Did You Set Up Your Outgoing Server?
In settings, you would add an email account. You have to put in place your email address, etc. Then you have to set up your email providers incoming server, most of the time it is something like pop3.com and the you have to set up outgoing server, like smtp.server.com or something like that. You must check with your email provider what their protocol is for incoming and outgoing email.
I hope this helps. If you want more description, you'll find a step by step in the iPad manual. Don't have that book? You can go to ibooks and search for iPad manual. This is a free book.