of my best friends in college rode competitively and she was out in the barn in jeans even if it was blistering hot.
I think wearing anything but jeans will make the ride uncomfortable and you won’t enjoy yourself. My husband’s entire side of the family are horse riders and live in Montana, they wear jeans in the dead of summer when riding, I know it can be hot but bring a change of clothes for after your ride and you’ll have a much better experience. Have fun!
Yeah, I rode horses for over a decade. Wear jeans. True, riding breeches are like leggings. BUT, the material is thick and you have suede or leather patches to help with traction. Really, just wear jeans. You also likely will sweat through the leggings which will still make you feel sticky, plus it will make you slip in the saddle.
For footwear, one commenter said make sure the sneaker heels aren’t to thick for the stirrup. I find the problem with wearing sneakers isn’t the heel so much as the ball of the foot. If there’s too much cushiony stuff that makes the outside of the shoe wide there, it’s not good. BUT, western (saddle w/ horn) stirrups are much wider, so you should be ok. Unless they specifically advised that you need something with a heel, I wouldn’t worry too much about that. I’m sure there horses are dead broke. (But it is safer to wear a heel in case one does spook and you need to get off fast).
I already posted. But, If you do decide to wear leggings, try to wear some sort of compression short underneath. (In fact that may help the soreness factor even in jeans).
I think the green dress will be perfect. 😉
WEAR JEANS JULIE!! I used to ride in the Okeechobee area and even in the dead of summer, you will want to wear jeans. Unfortunately, swamp ass is just par for the course 🙁
But have a great time and enjoy the ride!!!
jeans sound very hot and uncomfortable. i would def wear leggings or yoga pants but i know NOTHING about riding horses 🙂 i can’t imagine that pants would give your booty THAT much protection… would they??? i would go for being comfortable and not sweating to death!!
Wear jeans, yoga pants, or some type of long pant that are a bit thick (lighter color if it’s hot out).
Have FUN 🙂
I live in Texas and have riden horses my whole life. wear jeans. Yes you might a little hitter but bring shorts to change into in the car afterwords. If you at trail riding there is potential that you will be brushing up against stuff that could cut a thinner fabric.
It won’t be as bad as you think. Have fun!
I went horseback riding once with the hubs and it was a super beginner course, so the horses didn’t do much more than walk… but I wore sweatpants (I know, so sexy.. good thing he loves me haha) and I was fine!
Wear jeans!!! I ride competitively (3day eventing) and ride multiple horses every day in jeans. You will b more comfortable in them than anything else. Have fun!!!
I’ve gone quite a few times – I’d suggest just wearing jeans, even though it’s hot. Have fun!
That outfit that the women has is absolutely HIGHlarious! I recommend wearing jeans because your thighs can get sore. You will love horseback riding! Have fun 🙂
Ahhh, I could never… while I LOVE most animals, I have quite the (irrational?) fear of horses! haha
I have to agree with the other riders here, wear the jeans. There are so many benefits while yes not they will save you down the line. have fun!
These comments have been wonderful. There is the entire unglamorous side to summer riding that I have missed out on.
I was going to tell you to wear the fiesta dress. Clearly not an experienced rider here. 🙂
Ohh Ocala. My aunt and uncle breed/race horses in Ocala – it’s like the big “rich people hobby” down there! 😉 Have fun on your ride!
oooh yes. it’s not uncommon to see people out and about in full riding gear!
Hi Julie!
I’m not a riding expert at all, but I have been before. I remember you said you got Sadie because her breed doesn’t have an undercoar. If that’s the case, I’d definitely wear jeans to horseback ride despite the hot temps because the contact between your legs and the horse’s hair could cause you to have a rash or other allergic reaction on your legs!
Good luck, and have fun!!
Hi! I am an ex-horse owner (university and moving forced sale 🙁 sad times) and I wore jeans to ride always, regardless of the heat. Trust me, even when it’s super hot out, you are going to want something to protect your legs from rubbing, and unless you can dig a pair of jodphurs or breeches out of your closet – unlikely if you’re not a regular rider – I’d definitely recommend jeans. Just wear a t-shirt or tank top if you’re concerned about being too warm, but I wouldn’t sacrifice the jeans. Maybe wear your thinnest pair if you happen to have a few different brands of jeans. I’m sure you’d be okay in yoga pants or the like (I did once ride with a girl in flannel pajama bottoms, so it can be done) but for comfort’s sake, I’d say jeans are the best bet.
I’m jealous, I haven’t ridden more than once in the past year and I miss having a horse pretty much every single day! Have an amazing time!
im sorry you’re not a horse owner any more – i can tell just by this comment that you love ’em! i’ll definitely be wearing jeans. 🙂 thanks for the tip!
