• Identify Your Riding Style: English or Western

• Choose Horse Riding Gear: Horse Saddles and Bridles

• Fit In With Appropriate Riding Apparel

• Take Care of Your Horse

• Buy the Right Horse Float or Horse Trailer

• Find Horse Riding Gear on eBay Australia

• Buy Horse Riding Gear With Confidence

• Need More Help?

• Legal Disclaimer

Identify Your Riding Style: English or Western

Identify Your Riding Style: English or Western

Although English and Western riding share some similarities, they also maintain some marked differences. It's important for people just learning to ride, to understand the fundamentals of each riding style.

• Saddle: Western saddles were originally designed with hard-riding cowboys in mind, and are larger and heavier than the English saddle. The rider's weight is distributed more evenly across a horse's back, so that both horse and rider remain more comfortable on long rides.

• Contact: Riders use reins to communicate changes in direction to a horse. In English riding, a rider holds one rein in each hand. When the rider gently pulls a rein, this applies pressure to the bit held in the horse's mouth, coaxing it to turn. In contrast, in Western riding, a rider holds both reins in one hand and shifts their weight or lays a rein against the horse's neck to steer the horse.

• Position: Riders are required to sit up straight with relaxed arms and legs, for both English and Western riding styles.

Choose Horse Riding Gear: Horse Saddles and Bridles

Choose Horse Riding Gear: Horse Saddles and Bridles

One of the most important pieces of horse riding equipment you can buy is the horse saddle. Saddles can be made of various materials including leather saddles, suede saddles, or synthetic saddles. Good quality leather saddles have the potential to last a lifetime. Pay close attention to the finish, stitching, and fittings when you are shopping for a leather saddle. Although synthetic saddles are lightweight and are easy to clean, they may have a shorter lifespan than leather saddles.

Whatever saddle you opt to buy, it should fit both your horse and your body comfortably. It should fit the horse snuggly across the withers, shoulders, and back without digging in. Saddles should also stay firmly in place, never slipping backward or forward on the horse. Make sure the saddle fits your body. Having a saddle that is too large will make it hard to maintain proper form, while a saddle that is too small can be uncomfortable.

Saddle types

In addition to considering the material and fit or your saddle, also decide what type of saddle you will need.

• All-purpose saddle: With an all-purpose saddle, a rider is able to change his or her position in order to do a variety of riding activities, from jumping to exploring trails at a leisurely pace.

• Dressage saddle: Dressage saddles give riders the closest possible contact to the horse. The flaps are cut straight and narrow to allow maximum contact with the rider’s leg and the horse. The dressage saddle also has a deeper cut than a standard English saddle.

• Flat racing saddle: Flat racing saddles are very lightweight and have short stirrups that allow a rider to lean as far forward as possible.

• Hunt seat saddle: Designed originally for fox hunting, the hunt seat saddle provides a rider with a better position for jumps.

If you're in need, eBay Australia also has a wide selection of saddle parts and accessories available.

Horse bridles

The horse’s bridle is just as important as the horse saddle.  A good-quality leather bridle is essential headgear for any horse. Riders also need horse riding gear to maintain control including a headstall and bit, as well as reins.

Fit In With Appropriate Riding Apparel

Fit In With Appropriate Riding Apparel

Make sure that you buy the right apparel for your horse riding experiences. Build your Western-style riding wardrobe with Wrangler clothing. Invest in some riding boots by Ariat which offers both English and Western style boots.

• Riding clothing: Western-style riders typically wear denim jeans. English-style riders typically wear snug-fitting breeches. Riding jodhpurs can also be worn. Extra protection is also provided by leather or suede chaps.

• Riding boots: English-style riders might wear knee-high leather boots, especially in competitions. Western riders however typically wear cowboy-style boots in competition, although several also like high lace-up boots or ankle-high paddock boots.

• Riding helmets and hats: It's important for riders to wear helmets while riding along trails or during training. In competition, an English rider will wear a dressage helmet, sometimes called a hunt cap, or a derby, depending on the level and style of competition. Meanwhile, Western riders will typically wear cowboy hats in competition.

