What to Wear Horseback Riding in Summer

You’ve made it through winter breaking ice from water buckets. You’ve made it through spring trudging through mud and treating thrush. Rejoice because you’ve made it to sweet, sweet summertime! Finding the right summer riding clothes to give you enough protection from the sun and keep you comfortable in the saddle all while keeping you cool can seem like a daunting task. Don’t fear! We’re here to help and give you some tips on what to wear horseback riding when the heat is on.   

Let’s start with summer riding shirts. In our opinion, one of the most important things you need to keep in mind when selecting summer riding gear is UPF protection. Whether you’re wearing long sleeves, short sleeves, or tank tops, many apparel manufacturers have options for riding clothes with UPF protection. I know, I know, wearing long sleeves in the summer seems like a crazy plan, but the technical fabrics and materials available today are super lightweight and cool making the long sleeve style with UPF protection a perfect choice for riding in hot summer weather.

If you just can’t do the long sleeve thing, then put on your short sleeve shirt or tank top with UPF protection and lather on the sunscreen where the shirt doesn’t cover your skin. Our Kerrits Ice Fil® shirts come in long sleeve, short sleeve, and tanks in a variety of colors, both solids and prints, to suit every style.

If bugs are an issue where you live and/or if you find yourself hitting the trails at that perfect time of day when the mosquitoes and gnats love to feast, then look for a shirt that has a taller collar to provide more protection from the critters. Our Kerrits Triple Chill Sun Shirt is perfect for this task and can easily convert from long sleeves to short sleeves depending on your preference.

For those of you who just love a good t-shirt style top, we’ve got you too. Check out the Dancing Horses Tee for the perfect sweat wicking option for those with an affinity to the traditional tee. Our technical equestrian performance fabrics prevent the dreaded cling-on that we all have experienced at some point in our barn lives. See our current selection of equestrian sun shirts. 

And let’s not forget about summer riding pants because that would just be a tragedy. 😊 Whether you prefer riding tights, breeches, full seat, knee patch, silicone grip or more traditional leather/faux-leather grip, there is something for you! Check out our comparison charts to help you decide which grip and which styles are right for you.