Summer Riding Essentials

Check out these summer riding essentials for effective, cool training. It is important to wear the proper clothing to keep yourself from overheating. Plus, check out what you can do to keep your horses happy and cool this summer, as well.

Sweat Wicking Polos

The polo is a staple item in the extensive closet of a prep. It is one of those items that has gone down in history as a defining quality of the preppy lifestyle. John F. Kennedy and Jackie Kennedy where known to go boating or lounge out in the sun in their polos- further cementing the items as All-American and preppy. These particular polos that I like to wear for riding are sweat wicking. This means that the material of the shirt pulls moisture from the body to the exterior of the shirt where it can evaporate more easily. The weave of the fabric makes the material highly permeable. (Plus, no sweat stains!) These are the reasons why I love my nylon polos. Now, as to where you can find them, quite frankly, I love the ones made for tennis and golf players. They are super cute, with various colors and patterns. EP Pro Tech for ladies is by far my favorite brand. They have great styles, they fit great and are high quality. However, you can get sweat wicking polos from a lot of other places as well.

Mid-Height Hunter Rain Boots

I have a few pairs of the tall length boots and I just love them for rain, tromping through muddy fields, etc. However- in the summer time when its hot and humid and I am tired from training but still need to do chores and wash my horse I have found that the mid height Hunter boots are perfect. Not only are they mud and water proof, but the shorter height allows me to quickly and easily slip them on and off during muggy summer days. I also have big calves, so the taller Hunters really hug my legs- which is great when it is wintertime, but not so great when its 90 degrees and sunny outside.

Helmet Sun Visor

Now, I know these aren’t the definition of style but they can be extremely helpful when riding outside. A lot of the time, if you buy a detachable one it will have a lot more “wing span”, if you will, meaning that you will get a lot more coverage and protection from the sun. I don’t like to wear sunglasses when I ride mostly because it makes me feel like I am limiting my field of vision by cutting of corners and peripheral vision. Thus, the visor is a great solution because it will help shield my eyes from the sunlight as well as my shoulders, chest and face.

Breathable Gloves

PERFECT FIT GLOVE

HERITAGE SPECTRUM SHOW GLOVE

Crochet Back Horse Riding Gloves

A lot of times I really would prefer not to have to ride in the summer with gloves on simply because by doing so my hands retain more heat. However, I do a better job of managing my reins and crop when I do wear gloves. So I needed to find a pair of gloves that were super breathable, and wouldn’t just become a pool of sweat. For this I would recommend a glove that has a lot of mesh. The current pair I have has thick stitching on the top but this allows for a lot breathability and space in between the stitches (see the far right image above). The underside are more leathery than I would like. I don’t suggest getting any summer gloves that have leather or suede. These types of materials don’t stretch and aren’t breathable. Also, the thinner the gloves the better.

Short Riding Boots

If you can ride in short boots, this can be super helpful for when it is smoldering hot outside. However, if you would then have to wear half chaps to make up for the lack of a tall riding boot then the point is moot. Especially when your half chaps are leather or suede. So it really depends on what you will be doing. For instance, if I am going on a leisurely trail ride, lunging my horse or doing some light training, then I may be okay to wear short boots sans half chaps. In these types of situations, I feel a lot cooler with most of my leg not covered by a leather boot. This can really help keep your body temperature down.

Yeti

This one may sound a little unusual but here is my logic: If I am outside training in the hot sun, which I usually am, then I am going to have to stop every once in a while for a drink of cold water or Gatorade. However, regular plastic bottles are not made to keep your drinks cool. So, either put these bottles in a Yeti ice chest or get a single drink Yeti tumbler or water bottle to maintain the cold temperature of your drink. It is extremely important to stay hydrated in the hot weather and a nice, cold drink can do wonders for your body and morale.

Non-Full Seat Breeches

Similar to what I have been saying about gloves and leather, full seat breeches are sometimes made with leather or suede that don’t allow for breathability or flexibility. I find these can really retain heat- which can be really great in the winter, just not so great on hot summer days. I would recommend wearing light colored, stretchy breeches. The light color helps to deflect heat rather than absorb it like darker colors tend to.

For Your Horse:

Face Mask / Fly Sheet

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My horse Mory gets really annoyed with flies constantly buzzing around his face. If he doesn’t have a fly mask on, he will be constantly flinging his head up and down to get them to go away. However, the second you put his mask on, he is just fine. Flies tend to come with the heat of the summer, so I would suggest that you get a face mask for your horse to keep the flies out of their face. Mory wears his mask in his stall, as well as when he is out in the paddock. On that note, if your horse is really sensitive to flies you can also use a fly sheet. The purpose is to protect most of your horse’s body from flies.

All Things Fly Spray

As for fly spray, I would highly recommend using a homemade mixture. Not only is it healthier for your horse and for you, but it can help keep your horse’s coat shiny and healthy. I will be posting an article soon about how to make great homemade fly sprays, but for now here is one recipe that works great:

Ingredients

• 1 cup apple cider vinegar (buy it by the gallon here)

• 1 cup mineral oil (buy it by the gallon here)

• ½ teaspoon lemongrass essentail oil

• ½ teaspoon bitter orange oil essential oil

• ½ teaspoon citronella essential oil

• ¼ teaspoon eucalyptus essential oil

• ¼ teaspoon clove essential oil

• 2 Tablespoons Bio Kleen Concentrate (for emulsifier), or dish soap (buy it here)

Instructions

1. Combine all of the ingredients for the concentrate together in a storage jar.

2. In a spray bottle mix it at 1 part Fly Spray Concentrate to 5 parts water.

3. Shake well before and during use.

4. Re-apply daily.

Outdoor Shaded Area

Make sure your fields and paddocks have some sort of storm shelter for your horses. Not only does this protect them from rain and summer storms, but during blazing hot days they can get some relief in the shade.

Plenty of Water

Make sure your outdoor water troughs are consistently being replenished for your horses. The average horse will intake 5 to 10 gallons of fresh water per day. Be sure your horses are getting plenty of clean, fresh water and that they are drinking it. Dehydration in horses is extremely serious. Be sure you know the signs of dehydration to keep your horse healthy and safe. Some of these include, but are not exclusive to: sunken eye or dullness, lethargy, dry skin and mouth, drawn up flanks, depression or excessive thick saliva. You can also test for dehydration with the skin pinch test. See my article about horses and dehydration here for more information. You can also check out my article about knowing when it is too hot to ride, here.

Happy Styling & Happy Riding!