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You may have noticed an uncomfortable trend among equestrians– especially those who work professionally within the industry. We don’t exactly all have model-esque skin. Many equestrians have skin that is well-weathered, used to exposure to the sun and the elements. In many ways, it’s a sign of their dedication to their horses, a result of spending hours outside in all weather to make sure their horses are healthy and happy, no matter the cost.
Having skin that is less than perfect is nothing to be ashamed of. Those wrinkles are signs of wisdom and lessons learned (often the hard way). Our tanned skin and freckled arms are badges of spending hours outside, mucking stalls, training young horses, and putting in the back-breaking work required to care for our horses.
Unfortunately, there is a real cost to our constant exposure to the outdoors. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, “Outdoor workers have a heightened risk of developing skin cancers, including basal cell carcinoma (BCC), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and melanoma, due to prolonged, repeated exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun.”
This doesn’t have to be your fate. With a few preventative measures, like UV protection clothing, you can protect your skin from head to toe.
Choose Lightweight Long Sleeves
A long-sleeved shirt in the summer? No, we’re not crazy. A long sleeved sun shirt is one piece of UV protection clothing that can offer you lots of sun protection with a few modifications to keep you cool.
The Equine Couture Cavaletti Sun Shirt is a long-sleeved quarter zip that can be layered on a crisp, but sunny, morning, or worn on its own on hot summer afternoons at a competition. Made out of a mesh-like material, this UV protection clothing takes lightweight to a whole new level. Thanks to its unique construction, it offers complete airflow, while the quarter zip neck opening allows you to adjust your total coverage and find the perfect balance between protecting your skin and staying cool. Speaking of UV protection, the 4-way stretch fabric will protect you from the sun’s harmful rays.
Need something even lighter? Take a look at Dapplebay’s Quarter Zip Equestrian Toile Riding Top. Available in a vintage blue-and-white toile pattern, this sun shirt has mesh panels along the underside of your arms and into your armpits. These mesh panels allow for optimal airflow, while soft cuffs at the ends of the sleeves offer ultimate comfort. Made of lightweight Ice Feel fabric, every aspect of this sun shirt is designed to keep you cool, whether you’re on a trail ride, riding in the ring, or hand grazing your horse.
Prioritize Your Face
Our head and neck is constantly exposed to the sunlight. After all, we need to be able to see and eat and can’t cover our heads completely. As equestrians, we need to step up our sun protection before we get to the barn and while we ride. Make sure to apply sunscreen before you leave the house and reapply it every two hours when you’re at the barn. Just be careful when applying sunscreen before grooming your horse– you don’t want all that hair and dirt to stick to your skin!
While most equestrians wear a helmet when they ride, they’re primarily safety devices and don’t offer a whole lot of sun protection. There are a few ways you can increase the sun protection you get from your helmet without compromising your safety or visibility.
First, you can get a wide brim helmet, like the TuffRider Guardian Wide Brim Riding Helmet. The extended brim offers additional UV protection without disrupting your vision or shortening your field of view. The longer brim wraps around the sides of the helmet just slightly, which also offers more sun protection for your neck and ears.
If you want to get the most sun protection possible without the cost of investing in a new riding helmet, choose the TuffRider Sunshield Riding Helmet Cap. Made from a flexible material, this visor simply wraps around your existing helmet and secures with a hook-and-loop closure at the back. Made from transparent polycarbonate film and black mesh, this helmet accessory offers 94 percent UV protection. In the event of a fall, the flexible cap would not disrupt the function of the helmet.
Horses Need Sun Protection, Too
Did you know that horses, just like humans, can get skin cancer due to sun exposure? According to Carolina Equine Hospital, “Sunburn is most frequently seen in areas where the skin is more sensitive — like around the eyes and on the muzzle of pale or white-faced horses — and horses prone to recurrent sunburn also have an increased likelihood of developing squamous cell carcinoma (a common skin cancer).”
Just like us, horses can develop burns due to sun exposure, particularly on grey horses or those horses with pink skin. For example, if you’ve never owned a bald-faced pinto before, you might be in for a shock on the first sunny day when you forget their fly mask and sunscreen. Horses with white markings and pink skin are particularly susceptible to sunburn. Luckily, most sunburns are minor if caught quickly and will heal promptly with a little help from a product like Lincoln Equocrem.
Goodbye Flies, Hello Sun Protection
Just like humans, the best UV protection for horses is covering up as much exposed skin as possible. Horse clothing for fly protection often pulls double duty. Not only does it stop flies from irritating your horse, but it also offers protection from the sun. For example, the TuffRider Sport Mesh Combo Neck Fly Sheet provides your horse with 50 percent UV protection from ears to tail. It can even help prevent your horse’s coat from fading, if they wear it every day. Worry less about overheating with this fly sheet. Made from a polyester mesh, this fly sheet with neck cover is designed to be lightweight and breathable.
Some of the best UV protection for horses comes in the form of fly masks. Fly masks are particularly crucial for horses with white markings on their faces. Without a fly mask, you might come to the barn to find your grey horse’s soft pink muzzle is now chapped and peeling. If you have a sensitive horse who doesn’t enjoy the feeling of the mask on their ears or nose, the Tuffrider Textilene Fly Mask might be the choice for them. Offering excellent UV protection for horses, this mask is made from durable and flexible Textilene fabric, shielding your horse from flies, pollen, and dust. Combining style, comfort, and effective protection, this fly mask is perfect for keeping your horse comfortable and protecting their eyes from the sun. If this sounds like your horse, you can supplement your fly mask with some gentle, veterinary-approved sunscreen on their nose.
Sun Protection for Horse & Rider on Breeches.com
At Breeches.com, we don’t just stock our store with high-quality brands at great prices– we pick and choose our products carefully to ensure that we have everything to meet your needs, especially when it comes to sun safety. Whether you’re worried about your horse or looking for a new sun shirt for yourself, shop now on our online tack store.