What type of rider are you?
- Beginning riders: Consider the general purpose glove in full grain leather, or synthetic suede. Suede offers a good grip and durability but takes a little more time to break in.
- Intermediate riders: Many intermediate riders prefer the English dressage glove, which is made of lightweight, breathable material. A close fit allows for good control of the reins. Some also prefer riding gloves that are fingerless—not because they’re too lazy to get dressed completely, but because they want to feel as much of their horse as possible while they ride.
- Advanced riders: If you’re an advanced rider, you may want something a little more specialized than what beginners and intermediates typically wear. Consider the roping glove—a thicker style that gives you maximum rope control without the loss of dexterity that comes with other thicker materials
What is your favorite type of riding?
Ever wondered what type of riding gloves you are?
Well, wonder no more. Here’s a short quiz to figure out your favorite riding glove, then we’ll talk about what each of the different types do.
Riding gloves come in all sorts of shapes and sizes and have been doing so for centuries. The three main types are Western, English, and trail, but they all have their distinct advantages.
What is your favorite horse show discipline?
There are several types of equestrian events, and each requires slightly different equipment. This can be especially true in the case of gloves. Whether you race barrels or compete in a hunter/jumper show, your gloves should fit your style. Here’s a list of some of the horse show events:
- Barrel racing
- Cutting
- Eventing (includes dressage, cross country jumping, and stadium jumping)
- Hunter/jumpers (includes flat classes and over fences classes)
- Dressage only
- Reining
- Polocrosse
Which season do you ride in the most?
Riding gloves are an important tool in a rider’s kit. There are many different kinds of riding gloves, each suited to a particular type of riding, season, and horse. To help you make the right choice for your needs as a horseback rider, we’ve created this short quiz to find out which riding glove best suits you!
Do you ride for pleasure or for competition?
Let’s say you’re a pleasure rider. You ride for fun and don’t have any interest in competing. If this is the case, you will have different needs than someone who is training to compete in a show or other event. A pleasure rider will most likely ride with friends or family and spend long periods of time riding at a time. This means that they will need a glove that is comfortable, breathable, and easy to take off and put on while they are riding. It also means that they might need more than one pair of gloves as well—one for the wintertime and one for the summer!
If you’re competing, your gloves will probably be tighter fitting than those worn by pleasure riders because competition requires a light touch on the reins. The goal is to feel like you aren’t even wearing them! This can mean several pair because different competitions require distinct levels of grip or flexibility from your glove.
How many times a week do you ride?
If you’re a rider who takes part in five or more rides per week, it’s important to get gloves that can last through multiple uses. You don’t want to have to buy new gloves every few days, and you want the grip to hold up through all the wear and tear. For those of you who tend not to ride as frequently, you don’t need to purchase as sturdy of a glove—but try not buy the cheapest ones on the market. It’s worth it for your hands if you get even semi-durable gloves.
Do you plan to compete your horse, or would you just like to have him/her as a companion?
- Do you plan to compete your horse, or would you just like to have him/her as a companion?
- Competitive rider: You want a pair of gloves that will provide the best grip and sensitivity for steering and steering. Leather is usually the preferred material for these, but we also offer options in synthetic materials.
- Non-competitive rider: If you’re only riding for fun, you’ll probably be more comfortable in a glove with thicker padding to provide extra comfort and warmth. Look for gloves with an outer layer that’s resistant to water, wind, or intense sunlight.
- Both: You may want to look into having two pairs of gloves that fit each category—one specifically for competition days and another pair that’s suited better to casual rides on non-competition days.
Do you prefer gloves with or without fingers?
- What’s your typical riding season?
- Do you prefer increased control over added comfort?
- How long do you plan to use your riding gloves for?
Do you ride in the barn often in cold weather, or do you prefer being at home by the fire after a ride?
If you ride in the barn often
Riding gloves are based on the style of grip they provide riders, which has evolved over time. The first riding gloves were developed to protect the hands from chafing and friction caused by bridles, reins, stirrups, and other tack.
Most modern English-style gloves feature a more secure grip pattern that helps keep a rider’s hand steady when holding onto the reins. This is especially useful for events like show jumping, where horse and rider must move quickly between obstacles with little time for adjustments or corrections.
But if you don’t spend much time hanging out in your barn during winter months and prefer to get back home as soon as possible after a ride, you may want something more suited to keeping your hands warm while riding!
What is your biggest problem with cold hands while riding?
When you’re riding in cold weather, it can be hard to hold the reins if your hands are freezing.
It can also be hard to work the girth and fiddle with your stirrups.
Your environment is going to determine how cold it is—the temperature outside, whether you’re riding indoors or outdoors, and whether there’s any wind.
After answering this questionnaire, determine which riding glove combination is right for you.
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