Christmas Gift Guide

It’s that time of year again! Your children have been begging for a pony as usual, and you need to satiate their hunger for all things equestrian as much as possible while delaying actually sinking your life savings into a very expensive lawn-mowing money to poop converter…

Never fear! With the help of our handy horse girl shopping guide below (written by real life grown up actual horse girls) your little one will be as happy as a freshly washed horse rolling in its own manure the night before a show!

Essentials – Start here!

The top of the list of essentials has got to be a helmet of their own, the sky is the limit on pricing here with options from $60 to $1000+ but we like to recommend going for a nice mid range option like the Oscar ‘Lite’, which is quite conveniently on sale right now at Griffin Equestrian for only $129! https://griffinequestrian.co.nz/collections/helmets/products/oscar-lite-sports-helmet

We are a bit of a fan of the Griffin Products, as they like to support our riders with 10% off all year round so go ahead and use the discount code ASHLEY10 if you’re buying online.

For riders with a rounder head, we’ve been liking this one from saddlery warehouse, which is also a great price at $69.99 for kids where you might still be hoping its just a phase (hint: it’s probably not): https://www.saddlerywarehouse.co.nz/index.php?route=product/product&path=34_40_59&product_id=5332

And for all out head protection that will still grow with your child, The “Champion” helmets: https://griffinequestrian.co.nz/collections/helmets/products/champion-air-tech-delux

Next up on the list of essentials is riding boots. Short ‘Jodhpur’ boots are correct for children, with more expensive ‘Tall’ boots earned by the rider as they reach about age 15. Although leather is going to be a far higher quality product, I generally prefer the synthetic boots for once a week riders; leather takes a considerable amount of wearing in which you just won’t get with only once a week wear.

Starter:
https://www.saddlerywarehouse.co.nz/index.php?route=product/product&path=34_40_64&product_id=6667&sort=p.price&order=ASC

Step up:
https://griffinequestrian.co.nz/collections/footwear/products/cavallino-vegan-leather-jodhpur-boots

Getting serious:
https://griffinequestrian.co.nz/collections/footwear/products/horze-sydney-leather-jodhpur-boots

Lucky last on our list of essentials is a pair of good quality riding pants. Riding pants come in a few different forms, jodhpurs, tights, and breeches. It’s all much of a muchness, however jodhpurs generally are only for children, breeches for adults. Tights are the cool new much more comfortable modern mix between the two.
Starter: (ON SALE!)
https://griffinequestrian.co.nz/collections/breeches/products/horze-nora-jodhpurs-kids

Step up: (A silicone printed seat gives extra stickability for the rider and gets a huge yes from us!)
https://griffinequestrian.co.nz/collections/breeches/products/equestrian-collective-honeycomb-technical-tights-childs

Getting serious: (these guys are NZ owned and come in heaps of fun colours!)
https://griffinequestrian.co.nz/collections/breeches/products/teq-dani-tights

Nice to haves

Riding shirts:

For the littlies: https://griffinequestrian.co.nz/collections/competition-shirts/products/thomas-cook-girls-freesia-s-s-polo
OR: https://griffinequestrian.co.nz/collections/competition-shirts/products/jean-equ-base-layer-top-childs?variant=39910921076889

Competition: https://griffinequestrian.co.nz/collections/competition-shirts/products/for-horses-molly-show-shirt-kids

For youth and adult riders:
https://griffinequestrian.co.nz/collections/competition-shirts/products/teq-sleeveless-top
OR: https://griffinequestrian.co.nz/collections/competition-shirts/products/equestrian-collective-mesh-base-layer-lilac
OR: https://griffinequestrian.co.nz/collections/competition-shirts/products/jean-equ-base-layer-top?variant=39453920755865
OR: https://griffinequestrian.co.nz/collections/competition-shirts/products/cavallino-sports-ii-riding-shirt

Competition: https://griffinequestrian.co.nz/collections/competition-shirts/products/ariat-showstopper-show-shirt

Chaps: Providing grip and stability for the riders lower leg and protecting shins from the stirrup leathers.

For the littlies:
https://www.saddlerywarehouse.co.nz/index.php?route=product/product&path=34_40_63&product_id=407

Step up:
https://griffinequestrian.co.nz/collections/chaps/products/horze-sabrina-pu-leather-chaps

Getting serious:
https://griffinequestrian.co.nz/collections/chaps/products/franci-soft-leather-chaps

Pony Club Manual:
https://nzpca.mystorbie.com/categories/pony-club-manuals/pony-club-manual-1-d-d-c-certificates?gn=Pony%20Club%20Manuals&gp=1

Body Protectors:

Starter: NONE. Body Protectors are a love em or hate em item. If you want your kid to love em, spend a few extra bucks and get one they will actually wear! Many of the cheaper back protectors on the market are stiff and restrictive and end up being “forgotten” a lot, not to mention they scratch the life out of our poor saddles!

