Kids' Riding Clothes, Boots & Helmets

For lessons, schooling and trail, what your child wears is your choice or your trainer's. At USEF shows, protective headgear is required in hunter and equitation classes (HU107.1, EQ106.1, 2026), and boots worn while riding at dressage competitions must have a distinguishable heel (DR120.1.6). Our kids' range covers each piece: helmets in junior sizes, breeches, jodhpurs and riding tights, paddock and tall boots, and riding tops.

Check the class rules first. In USEF hunter and equitation classes, protective headgear is required, shirts must have a choker, similar collar or tie, breeches may be buff, canary, tan, rust or white, and conventional attire following the tradition of fox hunting is encouraged and preferred (HU107.1–2, EQ106.1–2, 2026). Under the hunter division's hunt colors rule, brown boot tops are prohibited in classes restricted to junior exhibitors unless the junior wears scarlet (HU108.2).

Junior helmets are sized by letter, hat size or centimeters, depending on the maker, so start with the size chart on the product page. Many adjust: Troxel builds its Spirit helmet with a DialFit system for precise adjustment and says the headliner tabs on its Kids' Toddler Helmet fold over to adjust the width, and Ovation gives its Metallic Schooler an easy-adjust dial for a snug fit. USEF dressage rules require the harness to be secured and properly fitted (DR120.1.1, 2026).

It means the helmet meets a published testing standard. USEF dressage rules require protective headgear that complies with the accepted testing standards published on the Federation's website and carries the applicable testing tag or label (DR120.1.1, 2026). Makers list the standard on the product page: Troxel lists ASTM/SEI certification for its Spirit Mips, Dynasty and Sport 2.0 helmets, and Ovation says its Metallic Schooler is SEI certified to ASTM standards.

Mips stands for Multi-directional Impact Protection System. One K describes it as a low-friction layer inside the helmet that allows a sliding motion, designed to add protection against rotational motion from angled impacts. Among our kids' and junior helmets, Troxel's Spirit Mips and Ovation's Kids' M Class Mips Helmet Jr include it.

Choose a vest sized for young riders and check its certification label. Champion designs its Kids' Titanium Ti22 Body Protector primarily for children and some teens, and its Ti22 Youth Slim for children, youth and small adults who may not fit standard child or adult sizing; both are certified to EN 13158:2018 Beta Level 3 and come in letter sizes with Short, Regular and Tall lengths. Ovation says its Kids' Comfortflex Body Protector is SEI-ASTM, CE level 3 and Beta level 3 certified and must fit snugly and stay securely in position.

Jodhpurs are riding pants that run to the ankle and finish in a cuff or an elastic strap that keeps them down over a paddock boot: TuffRider sews elastic jodhpur straps into its Kids' Thelwell Sweep jods. They can be worn with garter straps, which Shires says go around the calf just below the knee to keep jodhpurs from riding up. Breeches finish in a sock bottom made to sit under tall boots. The 2026 USEF dressage attire booklet permits breeches or jodhpurs (1.4).

Knee patch breeches have grip at the knee; full seat breeches carry it through the seat. In the hunter ring, knee patch is the norm, on the flat too; in dressage, full seat is the norm, and many jumpers ride in it too. Eventing splits it: full seat for dressage and cross-country, knee patch for stadium. No USEF dressage rule requires full seat: the dressage attire booklet sets only the color (1.4). For lessons, schooling and trail, it's your choice or your trainer's.

For lessons and schooling, it's your choice or your trainer's. For USEF hunter and equitation classes, the 2026 rules say breeches may be buff, canary, tan, rust or white (HU107.2, EQ106.2). If your child likes the feel of leggings, LeMieux says its Young Rider Remi Breggings offer the comfort of leggings with the look of breeches, and for a denim look Kerrits makes Kids' Stretch Denim Knee Patch Breeches.

In USEF hunter and equitation classes, breeches may be buff, canary, tan, rust or white (HU107.2, EQ106.2, 2026). Kids can wear white breeches for Classics, but normally they don't. In jumper classes, Proper Jumper Attire calls for light breeches (white, fawn or canary) and Standard Jumper Attire permits any color (JP111.11). The dressage attire booklet permits white, light or dark breeches or jodhpurs, but not bright colors or patterns (1.4).