I’m glad you’ve decided to go with jeans – I don’t think you’ll regret it 🙂 I hope it was great fun!
I’ve been riding for most of my life, so I feel I am qualified to answer this, lol. Leggings, yoga pants, workout pants etc would be fine. In fact, riding pants are often made out of similar materials. They just don’t want you to show up in shorts, because bare legs would not be comfortable. You just need fabric between the saddle and stirrups, and your legs.
Hope this helps, and have fun! 🙂
I would definitely recommend wearing jeans–it can get hot but honestly you’ll be way more comfortable. By the way, for shoes its always best to have a boot with a little bit of a heel and not to wear anything with waffled soles like hiking boots or running shoes, conventional wisdom says they can get stuck in the stirrup. Have fun Julie! Riding is one of my favorite things to do, hope you have a great time:)
Looks like fun Julie. I have gone in Sunriver, OR on my yearly vacation and that is the desert in summer. I always wear jeans but I have seen people wear shorts, capris and all kinds of stuff. If you are going on a leisurely trail ride for beginners, it seems like apparel choices aren’t as critical. Have a fun time!
I’ve ridden a BLIND horse once, NO LIE! That was years ago, so I don’t even know what I was wearing!
Dry fit leggings/gym leggings would be your best bet. You’ll be in pain from the rubbing if you wear jeans. Trust, I used to ride every single day!
good luck! i have no idea what to wear … maybe bike shorts for extra cushion? 🙂
either way you’ll have fun, though! it’s just tomorrow that might hurt! 🙂
Jeans should be fine! I went horseback riding in AZ in October and I was fine.
My horse was a little crazy and did not like to follow orders lol, but it was a fun experience:) Have fun!
I’ve been riding a few times in my life. I actually just went on May 26th. It was a hot sunny day, so I wore yoga pants, and running shoes. I was perfectly comfortable, and my horse was even trotting at times – no chafing or soreness. Other than the usual muscle soreness from riding of course 🙂
Have fun!
I have no horse experience. However, I felt I should share that all I can think of while reading this post is when they go horseback riding in ‘It Takes Two’ and Amanda (pretending to be Alyssa) says “Are you asking me equestrian?”. I feel like you would appreciate some Mary-Kate and Ashley throwabacks hahah.
you know it!!!
As a frequent rider, I think you’ll be fine wearing yoga pants or dri-fit pants with boots! Since you guys don’t ride very often, you’ll both probably be sore tomorrow anyway; the pants won’t make much of a difference. 🙂
Can’t wait to read about how it goes for you!
I was looking at the comments to make sure people were suggesting to wear jeans and I didn’t get through reading all of them, but am a bit surprised how many of your readers are competitive/experienced riders! Interesting!
You’re going to have an amazing time! I used to trail ride every weekend, but it’s been a few months.
Jeans will be fine, and my best advice to keep yourself comfy during the ride is to engage your core muscles at all times and to try to sit on your lady bits. Don’t lean forward, but don’t rest in the saddle on your butt. Assuming it’s Western-style riding, try to keep space between the back of your saddle and your butt. And – don’t forget to wear a helmet! Horses are more dangerous than most people realize, and a helmet is your best way to avoid serious injury.
I was already hungry! That bk looks delicious!
I’m not going to lie, I’ve been riding for over 16 years and I can safely say I have never had a pain-free ride in jeans. I don’t know if I’m just crazy, but I don’t see how jeans can be comfortable at all! They don’t have enough stretch and the inseam chafes like crazy.
I would say go with yoga pants or a dri-fit running tight to be most comfortable if you don’t have any riding breeches. Wear boots that have a bit of a heel on them, like rubber boots or hiking boots. And please please please wear a helmet! Anything can happen when you’re on a horse, even if it’s just one time for 90 minutes.
And last but not least…HAVE A BLAST! 🙂
totally second this! jeans are the most uncomfortable pants one can wear for horseback riding!
Go with the blue dress. And don’t you DARE skimp on the veil! 😉
Swamp ass LOL I thought me and my family were the only ones who used that expression! Haha…have fun horseback riding! I’m a little jealous of the 90 degree heat you’re getting, it’s rainy and dreary up in Providence today.
Good luck! I truly love horse back riding!
I hope you will LOVE it!!!
I absolutely hate wearing jeans when horseback riding- I just don´t ever feel that I really get a connection to the horse (don´t really know how to describe it) because of the thick fabric. Tight yoga pants and leggins are definitely best, trust me!
Also I don´t think you will be that sore (maybe inner thighs), as you are working out and you will problably engage your core anyway. Just keep it tight and you will be golden.
Can´t wait to hear how it went 🙂 I really hope you guys will enjoy it. I adore horseback riding.