Step up:
ON SALE at GE! https://griffinequestrian.co.nz/collections/body-protectors/products/champion-ti22-body-protector

Getting serious (about comfort!): This one is my all time fave. Super soft and comfortable, kids can actually do it up themselves, and it still allows the rider to have a relatively neutral position.
https://horselands.co.nz/collections/rider-eq/products/komperdell-kids-safey-vest?fbclid=IwAR3RO0fuS9hdlC0EDxB4Zdsp6PJ8Ha59MTKPTplZv1RcEfxn5sHHd-ma30o

Stocking fillers!

Gloves:

Starter:
https://griffinequestrian.co.nz/collections/gloves/products/flair-magic-gloves

Step up:
https://griffinequestrian.co.nz/collections/gloves/products/flair-serino-pro-riding-gloves?variant=40964559995033

Getting serious:
https://griffinequestrian.co.nz/collections/gloves/products/roeckl-roeck-grip-gloves?variant=41670792151193

Belts: These come in a TON of fun colours!
https://griffinequestrian.co.nz/collections/rider-accessories/products/ge-belts
OR: https://griffinequestrian.co.nz/collections/rider-accessories/products/double-hill-leather-polo-belt

Scrunchies: Heres your reminder that you should always have your hair tied up while riding!
https://griffinequestrian.co.nz/collections/rider-accessories/products/flair-horse-print-scrunchy?variant=41640244936857

OR: https://griffinequestrian.co.nz/collections/rider-accessories/products/flair-printed-hair-scrunchy-with-bow

Treat Bags: (local nz made)
https://griffinequestrian.co.nz/collections/stable/products/its-a-stitch-up-treat-bag

Lip Balm: (local nz made)
https://griffinequestrian.co.nz/collections/stable/products/the-grooms-collection-lip-balm

Horse Treats: (nz made)
https://griffinequestrian.co.nz/collections/nz-made/products/big-reds-stable-snacks

Riding Whip:
https://griffinequestrian.co.nz/collections/lunging-training/products/blue-tag-jumping-bat
OR: https://griffinequestrian.co.nz/products/aintree-bling-riding-crop?_pos=1&_sid=99076d8cb&_ss=r

If your rider is heading out into the show ring, you’ll need joddy clips (These hold jodhpurs down under the riders boots to prevent them riding up)
https://griffinequestrian.co.nz/collections/rider-accessories/products/blue-tag-jodhpur-clips

And hair nets: https://griffinequestrian.co.nz/collections/rider-accessories/products/hy-equestrian-heavy-duty-hairnets

For the kids that have everything:

Tack box/step stool:
https://griffinequestrian.co.nz/collections/stable/products/tuff-grooming-tack-box

Cover Repair Tape:
https://griffinequestrian.co.nz/collections/stable/products/neeta-patch

Collapsible Poo Rake for Travel:
https://griffinequestrian.co.nz/collections/stable/products/zilco-collapsible-stable-fork

Locally made Hoof Oil:
https://griffinequestrian.co.nz/collections/hooves/products/witches-brew-hoof-oil?variant=42379178999961

Matchy Matchy Sets:
https://griffinequestrian.co.nz/collections/matching-set/products/zilco-dazzle-equestrian-matching-set?variant=42719341904025

We often receive generous presents from our students, this year we would love to ask that instead of gifting for us you might consider spoiling our precious ponies instead! After all, our Ponies have a Christmas wish list too, they would really love:

Hoofpicks:
https://griffinequestrian.co.nz/collections/stable/products/blue-tag-straight-hoofpick

Body Brushes:
https://griffinequestrian.co.nz/collections/brush/products/blue-tag-junior-body-brush

Dandy Brushes:
https://griffinequestrian.co.nz/products/gymkhana-large-dandy-brush?_pos=1&_sid=12c2dc36f&_ss=r

Leather Punch:
https://griffinequestrian.co.nz/collections/stable/products/revolving-punch-plier-action

Poo Rakes:
https://griffinequestrian.co.nz/collections/stable/products/future-fork?variant=36383235473561

Hoof Rasp:
https://griffinequestrian.co.nz/collections/stable/products/blue-tag-tanged-rasp-14

Hoof Nippers:
https://griffinequestrian.co.nz/collections/stable/products/blue-tag-tanged-rasp-14

Cover Repair Tape:
https://griffinequestrian.co.nz/collections/stable/products/neeta-patch

Whip Rack:
https://griffinequestrian.co.nz/collections/stable/products/zilco-whip-rack

Rug Waterproofer:
https://griffinequestrian.co.nz/collections/stable/products/flair-rain-repel

Hoof Oil (Locally made):
https://griffinequestrian.co.nz/collections/hooves/products/witches-brew-hoof-oil?variant=42379178999961

Tack Cleaner:
https://griffinequestrian.co.nz/collections/leather-care/products/belvoir-tack-cleaner-step-1