• Riding vests: For riders that do a lot of jumping it's a good idea to invest in a lightweight safety vest.

Take Care of Your Horse

Take Care of Your Horse

Ensure that you always take the utmost care of your horse with the proper supplies.

• Horse blankets and rugs: As several stables aren't heated, you can make sure your horse is kept toasty warm in winter by body clipping a horse blanket around it. You should be able to slip your hand easily between the blanket and the horse's withers; if not, the blanket might be too tight and could cause painful friction sores.  

• Grooming products: You'll need a variety of grooming products to take good care of your horse including horse brushes, horse shampoos, natural sponge, hoof care products, and mane and tail conditioners.

• Fly masks: Fly masks are useful for keeping pests off your horse’s face and head. Some are even able to provide protection against harmful UV rays.

• Saddle pads and cloths: Saddle pads and cloths are laid beneath saddles and should be thin enough not to interfere with communication between horse and rider.

• Saddle soap: Your leather saddle should be regularly cleansed with leather saddle soap.

• Horse supplements and vitamins: Look after your horse’s health with horse supplements and vitamins - remember that good nutrition is the key to the health and longevity of your horse. Also make sure that you de-worm your horse regularly with de-wormers. Parasites can seriously damage a horse’s intestines and blood vessels.

Buy the Right Horse Float or Horse Trailer

Buy the Right Horse Float or Horse Trailer

When shopping for a horse float or horse trailer, think about features that will meet both the needs of yourself and your horse. It's important that you can ensure the safety of your horse in a float. Make sure you are fully informed of your horse float options and the proper loading and unloading techniques before you buy.

Horse float capacity

You should buy a horse float that can haul the number of horses you need to transport. eBay Australia commonly has listings for two-horse floats, but you will also find three-horse floats, four-horse floats, and larger stock floats on the market. Some floats may even include a walk-in room, separate side, or rear storage area for your horse riding gear. Manufacturers use the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the float to indicate how much weight a float can safely hold, so ensure you check this figure before any purchase. Also ensure your towing vehicle can handle the weight of the float while it is also fully loaded with your horses and equipment.

Horse float hitching methods

Decide whether you want to buy a bumper-pull horse float or a gooseneck horse float with a front end that projects over your truck bed. Gooseneck horse floats are easy to manoeuvre and park, include storage space, and can have a camper or living area. You will also require an open truck bed and truck-bed hitching system, normally sold separately. Bumper-pull horse floats take up less storage space and do not require an open truck bed. You might need to add a frame-hitch stabilising system to your tow vehicle.

Horse float loading

You have the option of a slant-load horse float or straight-load horse float:

• Slant-load floats: Slant-load horse floats, allow horses to stand on a diagonal during transport, so that you are able to haul more horses in a shorter float. However, if the front horse has a problem, you'll need to unload other horses in the float to reach it. Because of limits on float width, smaller horses will typically find slant-load horse floats more comfortable than larger horses.

• Straight-load floats:

Slant-load horse floats and straight-load horse floats can come with custom extra-wide and extra-tall stalls for larger horses, also adding room if needed for living quarters.

Horse float entry and exit

Horses typically enter a horse float by stepping up into it or by using a ramp. Buy a float that uses the loading method your horses prefer. When backing out of the float, horses will need use the step-up/step-down method or jump down if facing forward. Injured horses will have an easier time using a ramp, however you may need more than one person to raise and lower it. Ramps can sometimes make a hollow sound when walked upon, which may scare inexperienced horses.

Horse float materials

Decide between aluminum horse floats and steel horse floats. Aluminum horse floats are lightweight and require less fuel to haul. However, strong and heavy steel horse floats are cheaper up front than aluminum horse floats and also cost less to repair. Make sure you paint your steel horse float to resist rust. Treated steel, such as galvanised steel, repels rust better than untreated steel. You may also come across combination horse floats made with aluminum housing over a steel structure. If you do consider one of these floats, make sure no aluminum parts and steel parts touch as when the metals react, a corrosive process takes place.

