Dressing to go to the stables is not difficult, but when you go every day like I do, to volunteer at a place where you don’t constantly ride, it can be tricky to choose something to wear. Most equestrians go in their riding gear – a polo or normal shirt, a pair of jodhpurs (or breeches) and their boots and chaps to the stables. Unfortunately, I did not grow up in the wealthiest family, so I did not (and still do not) have the luxury of going to an equestrian shop and spending thousands of rands on beautiful riding wear that makes you fit in. 

Instead, I buy plain t-shirts from a low-cost store, have gone to a second-hand equestrian shop which has a price drop that is mostly affordable and use some of my old t-shirts.  

I find that wearing special boots the entire day that were designed for riding can become uncomfortable and end up digging into my feet in certain places.  

So, most days I end up wearing long pants of some sort, a plain shirt, and swapping out the boots for a simple pair of trainers. 

Showing up for your horses doesn’t need to be fancy, flashy, or perfect. Sometimes it’s good to be reminded that what you wear is not an implication of your love, care or passion for your horses, or even the sport.  

Once I was walking around with holes in my jodhpurs. Was I embarrassed? Sure. Did it make me feel inferior by any means? Sure, it did. But did it mean that my love for my horses or horses in general was diminished? Absolutely not. A piece of wire had caught my jods, and I had it in the back of my mind for the majority of the day, but when I was with Phantom, I didn’t care. I knew she didn’t care, and in those moments with her, my holes in my pants didn’t matter.  

For anyone who is ashamed that they cannot afford the usual types of clothes for riding, don’t be. Just remember that your horse needs your presence, your patience, and your partnership more than what you show up in.