If you’ve spent any significant time at the barn, you know the summer sun can both be a blessing and a burden. We live for those long, golden hours in the saddle. Still, the heat and glare can quickly turn an enjoyable schooling session into an exhausting endurance test. Modern equestrian fashion has shifted dramatically to meet this challenge, moving away from heavy cotton polos toward high-tech “sunshirts” that act as a climate-control system for your body.
At JODS, we’ve watched the sunshirt evolve from a purely functional piece of athletic gear into a genuine fashion statement. No longer is it just about staying safe, but also about looking effortless while doing so. With the right shirt, you can keep cool, dry, and impeccably styled while navigating a tricky jump course or grooming your horse in the midday heat.
Sun protection usually comes from two places: what you wear and what you apply. Clothing can block ultraviolet (UV) rays by creating a physical barrier, while sunscreen reduces the amount of UV that reaches the skin through a topical filter. While both methods of protection can definitely help, they’re measured in different ways.
When you browse our collection, you’ll often see the term “UPF” mentioned. This term refers to the Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF), which is a way to quantify how much sunlight a fabric blocks.
Think of your shirt’s weave like a microscopic barrier: the higher the rating, the tighter and more protective the fabric, the less UV gets through. For example, a garment with a UPF 50 rating allows only 1/50th of UV radiation to reach your skin, which means it blocks about 98% of UV rays.
It also helps to remember that overage matters. Any quality shirt provides some baseline protection simply by covering the skin, but UPF-rated clothing tells you exactly how much protection the fabric is designed to provide.
UPF isn’t only about thickness. In fact, many of our lightest, airiest shirts are among the most protective. Many factors contribute to the level of protection that a shirt provides, including:
Fabric Construction: A tight weave or knit helps block rays, while loose, open fabrics might let more light through.
Color Palette: Light pastel colors reflect visible light, while darker or more saturated colors absorb more UV than they allow to pass through the fabric.
Fiber Type: Synthetic fibers like polyester and nylon are more effective at blocking UV light than natural cotton.
Sun protection factor (SPF) is another term used to describe sun protection and is often used interchangeably with UPF, but they serve very different purposes:
SPF applies to topical products like lotions and sprays. It measures how long it takes for skin to burn compared to wearing no protection.
UPF applies to clothing. It doesn’t wear off the way sunscreen can, and it doesn’t depend on whether you applied it evenly.
It helps to remember that UPF-rated shirts offer more UV protection than lotions and sunscreens by providing more consistent coverage for as long as you’re wearing them. This also means fewer worries about missed spots (like shoulders and upper back) and fewer mid-ride reapplications.
Sun protection should never be a summer-only concern. UV radiation is present year-round, even on cool, cloudy days when the heat isn’t pushing you to think about sunscreen or coverage. That’s when it’s easy to get complacent, especially during quick barn trips, early lessons, or overcast show mornings.
Certain riding environments can make exposure feel sneaky, too. Snow, sand, and light-colored surfaces can reflect UV back up, increasing the amount that reaches your face, neck, and the underside of your arms. If you’re outside regularly, a sunshirt should be part of your standard kit, offering reliable coverage that doesn’t require you to remember to reapply.
Beyond UV protection, these shirts support comfort in changing conditions. Moisture-wicking fabrics pull sweat away from the skin and dry quickly, helping you stay comfortable during warm spells, layered rides, or humid shoulder-season days.
At JODS, we know our riders prioritize how a shirt feels and looks. Fully perforated have been extremely popular for hot weather riders. These offer skin coverage while maintaining maximum breathability. Pieces like the Alesia, Chaya, and Willa have become steady favorites because they fully cover the skin but balance coverage with the kind of breathability that will keep you going through extreme temperatures.
Each style uses ventilated details like perforations and mesh paneling to improve airflow, while giving you the practical benefit of covered skin. They offer comfortable coverage for long rides and long barn days that our community reaches for again and again. While these are not UPF rated due to the fabric perforation, most riders find that they provide enough coverage to not get tanned or burned.
The long-sleeve sunshirt is the go-to layer for the modern rider. It offers maximum coverage and a sleek, athletic silhouette that looks just as good with a pair of Tailored Sportsman breeches as it does with denim.
Long Sleeve Mocknecks: A continuing trend in the equestrian world is the mockneck. These provide full coverage, but are wearable through the summer if the fabrics are breathable. We love the 70 degrees mockneck for its lightweight design and UPF 50+rating. Likewise, the For Horses Isa is a great option that adds a touch of sparkle at the sleeve. Tailored Sportsman has also recently started offering mocknecks in their signature lightweight fabric.
Quarter-Zip Styling: A rider staple for a reason. For a polished option with an elevated feel, the Tailored Sportsman Long Sleeve Sunshirt is a strong pick, with its large variety of color and quarter zip that keeps the front clean. The collar can be worn folded down or zipped up when you want more coverage.
Perforation: If you want to maximize breathability, we recommend trying a fully perforated sunshirt. The Equisite Alesia is our best-selling schooling shirt, and has been a wardrobe staple for equestrians at major shows like WEF and Upperville.
On those truly stifling days when even a featherweight long sleeve feels like too much, a short-sleeve sunshirt earns its keep. These are perfect for high-intensity schooling sessions or long days of stall chores.
These styles often feature more relaxed silhouettes, allowing for maximum airflow around the torso. While you’ll want to apply a bit of sunscreen to your forearms, the core protection and moisture-wicking capabilities of a short-sleeve technical shirt are vastly superior to a standard cotton t-shirt. They maintain their shape, even when damp and dry, within a matter of minutes.
Second-Skin Cooling: The TKEQ Kennedy Short Sleeve Technical Shirt is built for heat. It is lightweight, breathable, and moisture-wicking, with a streamlined fit that works just as well in the saddle as it does while you’re running around the barn.
Airflow With a Polished Finish: The Equisite Hallie brings full ventilation into the design, paired with stretchy, lightweight fabric and a relaxed fit that helps you stay cool without looking overly casual.
When choosing your next favorite shirt, look for these small details that elevate a garment from “activewear” to “equestrian luxury”:
|
Feature |
The Equestrian Benefit |
|
Thumbholes |
Keeps sleeves in place under gloves and protects the back of the hands. |
|
Odor Control |
Antibacterial finishes keep you smelling fresh even after three horses. |
|
High Collars |
Protects the delicate skin on the back of your neck from "rider’s burn." |
|
Quick-Dry Blends |
Ensures you aren't sitting in a damp shirt during the trailer ride home. |
The versatility of the sunshirt is its greatest strength. In the heat of summer, wear it tucked into your favorite breeches, paired with a contrast-stitch belt for a classic look. As the seasons shift, these shirts become the ultimate baselayer.
Because they are so thin and breathable, they fit perfectly under a vest or a Essex Classic sweater without adding bulk. You can maintain your color story by layering a pastel sunshirt under a neutral knit sweater, allowing the colorful collar to pop. This “365-day” utility makes the sunshirt one of the smartest investments in your wardrobe.
Sun safety in the equestrian world has moved beyond basic utility. Today, it is an intersection of high-performance textile science and high-end fashion. Whether you choose a shirt with a certified UPF rating or opt for the airy, perforated comfort of our Alesia or Willa styles, you are making a choice that benefits your health and your style.
At JODS, we believe that you shouldn’t have to choose between staying cool and looking sophisticated. Explore our collection of sunshirts to find the style that keeps you protected and comfortable every time you step into the stirrup.