Horse float ventilation

It is important that your horse has plenty of circulation while in the horse float, so look for windows and roof vents that allow air to circulate. Windows should ideally have screens that prevent debris and insects from entering the horse float during transport. Some horse floats also feature oscillating fans that run off your tow vehicle's battery, which are handy if you get stuck in traffic during hot weather.

If you live in a fairly moderate climate, a good option might be a horst float that is partially open on the side, assisting with ventilation. Cooler climates will require a more insulated float, but remember to crack windows.

Find Horse Riding Gear on eBay Australia

Find Horse Riding Gear on eBay Australia

Once you know what type of horse riding gear you want, visit eBay Australia's Sporting Goods portal, click Horse Riding, and start searching item listings.

• Categories: The Categories list on the left side of each page will help you narrow down your listings by item type. You'll find links for Books, Videos, Boots, Bridles, Clothing, Horse Riding Merchandise, Horse Blankets, Sheets, Rugs, Saddles, Stable & Training and more. As you dig deeper into the site, you'll also be able to narrow down your choice by subcategory.

• Keyword search: Search eBay Australia listing titles for specific words. For example, if you want to find an Western riding saddle, type "western saddle" (without quotation marks) into the Search box. Click "Search title and description" to expand your results. Visit eBay Australia's Search Tips page for more tips on searching with keywords.

If you can't find exactly what you want, try shopping eBay Stores, tell the eBay Australia Community what you want by creating a post on Want It Now, or save a search on My eBay and eBay Australia will email you when a match becomes available.

Buy Horse Riding Gear With Confidence

Buy Horse Riding Gear With Confidence

Before making your purchase, make sure you know exactly what you're buying, research your seller, and understand how eBay Australia and PayPal protect you.

Know your purchase

Carefully read the details in item listings.

• Figure delivery costs into your final price. If you spend a lot of money, make sure the seller will insure the item when it ships.

• If you want more information, ask by clicking the "Ask seller a question" link under the seller's profile.

• Always make sure to complete your transaction on eBay Australia (with a bid, Buy It Now, or Best Offer). Transactions conducted outside of eBay Australia are not covered by eBay Australia protection programs.

• Never pay for your eBay Australia item using instant cash wire transfer services through Western Union or MoneyGram. These payment methods are unsafe when paying someone you do not know.

Know your seller

Research your seller so you feel positive and secure about every transaction.

• What is the seller's Feedback rating? How many transactions have they completed? What percentage of positive responses do they have?

• What do buyers say in their Feedback? Did the seller receive praise?

• Most top eBay Australia sellers operate like retail stores and have return policies. Do they offer a money-back guarantee? What are the terms and conditions?

Buyer protection

In the unlikely event that a problem arises during your transaction, eBay Australia and PayPal are there for you.

• Pay safely with PayPal: PayPal enables you to pay without the seller ever seeing your bank account or credit card numbers. In fact, PayPal protects buyers 100% against unauthorised payments from their accounts. Plus, with PayPal Buyer Protection, your purchase can be covered up to $1,500.

• eBay Australia Security & Resolution Centre: Visit the Security & Resolution Centre to learn how to protect your account and use eBay Australia's quick and efficient resolution tools.

Need More Help?

Need More Help?

Visit our help pages or start a thread on one of our Community Discussion Boards - If you have a quick question that needs answering, try posting it on our community Answer Centre - there's bound to be a seasoned eBay Australia veteran with just the information you're looking for!

Legal Disclaimer

Legal Disclaimer

Buying Guides are intended merely as a guide or review for members when considering what products or services they may be interested in bidding on or purchasing. eBay does not make, and nothing in these Buying Guides is intended to constitute, any warranties, guarantees, representations or assurances about the accuracy of the information or content contained in these Buying Guides. Furthermore, eBay does not make, and nothing in these Buying Guides is intended to constitute, any warranties, guarantees, representations or assurances about the nature or performance of the products or services appearing in the Buying Guides. Content, trademarks and brands referred to and contained in the third-party links provided are the property of their respective owners, and eBay has no control over and accepts no responsibility for their content. eBay is not affiliated with nor does it endorse the use of any particular product or service.