What To Wear Horseback Riding In The Summer?

Horseback riding is fantastic fun – but it does come with a fair bit of kit, not least the clothes that you wear while doing it.

If you are unsure of what to wear horseback riding in the summer, have a look through our lists – we’ve got you covered!

What To Wear Horseback Riding In The Summer?

The most important thing to remember, even when it is roastingly hot outside, is your safety.

This means you must always wear your riding hat and body protector – yes, we know it’ll make you hot and sweaty and uncomfortable – but this is a small price to pay for coming home in one piece!

Now that we’ve got that caveat out of the way, what should you actually wear while riding in the summer?

You will, of course, need to wear your long trousers – jodhpurs if possible – as this will protect your legs from getting pinched by the stirrup leathers.

Your top half can be on the cooler side – you can wear a vest top quite happily (as long as you don’t forget the sunscreen!)

If you want to offer your shoulders a bit more protection, why not go for a polo shirt or a t shirt? This should allow you to stay cool while avoiding sunburn.

This article covers everything that you should be wearing while horseback riding in the summer.

What Not To Wear When Horseback Riding?

Like any sport, there are better and worse things to wear while you are horseback riding – the most important thing to remember is safety.

Horse riding can be dangerous, so whatever else you wear, make sure that you always put on your riding helmet and your body protector.

As for everything else, you can pretty much choose whatever you like! There are, however, some common sense rules to think about.

• Never wear open toed shoes around horses. These animals are pretty big, and having almost a ton of weight land on an unprotected foot is NOT what you need.
• Avoid riding wearing jeans. The central seam in the gusset of standard jeans will make it very uncomfortable to stay in the saddle for a long time.
• Loose clothing, although it is more comfortable, is not recommended, as it can gather and bunch up in uncomfortable places.
• Avoid shorts. If the skin on your legs is exposed, you stand a high chance of getting the skin painfully pinched between the stirrup leathers and the saddle.
• Make sure your shoes can fit in the stirrups. Massive steel toe caps are great for avoiding toe injuries when being inevitably trodden on, but they won’t help you if can can’t get your foot in – or more importantly, out – of the stirrup.

Is It Better To Wear Shorts Or Jeans For Horseback Riding?

If we are looking at what to wear when horse back riding, both shorts and jeans are pretty much a no!

If you wear shorts, the bottoms of your legs – the calves – are exposed. This means that the skin can be easily caught and pinched between the stirrup leathers and the saddle, which is seriously uncomfortable!

Wearing jeans, although they generally cover the bottom of the leg, is not much better…

Jeans are made of a very durable fabric that has very little stretch to it, and the seam running down the middle can be very uncomfortable.

When horseback riding, your best bet is to wear dedicated riding trousers (jodhpurs) or at the very least, leggings.

You want something that covers the lower leg, and that doesn’t have a seam running from front to back, to keep you comfortable.

What Shoes To Wear For Horseback Riding?

You may be thinking that the thicker the shoe is, the better – after all, no one wants to be trodden on by half a ton of horse!

However, there are better and worse things to put on your feet when riding, or being around horses in general.

First off, avoid anything with an open toe – we’re thinking flip flops, crocs, sandals – you are going to want your feet protected in case the inevitable happens!

Next, if you are riding, you need to make sure that your shod foot will fit in the stirrup – and will also slip out easily if you fall off.

The best thing you can do is to invest in a pair or two of dedicated riding boots – these have been developed to make the riding experience as good as it can possibly be.

You can get either long boots or short ones, depending on what you like to wear and what you are using them for.

In general, short boots are used for general yard work or in-hand showing, while long boots are for long rides.

You can get a huge variety of styles and designs, so get out there and figure out what type is right for you.

In case you want to know more, this video will showcase all the different types of riding boots you can get:

How Hot Is Too Hot For Horseback Riding?

Riding in the freezing cold depths of winter can be uncomfortable, but riding in the sweltering heat can be even worse!

Obviously you have to think of your own comfort – but you must also consider what riding around in tropical temperatures is doing to your horse.

You will also need to consider the humidity levels – humidity can raise your horse’s temperature, but due to the levels of moisture in the air it can also prevent their sweat from evaporating and cooling them.

• If the temperature is 80F or less, carry on as normal.
• At 80-90F, go for lighter work with more frequent breaks, to help your horse stay cool.
• 90-100F means you should skip the ride, or at least stick to very light work, and ensure you allow them to cool off after the ride.
• If the temperature is at 100F or higher, avoid exercising your horse completely – they are less able to regulate their temperature, and heat stroke or even death can occur.

So there you have it – a comprehensive guide to what to wear horseback riding in the summer!

Hotter months can be almost as uncomfortable as the cold winters, so make sure that you are clued up on what to wear for maximum comfort, while still adhering to safety rules.