Choosing Riding Gloves

Buying Guides · 6 min read

Riding gloves are an easy thing to overlook, yet a good pair makes a real difference. They protect your hands from rubbing and the cold, and they give you a clearer, steadier feel on the reins, which helps your riding. The choice comes down to grip, the season and the fit, and a little thought goes a long way. Here is how to pick the right pair.

What should you look for in riding gloves?

Three things matter most: grip, comfort and feel. You want a palm that holds the reins reliably, a glove that fits closely enough to give a clear contact, and a material suited to the weather you ride in. Everything else, from colour to small details, is personal preference. If you only ride occasionally, one good all-round pair is plenty; if you ride year-round, a summer and a winter pair makes sense.

Why does grip and feel on the reins matter?

Your hands are how you communicate with your horse through the reins, so a clear, consistent contact is important. A synthetic-suede or silicone-printed palm grips well in wet or sweaty conditions and stops the reins slipping. At the same time, avoid gloves so thick that they dull your feel, because a muffled contact makes your aids less precise. The sweet spot is a glove with good grip that is still thin enough to feel the reins clearly.

Summer or winter: which riding gloves do you need?

The weather should guide your choice, and many riders keep a pair for each end of the year.

Summer gloves

Lightweight, breathable gloves keep your hands cool and dry on warm days and during hard work. Mesh backs and thin materials help air circulate.

Winter gloves

For cold weather, choose insulated or fleece-lined gloves, ideally still slim enough to keep your feel on the reins. Waterproof or water-resistant options are worth it for wet winter hacking. The aim is warm hands without losing control.

How should riding gloves fit?

Gloves should fit closely, like a second skin, with no loose, baggy fabric at the fingertips and no tightness that restricts movement. Too big and they bunch and lose feel; too small and they are uncomfortable and wear through quickly. Most brands give a size guide based on the width of your hand, so measure if you are buying online. A well-fitting glove feels almost like part of your hand.

Leather, synthetic or knitted gloves?

Each material suits a different need. Leather gloves are hard-wearing, grippy and smart, and mould to your hands over time, though they cost more and need a little care. Synthetic gloves are light, affordable, easy to wash and a great everyday choice. Knitted or magic gloves are cheap and cheerful for quick yard jobs, but offer less grip and durability for serious riding. For most riders, a good synthetic pair for daily use and leather for competition covers everything.

Which glove features are actually useful?

A few extras are genuinely handy rather than gimmicks. Touchscreen-compatible fingertips let you use a phone without taking your gloves off, which is more useful than it sounds. A neat hook-and-loop cuff keeps gloves secure and easy to put on, and reinforced palms last longer if you ride a lot. Reflective detailing is a nice touch for anyone hacking near roads in poor light.

Do different disciplines need different gloves?

For most riding, a good all-round pair is all you need, but some disciplines have their own preferences. Dressage and showing riders often choose plain white or dark gloves with a neat finish for a smart look in the ring. Jumping and cross-country riders tend to prioritise grip and durability, since reins get wet and hands work hard. If you compete, check your discipline's rules, as some classes expect gloves to be worn and may specify a colour. For everyday schooling and hacking, comfort and grip matter far more than appearance, so wear whatever feels best.

Common glove problems and how to avoid them

A few niggles come up again and again, and most are easy to avoid. Gloves that wear through quickly at the fingers or palm are usually too big, so the material rubs rather than moving with your hand; a closer fit lasts longer. Gloves that turn slippery in the rain often lack a proper grip palm, so look for synthetic suede or silicone for wet-weather riding. Cold hands in winter gloves usually mean they are too thin or not windproof, in which case a warmer or water-resistant pair is the answer. And if a new pair feels stiff, a few wears soon softens them up.

How much should you spend on riding gloves?

Gloves are one of the more affordable bits of kit, which is welcome news. A decent synthetic everyday pair costs very little and does the job well, so there is no need to spend a lot for general riding. It is worth paying more for a quality leather or technical pair if you ride daily, compete, or want something that lasts, as the better grip, fit and durability repay the cost. A sensible approach is an inexpensive everyday pair for the yard and schooling, plus a nicer pair kept for best. Because they are cheap enough to replace, it is also worth keeping a spare, since a single lost glove is a familiar frustration.

How do you care for riding gloves?

Most synthetic gloves can go in the machine in a wash bag at a low temperature, then air dry, which keeps them fresh and grippy. Avoid fabric softener, which can clog the grip. Leather gloves should be cleaned according to their instructions and kept supple with a suitable product, never baked dry on a radiator. A little care keeps any glove performing for far longer. It also helps to let gloves dry fully between wet rides rather than stuffing them damp into a bag, as that is what makes them stiffen and smell.

Ready to choose? Browse our riding gloves, and take a look at equestrian accessories for the other small bits that make riding more comfortable.

Frequently asked questions