A good pair of riding gloves is a must for any equestrian.
Whether you’re new to horseback riding or have been doing it for years, a good pair of riding gloves is a must. Equestrians use their hands constantly—from guiding the reins to holding on to the saddle horn—so it’s important that your gloves are comfortable and fit properly. Here are a few things to consider when looking for riding gloves:
- Type of glove. You’ll want a pair of close-fitting leather gloves, as these will help you get better feel of the reins while keeping your hands warm and protected from friction against leather.
- Finger protection. Some riders prefer three-finger gloves, which can give greater dexterity in your fingers but less protection overall compared with full-fingered ones.
- Comfort level. Make sure the material feels soft and natural against the skin—the last thing you want is for your gloves to feel stiff or awkward as you ride.
Good gloves will protect your hands from injury.
While your hands may be protected by the reins and saddle, you’ll want to invest in a pair of hard-wearing gloves for added protection. There are many ways that gloves will come in handy when riding.
Riding is an energetic sport that requires you to stay on top of a moving animal at all times. If you experience any kind of fall or mishap, it’s nice to know that your hands are protected from splinters, scrapes, rope burns, and any other nasty injuries they could be exposed to while galloping across the ground. This can save you from hospital bills down the line!
Riding gloves also protect your hands from friction as reins tend to rub against them upon contact. This can cause painful chafing that may take time to heal if left unprotected and cause riders’ hands to become raw and painful over time. They also keep your hands warm and dry in cold or wet weather conditions or dry during hot days so there’s no risk of sunburns—something I learned the hard way as a young rider with pale skin who thought she was invincible (no matter how protective my mother was!). Not only this but wearing proper riding gloves protects us from insect bites which can sometimes result in serious infections if not treated properly.”
Gloves will also protect your horse’s mouth against pinching and discomfort.
It’s crucial to keep this in mind when you’re putting on your horse’s reins, as you don’t want to accidentally pinch your horse’s mouth. Pinching can cause pain and discomfort, which will affect how well your horse performs. Gloves make it easier for you to handle the reins comfortably and cushion them between your hands and the horse’s mouth.
They help you maintain correct body position in the saddle.
In order to properly control your horse, you need a good grip on the reins. But without a proper pair of gloves, controlling your horse is hard because it’s difficult to maintain proper body position. Correct body position is critical because it makes you more comfortable in the saddle and helps you communicate with your horse through aids. It’s also one of the few ways to help riders maintain their balance when riding, especially at faster gaits.
As a rider, having correct body position begins with keeping your heels down and flinging your legs back in line with your hips so that you are sitting over top of them. This allows for better communication between rider and horse, which is important when giving aids (squeezing with legs or holding rein to cue certain movements). If you’re not sitting correctly in the saddle, you can’t give good aids which leads to poor communication between rider and horse.
Gloves also help facilitate proper body position by making it easier for riders to keep their hands steady while using rein aids (like pulling back) or leg aids (like squeezing). When using rein and leg aids simultaneously, riders should try to keep their hands as still as possible without relying on wrist action alone. Gloves make this easier because they provide greater traction than bare hands on leather reins and make it simpler for riders to hold onto those reins even when their horses are refusing commands or pulling forward out of fear or excitement.
Quality gloves can be very durable and last a long time — maybe even your whole life!
Riding gloves are very durable, and you will likely not need to replace your gloves, even if you ride regularly. The fabric is usually high-quality leather or synthetic, which is good for resisting damage from abrasion and friction. Wearing these types of materials also means that the gloves are more flexible than other types. Flexibility allows for better grip on the reins and can prevent hand fatigue during rides. However, there are still important factors to consider:
- The stitching on your riding gloves should be concealed to help resist dirt, dust and other contaminants. You’ll want to find a pair that has a reinforced palm area, as this part receives the most wear while riding. If they have padding in the palm area, that’s even better because it protects against impact injuries when falling off your horse or hitting it with something while mounting/dismounting (we’ve all been there).
- You should look into what kind of materials make up each glove before purchasing them – some companies use leather but then line their products with cotton or polyester instead of natural fibers like wool or alpaca fleece; avoid these! If you have sensitive skin or allergies then opt for an eco-friendly option made from organic cotton instead of synthetic ones made out of plastic fibers like polyester which tend not only to be less breathable but also trap moisture near your body more easily causing discomfort over time (as well as contributing towards climate change).
Find a pair you love and take good care of them so they’ll last as long as possible.
Once you’ve found a pair of gloves that fit well and make you happy, it’s important to take good care of them so they’ll last as long as possible. When you’re done with your ride, take them off straight away—leaving them on is more likely to lead to sweaty palms and friction blisters. Also, pay attention to whether the material the gloves are made from can stand up to the elements: don’t leave leather gloves out in the sun, or they’ll dry out; don’t let wet materials get caked in mud or they may shrink and harden when they dry. When cleaning your gloves at home, hang them up by their straps so water can run off freely instead of pooling in any creases; keep them away from heat sources that might cause damage. In short, use common sense when it comes to how and where you store your riding gloves, just as you would for any other clothing item.
As a final reminder: even though it’s tempting to do this once in a while when you’re out of work clothes or there aren’t any rags handy, resist the urge to use your riding gloves as mucking-out gear or regular work gloves! This will not only shorten their life span but also expose them to more dirt and grime than is safe for leather or synthetic materials—a surefire recipe for unsatisfactory results.#
You deserve the best riding gloves money can buy!
If you love riding, then you’re a special kind of person! You’ve likely spent hours on the back of your horse—or maybe even your camel—galloping through the countryside or letting the wind whip through your hair as you trot around a track. But what do you know about riding gloves?
We have some questions for you: How long have you been riding? Do you ride every day, once a week, or just on special occasions? What is it that makes riding so great to you? Which color is your favorite (besides black)? What’s your favorite breed of horse? And do you have any pets?
We want to make sure that everyone gets the best possible experience when they’re out enjoying their ride. Whether it’s adventure and excitement, peace and calm, or some combination of the two that makes riding such an important part of your life, we want to help make sure nothing stands in your way. By answering these simple questions about yourself and what kind of rider you are, we can help pair up riders with the perfect riding gloves for them!