A show shirt is the collared shirt worn under a show coat. In USEF hunter and equitation classes, shirts must have a choker, similar collar or tie, and when management lets riders show without jackets, they wear traditional short- or long-sleeved riding shirts with chokers or ties; polo shirts are not permitted except in unjudged warm-up classes (HU107.2 and .4, EQ106.2 and .4, 2026). TuffRider gives its Kids' Starter Short Sleeve Show Shirt a snapback collar and wrinkle-resistant fabric.

Paddock boots are ankle-height riding boots that close with a zip, laces or elastic sides. TuffRider describes its Kids' Starter Front Zip Paddock Boots as perfect for new and experienced young riders in any discipline. At USEF dressage tests at Fourth Level and below, paddock or jodhpur boots are allowed with half chaps or garters that match the boots (DR120.1.6, 2026).

For lessons, schooling and trail, it's your choice or your trainer's. In the show ring, USEF dressage rules allow paddock or jodhpur boots at Fourth Level and below only with half chaps or garters that match the boot color (DR120.1.6, 2026), and jumper rules permit half chaps as long as the color matches the paddock boots (JP111.11).

Field boots have laces at the front of the ankle; dress boots have a smooth front with no laces. USEF dressage rules allow either above Fourth Level (DR120.1.6, 2026). Most of the kids' tall boots we carry are field boots, from TuffRider, Horze, Shires Moretta, LeMieux, Ovation, Equinavia, Tredstep and Mountain Horse; TuffRider also makes the Kids' Baroque Dress Boots.

Some brands build growth into the boot. Mountain Horse makes its Kids' Veganza Zip Paddock and Veganza Youth Field Boots with a removable extra insole that, when removed, makes the boot two half sizes larger, and TuffRider's Kids' Belmont Junior Field Boots come with two insoles, which TuffRider says accommodate growing feet. Saxon describes its Syntovia as a paddock boot that won't break the bank, because kids grow out of their boots quickly.

Half chaps are worn over the lower leg with paddock boots. TuffRider makes its Kids' Saratoga Synthetic Half Chaps in washable synthetic leather with an under-foot strap and elastic for a snug fit in the saddle, and Dublin makes its Kids' Easy-Care Half Chaps II in machine-washable synthetic suede with a full-length zipper. In the show ring, USEF dressage rules allow paddock or jodhpur boots with half chaps or garters that match the boots at Fourth Level and below (DR120.1.6, 2026), and jumper rules permit half chaps that match the paddock boots (JP111.11, 2026).

Kids' riding gloves come in letter or numbered sizes, depending on the brand, so start with the size chart on the product page. Roeckl says its Kids' Roeck-Grip Jr Gloves fit like a second skin for a close contact feel, and Dublin gives its Kids' Everyday Mighty Grip Riding Gloves a touch-tape wrist closure for a secure, adjustable fit.

Choose a glove that insulates and still grips the reins. Horze lines its Kids' Romy Winter Riding Gloves with a soft, warm interior and gives them a polyurethane leather grip palm for a secure hold on the reins in damp or snowy weather, and Kerrits gives its Kids' Thermo Tech Printed Gloves a brushed interior that lightly insulates, a silicone grip palm and touchscreen-friendly fingers.

At USEF dressage tests at Fourth Level and below, white or light-colored gloves are recommended and any solid color is permitted; at FEI levels, gloves are required and must be white, off white or the same color as the coat (DR120.1.7, 2026). For lessons, schooling and trail, it's your choice or your trainer's. Heritage makes its Kids' Show Gloves in classic black synthetic leather with a stretch wrist for easy on and off.

Riding socks, or boot socks, are knee-high socks made to wear under tall boots. Equine Couture makes its Kids' OTC Boot Socks with a cushioned sole and ankle and ultra-thin four-way stretch on the calf, and Kerrits gives its Kids' Dual Zone Boot Socks a thin microfiber calf and a cushioned cotton-blend foot with arch support.