In some ways this is a little like asking ‘how long is a piece of string?’ or ‘how high is a horse?’   The horse or pony gear you require will depend upon the pony itself and what you are planning to do with your pony. The following is a very basic list of horse gear which provides a place to start:

• Halter and lead rope
• Saddle, complete with stirrups, stirrup irons and a girth
• Saddle blankets (preferably at least 2, so that one can be in the wash)
• Bridle complete with a bit and reins
• Grooming gear – a dandy brush for the horse’s body, a soft face brush, a curry comb for removing mud, a mane brush or comb and a hoof pick
• Bucket, sponge and sweat scraper for washing down the horse
• Cover if required (see the section on ‘Do I cover my pony?’)

Synthetic or leather horse gear? This really comes down to personal preference and what you are doing with your pony. There are pluses and minuses to both. Quality leather gear looks wonderful and you will need a set of this if you wish to show your pony at higher levels. Leather gear tends to be heavier and harder to clean, but well looked after can last many years. Synthetic horse gear on the other hand tends to be lighter to carry and is easy to clean (mud can simply be sponged off with warm water) but over time it can fade.

An important point to note here is that a leather saddle needs leather stirrup leathers, and a synthetic saddle needs synthetic stirrup leathers. Mixing synthetic and leather can cause greater wear and damage than is otherwise the case.

Regardless of the horse gear you start with, the more time you spend around horses and the more you learn, the more gear you will find yourself collecting…