What to wear for rainy day riding?

HaffiesRock

HaffiesRock

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After our epically dry summer, the rain has well and truly started!

I want to ride as much as I can over winter so please tell me what you wear/ recommend to keep me and horse/saddle as dry as possible?

Thank you!
 
Water repellent riding tights and either a DoPi riding skirt or Equi coat. If using a riding skirt, I go for an outdoor brand coat rather than equestrian brand - I'd need to check the brand it's been so long since I've worn it, possibly Berghaus?

Waterproof saddle cover & waterproof exercise sheet on horse.

Also highly recommend biothane tack!
 
Saddle wise - you can get ride on waterproof covers which are good at keeping the rain at bay - although I always clean my tack after every ride to check it over - even more so if I've been caught in a rain shower etc.

Horse wise - I don't know if you can get ride on rugs, I know that you can get ride on fly rugs, but don't think they have anything turnout wise yet....

You - A good jacket is imperative for keeping dry! I like to buy from sports shops as I find they're waterproof enough for riding, yet breathable so you won't end up like a sweaty tomato after your ride. Waterproof trousers over your jodhs/breeches/riding tights are always a good call, but these can make quite a sound so some desensitising might be required first!
 
We buy decent (not the cheapest on offer) waterproofs from an outdoor shop. They usually last one winter. Don’t wash them ever - you can hose the mud off but the second they go near detergent they will never be the same again! On your feet, wellies/rubber riding boots/fancy expensive long yard boots with a goretex or similar membrane. Last year I had Toggi boots. They died in the spring and I am currently in wellies while I put off the need for new expensive boots!
 
Exercise sheet for the horse, waterproof saddle cover, rain coat for me. I rather fancy a riding skirt as well, but haven't got one (yet!).
 
Love my riding skirt £50 off eBay. Coat I still don’t have completely sussed but spray cape of Jack Murphy coat with proofing spray.
 
Waterproof sheet for horse. Hi viz one if we’re hacking. Whatever waterproof coat I have around. If riding, I just get wet legs but if cold, I have amazing Aldi skiwear trousers which are just so lovely and warm.
 
30,000 coat from dare2be and racing over trousers - mine are jolmuluti. I have a 20,000 long waterproof which works but it drives me mad. Wet knees, or rides up etc it does keep me dry. I also had to sew the leg straps as kept coming undone. I have had tonnes of waterproofs over the years but current rig works best.

Depends on the weather for horse. If it's not that cold they get nothing. If it's cold I have some options in a quarter sheet or high viz rug
 
I like my light equidry for winter rain, for current rain just my normal dog walking waterproof. Usually waterproof exercise sheet for horse if not jumping, but he’s pathetic in the rain (he’s already come in shivering from the field twice just with a rainsheet on this year and it’s only August!)
 
I bought a huge warm and waterproof coat from OneStopCopShop last year. Bright yellow with hi-viz bands, removable padded liner, 2 way zip and side zips, so it sits nicely over my thighs and saddle. Totally unfashionable, and totally waterproof. Washes well. I absolutely love it. I think it cost about £30.
 
Good waterproof jacket 10,000mm rating minimum, ideally one that comes over your knees with a big hood to go over your hat. Everyone will have different opinions on what is the best, i have a very good Ariat one but people swear by the Equidry/dry robe type ones.
I have Toggi waterproof over trousers which are great but my Decathlon kip warm waterproof breeches have been amazing. Have yet to find good waterproof gloves that are not super bulky.
Good waterproof exercise sheet, again options vary on the best one.
 
Long reincoat and waterproof mountain biking socks under my chaps. I must admit though I suspect I will be too hot in this for a while. At the moment I'm still in normal jods and a cycling waterproof coat ( high Viz and goes nice and far down your back). I have sealskinz gloves as I hate wet hands.

I used to ride in waterproof trousers (walking north face ones that lasted about 15 years ) but they were not the easiest for getting on an off in the field and I don't like driving in then 😅
 
Long hi viz Reincoat. The light version. I have an Equidry but it's generally too warm for riding. Also very useful is a Hi Viz workwear softshell waterproof jacket (Portwest I think). Really comfortable although mine has been washed so much that it's barely showerproof these days, it's about 10 years old
 
Hi viz equidry for me, it’s designed to go over the saddle too, keeps me nice and warm and dry, these oversized coats look hideous but are brilliant! Horse has a waterproof hi viz ride on rug. Drying everything is a chore so I’m hoping for a dry winter, again
 
I have a waterproof saddle cover, and a full-length oilskin coat. It's a great set-up for slow work/hacking, although I am planning to get a pair of 3/4 rain pants so I can wear a shorter raincoat for schooling - I'd wear them with my short oilskin, though I may also pick up a bright orange raincoat to wear in hunting season.

Horse just gets wet. They aren't clipped, and live out, so they'd be getting rained on either way. I will sometimes put them in a cooler for a while after the ride to dry them out a bit before I turn them back out.

I also just... don't ride if it's pouring. We don't get nearly as much rain as you, so it's easier to plan most of my rides on nicer days!
 
I made myself a full circle riding skirt, softshell with leg straps and weighted hem so it doesn't fly up like Marilyn Monroe (my prototype did and the pony wasn't impressed :P) keeps my legs nice and warm and dry although I deliberately didn't make it go over the pommel like the Dopo skirts do, so in truly driving rain there is a chance of rain coming in the front where the skirt splits. Generally speaking if the weather is that bad it's already running down my neck, sleeves, and coming in through the seams on my jacket though so in practice not a big problem!

I just use raincoats from outdoors shops, I like the ones with underarm vents or I get a bit too toasty.
 
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