A pair of gloves is one of the most important items you can have on hand when it comes to riding your horse.

Late one night as I sat in the kitchen, eating my leftovers and cleaning up after dinner, a thought suddenly hit me like a hammer to the back of my head: “I really should get some riding gloves.”

It seems like this was a question that had been lingering around for some time. At first I didn’t know why it hadn’t occurred to me before, but then I realized that just as horses were creatures of great beauty and resourcefulness (and yes, even intelligence), so too was their gear—everything from stirrups to saddle pads. And one part of that gear that is often overlooked: the rider’s hands.

So I made a mental note to buy some gloves soon.

Riding gloves help keep your hands warm.

Oops! Click Regenerate Content below to try generating this section again.

Riding gloves are designed to prevent injury to your hands and fingers in the event of a fall.

I’m writing this because a lot of people are getting seriously injured riding their bikes lately. I’ve been riding more than ever, but I recently damaged my hands when I fell off my bike and landed awkwardly on top of them. It felt like I had polished the skin off the palms and fingertips of my right hand—and part of my ring finger was badly bruised, too. If you’re thinking about buying gloves for your bike, you should know a few things first:

• Gloves will not protect you from all falls or injuries*. They only serve as padding between your hands and the handlebars, frame, wheels and road—anything else that happens when you fall. Even if you have gloves that are rated for protection against falls in excess of 90 degrees* (the point at which most serious injuries occur), they may not be enough to protect against landing on any other part of your body besides your hands or fingers. You’ll have to wear a helmet as well!
• Riding gloves do nothing to prevent scrapes or cuts from rocks or debris*. You can buy special gel pads for some brands that will fit into the palm area and add protection there, but they won’t protect against sharp rocks or tree branches. This is especially important if you want to ride trails where falling on trees could result in an accident with a rock underneath them (like at The Bog).
• Gloves will not fix a broken/bent bike fork.* Sorry! Even if it’s one item among many that makes up a bicycle, it’s still essential to have a fork with high enough clearance under the front wheel so it doesn’t contact your leg when you fall over backwards while trying to steer around another obstacle during downhill cycling competitions .

Gloves help with grip, which is important when holding reins.

And that’s not all. Riding gloves have many other unique benefits. They can prevent rope burns, for one thing. Rein leather can be quite rough on your hands, so having a protective layer between you and the reins is very handy. In addition, if you are using a new set of reins, they may be stiffer or tighter than normal. Having gloves on will make it easier to adjust to this difference without causing discomfort or calluses.

Finally, gloves can help communicate with a horse by reducing the chance of accidentally pinching them when you’re leading them or grooming them with your hands tied up in their mane.

Old-fashioned leather riding gloves are as stylish as they are functional.

Old-fashioned leather riding gloves are as stylish as they are functional. Not only do they look good, but leather is a hardwearing material that stands up to outdoor use, unlike some other glove materials (you know who you are). Leather is a good material for many types of gloves, not just riding gloves. It can be used for gardening gloves and safety gloves because it protects your hands while keeping them warm in the winter.

If you ride a horse, you need to have a good, sturdy pair or two of riding gloves.

If you ride a horse, you need to have a good, sturdy pair or two of riding gloves. The best time to buy some is in the fall, as they tend to go on sale at this time and are available in more colors and styles.

Just like other pieces of equestrian equipment and clothes, riding gloves can be quite pricey—but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. A normal pair of riding gloves will last for years with proper care.

You should know the type of riding you do before selecting your new pair of gloves. Do you participate in regular hunter/jumper shows? Are you more likely to be heading out on an extended trail ride? Does your horse have a tendency to get his tongue over the bit, meaning that he might need some extra grip from your hands?