The Best Horse Riding Gloves

Good horse riding gloves not only give the finishing touches to your appearance but also protect your hands and improve your riding skills.

Without gloves, horse riding can lead to chafing and blisters. They can help you maintain a good grip on the reins when your hands may be sweaty and slippery. In winter they keep your hands warmer so they are not too numb to keep sensitive control of the horse.

Gloves are a very personal item, and there are great many to choose from. Knowing what to look for will help you make good choices and we have highlighted five of the best horse riding gloves on the market.

1. Noble Outfitters Riding Gloves
2.  Heritage Performance Glove
3. Mashfa Ladies Women Horse Riding Gloves
4. Kids Horse Riding Gloves
5. Jayefo Men & Women Horse Riding Gloves

Why should I wear horse riding gloves?

A good pair of horse riding gloves will protect your hands. When the weather is hot, or when it is cold,  bare hands can lose their grip because they are moist, numb, or just plain tired. This makes for a potentially dangerous situation for you and for your horse.

You will be able to maintain effective control and keep in good communication with your horse provided you have the ideal riding gloves. And if you are taking part in an equestrian event such as dressage or jumping, that good riding  gloves can make a significant difference in how you perform – as well as look smart.

You will probably find that you need more than one pair of riding gloves. It’s good to have a pair of general-purpose horse riding gloves – one you can wear winter and summer, rain or shine. But these won’t do for showing when you need one or more pairs of white gloves.

In addition, you will probably need a warmer, winter glove, some water-resistant gloves, and some tough gloves for mucking out.

You will probably collect several pairs of horse riding gloves to meet most eventualities.

How to choose the perfect horse riding glove

Safety always comes top in our view. And this will depend on part on how well your riding gloves fit and the material from which they are made.

There are other things to take into account and here is a list of the qualities you might be looking for:

• Do the gloves fit properly?
• Are these gloves suitable for the type of reins you will be using? Rubber reins do not work well with gloves sporting PCV dots, as there would be too much friction.
• Are the fingers the right length for you? If you have long nails you do not want to ruin them by having gloves where the fingers are too short. And if you so have nice long nails avoid gloves which have nylon in the upper part of the fingers.
• Do the gloves dry quickly?
• Can you machine wash our riding gloves?
• Do they last a reasonably long time? Avoid nylon inserts if you want them to last.

How should riding gloves fit?

It’s worth spending time to get the right fit. Too large and they are a danger, too tight and you will be uncomfortable.

Velcro or elastic closures at the wrist make it easier to get the fit you want.

Check that there are no wrinkles and that the fingers are long enough. Children have different shaped hands – and so do men and women. Many horse riding gloves are specifically designed to cater for this.

How to size riding gloves

1. Use a soft tape measure which measures in inches.
2. Measure across the widest part of your hand, excluding the thumb. The tape measure should be close and straight, but not tight.
3. Read off the number of inches – this will be your glove size.

The first part of this video demonstrates how you how to fit and put on riding gloves and also has some handy tips to keep your gloves fitting well for longer:

What is the best material for riding gloves?

Riding gloves come in all kinds of materials. There are the lightweight ones for summer riding, breathable fabrics, absorbent and stretchy materials. Your needs will vary according to the season – and for the riding tasks you have in mind. Mucking out the stable and dressage are different!

Look for thin, light gloves, for best communication with your horse.  All the best riding gloves can breathe, can stretch, and can absorb moisture. 

Thin leather was popular in the past but have mostly been superseded by synthetic materials, that tend to last longer. They are also easier to clean and dry faster. Sometimes when you need a stronger grip on the reins you might like something a bit rougher like suede – natural or synthetic.

During hot weather, you will find that cotton or a polyester/cotton knit is absorbant, cool, and comfortable. The close-fitting nylon gloves, while not so absorbent can  give an excellent grip  if they have the PCV dots on the fingers and palms – provided the reins are not rubber

If you fancy leather riding gloves you can find them in all weights and thicknesses. 

And then there are the synthetic leathers – and it can be hard to tell the real thing. There is one way though. Chick them in the washing machine and see whether you have ruined them. A good quality synthetic leather glove has great looks plus durability, quick-drying, and is easier to look after. And there are many equestrian gloves which are a combination of leather and synthetic.

You might think that thin gloves will wear out more quickly. But if you can get a skin-tight feel, you can get a sensitive and effective grip, which means you are less likely to damage them by undue friction. Many thin gloves have nylon reinforcement at the places where wear is most likely.

The winter riding glove

The most important thing about a winter horse riding glove is that is they should keep your hands warm. They shouldn’t be too bulky as that interferes with good rein control.  You will need a good grip. A breathable material will stop your palms becoming sweaty and moist. As with any gloves – a good fit is essential. Less essential is waterproof qualities, although you may decide that is important for you.

Looking after your horse riding gloves

You can machine wash most synthetic gloves on a gentle cycle for delicate fabrics. But don’t dry them in the machine unless you can adjust your machine to a very low setting. They are best laid flat to dry in the open air. If you do dry them in the machine you can throw in a lint-free dish towel to help the gloves dry.

Leather gloves need care. You may be able to machine wash some on a gentle cycle, in cool water – and you need a specialist product designed for washing leather.

