As equestrians, we are out in the sun a lot.

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In the late 1990’s and early 2000’s people laid out in the sun for hours trying to get that summery bronze glow. Being tan was the popular look. Paris Hilton was the tan blonde trend setter of the times. I remember being in college and laying out in the sun many days during the summer. As I look in the mirror 15 years later, wrinkles are starting to form next to my already prominent age spot.  Sunbathing doesn’t seem like such a great idea now. Thankfully, today we are more aware of the consequences of not protecting ourselves from the sun. The good news for equestrians. . . you no longer need to worry about tan lines from your riding gloves and tee shirts!  

Why is protecting myself from the sun so important? 

Aside from being vain and not wanting more wrinkles or age spots, melanoma (a type of skin cancer) runs on both sides of my family. A few years ago, my dad was diagnosed with stage 4 melanoma. It spread to other organs, including his brain. He had surgery to remove a grape sized tumor from his brain and underwent years of immunotherapy. Long story short, we are lucky to still have him with us today. Although he is still with us, he has to deal with the other issues resulting from the cancer such as nerve damage, weakness in an arm, and lymphoma. Many people think that skin cancer is just a bad mole that needs to be removed. That is not true. It can be deadly.

As equestrians, we are out in the sun a lot. In many parts of the country, many people do not have a covered or indoor arena where they can ride in the shade. Even if you are lucky enough to have a shaded area to ride in, equestrians still get a lot of exposure to the sun. We are out in the pastures, doing yard work, watching friends ride, admiring our beautiful horses from the fence… you name it. While I probably should do more to protect myself from the sun (like live under a rock), here are a few things that I use to keep my skin protected.

Ariat Sunstopper 1/4 Zipshirt https://amzn.to/31Y55AK – These lightweight long sleeve shirts have mesh ventilation along and under the arms. They zip up to the collar which protects your chest and neck. These shirts may seem like they aren’t going to last when you first touch them, but I have had mine for 3 years. It doesn’t get used all the time, but the shirt is still in good shape. They don’t seem to smell as bad as other athletic shirts when you get done riding. Maybe that’s just me? I’m not going to lie though, when the heat index is 100 degrees, it doesn’t feel as cool as riding in a tank top. But, should we really be riding our horses that much or hard if it is that hot out? Another great shirt option is Kerrits’ Ice Fil shirts. I do not have one yet, but I know others that do. They are stylish looking. I watched a girl ride in the Kerrits’ Ice Fil shirt when it was a humid 90-degree day.

Equivisor on Helmet https://amzn.to/38BoDMm – The helmet visor gives you more coverage from the sun than the small brim of your helmet. This visor really helps when it is midday and the sun is at its strongest overhead. I haven’t ridden in the visor a lot, but so far it works well with both of my helmets. It also seems to have good reviews on Amazon.

Flying Fisherman Polarized Sunglasses https://amzn.to/3gBhqib – I love my old pair of Maui Jim sunglasses, but they do not fit under baseball caps or helmets very well. I have a pair of Flying Fisherman polarized sunglasses. They fit well under both of my helmets (Ovation and One K). They stay on while riding, and they seem to be able to “take a beating.” They provide UVA and UVB ray protection. And my favorite part… they are fairly inexpensive. If they fall off my face and a horse steps on them, it’s not a big deal.

Neutrogena Sunscreen https://amzn.to/2ZNsTVc – Raise your hand if you like the sticky feeling of sunscreen, especially when you are in the barn… nobody? That is what I thought. We all know what it’s like to wear Chapstick and then groom your horse during shedding season. It is like that, but on the rest of your body. Horsehair, dirt, and who knows what else sticks all over you. I also have really sensitive skin. The sunscreen can’t be too greasy, because then I’ll break out. Other sunscreens tend to almost burn my skin. Neutrogena has some of the best sunscreen I have found that doesn’t feel gross and won’t burn my skin. Neutrogena’s Dry Ultra Sheer is my favorite, and it comes in a spray, lotion and stick.

Sloggers Wide Brim Hat https://amzn.to/2Z9CMxd – I really like this sunhat. It is very comfortable and functional. It is not too hot, but sturdy and heavy enough that it won’t blow away in a breeze. There is a strap that you can pull tight around your chin on super windy days or if you want to look like you’re going on a safari. The other nice feature about this hat is the comfort band on the inside of the hat. The band protects your forehead from getting itchy and scratched up. This wide brim sunhat has lasted longer than any of my other wide brimmed hats. Most of the other sunhats that I had were worn to the beach. As soon as they got wet, the brims would droop and would not hold their shape. The Sloggers wide brim hat has lasted 5 years so far, and it still looks good. I have taken it to horse shows, vacations, and backyard playtime with my toddler.

Conclusion

Whether your motivation is protecting your skin from cancer or defending it from wrinkles and age spots down the road, please consider doing more to protect your skin from the sun. Here is my challenge to you . . .What is one more thing that you can do to protect your skin from the sun today? Maybe it’s wearing a wide brimmed hat more often or making sure that you apply sunscreen daily.