Another way to wash leather gloves, if they do get very dirty, is to wear them as you wash them. Use lukewarm,  running water, and use saddle soap. Pat them dry with a soft towel and then let them dry naturally in the air. When they are dry, ease them back on and apply the leather conditioner of your choice, just as if you were applying hand lotion.

Leather needs feeding, so wear them when you lubricate your saddle and bridle – rub the product onto your hands as if using hand cream.

Reviews

1. Noble Outfitters Riding Gloves

A well-fitting and long-lasting riding glove.

These gloves have a double layer, reinforced at places of maximum wear, the forefinger, thumb, and pinky, so they will last longer. The critical seams are double stitched as well. The Suregrip synthetic suede palm help maintain a poor grip on the reins and is easier to clean than real suede. In fact, you can wash these gloves on a delicate cycle, and they do not shrink. (But don’t put them in the dryer!)

You will find these riding gloves are very comfortable to wear. They fit snugly, and the soft jersey material  (with reinforced palm and critical fingers) is breathable, so you won’t be getting moist palms. The cut is designed with non-bulky seams at the finger-tips, so your sense of touch is not diminished – better communication with your horse. 

2. Heritage Performance Glove

Super-comfortable, durable horse riding gloves.

These riding gloves are made from a stretch spandura material, which means they fit extremely well, and you might forget you are wearing them. The synthetic grain leather gives a good grip on the reins – and is also breathable and easy to clean.

The riding gloves have a patented rein cut design – and the cut and shape of these gloves are specially made for horse riding.

The elastic cuffs have an adjustable strap for a perfect fit. The outer seams are double stitched, so they should last well. Although they are robust, the stitching might come loose after much hard wear.

3. Mashfa Ladies Women Horse Riding Gloves

An elegant riding glove for the ladies.

This is a very lightweight, comfortable riding glove. They have a stretchy and breathable Foreway fabric with reinforced forefinger, thumb and pinky, so you can grip the reins easily. It also means they fit very well, provided they are big enough, as they tend to size small. The stitching is reinforced, and there is a one-year replacement warranty if defects are found. 

This not only gives an excellent grip but also means that the gloves can be used multifunction – driving and even gardening. They sport elasticated wrists so they fit well. These gloves have been designed with women in mind, so the fingers and fit, and they offer the deal grip and sensitivity needed.

Your hands might get cold in these gloves in winter – they are more suited to warmer weather. You can machine wash these riding gloves at 86F (30C).

4. Kids Horse Riding Gloves

Colorful, practical range of kids riding gloves

 These gloves have all the features you might be looking for an equestrian glove. The back part is made from the four-way stretchable & breathable Foreway fabric. So the gloves are easy to put on and stretch enough to fit perfectly. For a good grip, the palm is made with Hi-Tech Ammara Fabric kid gloves, so your child can control the horse better.

This means that they are shaped for a child’s hand, giving them the ideal grip and sensitivity. They are also machine washable!

The riding gloves have an adjustable velcro wrist closing, so kids can fasten and alter them with ease.  The edges are cloth line to prevent rubbing. They have a reinforced double layer where wear is most likely – the forefinger, the thumb, and the pinky. 

In addition to all this these riding gloves look good and come in a variety of colors. There are sizes for 6-14 year-old kids.

5. Jayefo Men & Women Horse Riding Gloves

Riding gloves for men and women –  with a lifetime guarantee.

These gloves are made from a stretchy material for a perfect fit and have top grip palm for better rein control. The material is mesh fabric is fully breathable and light-weight. They are multifunctional, suitable for many outdoor sports. These might include workouts, gardening, running, cycling, and more.

They are fully adjustable with a hook and loop closure and elasticated wrist for the ladies. Hiking gloves are lined. These equestrian gloves are machine washable – and – worth repeating any defects have a lifetime guarantee.

Conclusion

Horse riding gloves serve many functions. They protect your hands, keep them warm in winter, increase your grip on the reins, and finish off your equestrian outfit.

It is worth making sure they fit and are suitable for the sort of riding you intend to take part in. 

For children, we liked the colorful range of the Mashfa range. And the Mashfa Ladies Women Horse Riding Gloves are specially designed with women in mind – both lightweight and comfortable – and stylish.

Both the Noble Outfitters Riding Gloves and the Heritage Performance Glove, are good, all-purpose riding gloves for men and women. If you value the security of a lifetime guarantee for defects, then the Jayefo Horse Riding Gloves are worth considering.

Good equestrian gloves add the finishing touch to your appearance. But it is a very personal choice. Make sure your gloves suit the tasks ahead – and that they fit securely, and grip well. You may find you need more than one pair for all your horse riding activities.  

Q&A

Do you need gloves for horse riding?

Yes! Gloves protect your hands and enhance your horse riding skills.

How do you wash horse riding gloves?

Leather gloves need special attention but most synthetic materials can be machine washed on a low temperature -and dried naturally.

How do you keep the fingers of your riding gloves from wearing out?

When you buy your gloves check that the areas most prone to wear are reinforced. And then look after your gloves when you take them off! 

Can gloves hinder contact with your horse?

Good gloves, which fit properly,  will help you grip the reins better and still retain the sensitivity you need for good contact with your horse.