Summer riding attire

 

Why choose riding clothing that has skin thermoregulation properties?

With summer approaching, the ambient temperature will be very changeable – this means the inevitable issue of becoming hot and sweaty when riding – something all riders are familiar with! Our arenas are commonly filled with ladies riding in vest tops in summer, to increase air-flow and reduce excessive warmth from riding clothing.

 

Maintaining our body temperature

Our skin, essentially one inter-connected organ, is very practiced at maintaining our body temperature within suitable limits; as best it can, at least. As the sun becomes hotter, the skin’s immense blood supply helps regulate temperature - blood vessels in the dermis, the middle layer of the skin, dilate to allow for heat loss, and constrict to retain heat.

 

With its large surface area, our skin plays an important role in body thermoregulation. As we ride and increase our metabolic and physical processes – for example, riding the faster gaits, or performing a showjumping round – our body generates heat. When it becomes excessive, the body cleverly vasodilates the skin’s blood vessels, to start the cooling process. A further key process is sweating, which roughly speaking begins when the body temperature rises above 37 C. As drops of sweat form on and then evaporate from our skin surface, they take body heat away with them. Another clever process is convection, whereby air circulation close to the skin allows heat to be dissipated.

 

Why wicking horse riding clothing is hot to trot!

Let’s look a little at what those little vest tops are achieving, when you’re riding – or any cotton based T shirt or underwear, for that matter. Because cotton is a natural fibre, it absorbs moisture, drawing it away from the skin – but what’s actually preferable is a wicking material. With a cotton top or underwear, the sweat just stays on the material - it doesn’t get drawn away from your skin and isn’t moisture-wicking. A technical material designed for exercise helps dry sweat faster by pulling the sweat away from the skin, out of the clothing, and into the environment. This allows for the cooling process of evaporation. If the top or underwear is tight fitting as well as being less breathable, as most are, convection, whereby air circulation allows heat to be dissipated, can’t take place so efficiently. Another side effect is that unpleasant build-up of perspiration, and the ensuing smell and discomfort!

 

                         

Derriere Equestrian’s new Activewear range includes new horse riding sports tops and leggings boasting carefully positioned mesh areas (under the arms, over the shoulder and thighs and across the back and waist), wicking away moisture to keep you dry when the heat is on. The technical material is made from wicking fibres that allow skin thermoregulation to not only keep you comfortable in the saddle, but also keep the skin more healthy. You may be tempted to ride your horse in a vest-top to keep cool, but as we know from the above, if they are not made with exercise in mind, they are not the best choice. There is also the obvious sun damage and sun burn to consider too – the new Derriere Equestrian Activewear sports tops boast high-neck collars, to protect you from the undesirable effects of the sun (and look fantastic, of course!).

 

Derriere’s underwear range is too made from exercise specific, sports technology fabric to ensure advanced moisture wicking to keep riders cool and dry in the saddle.

 

Ask your local Derriere stockist or visit www.derriereequestrian.com to see the range – your skin will thank you!

Getting to know dressage rider Erin Orford

 We asked para-dressage star Erin Orford to share a favourite flatwork exercise, and also asked her a selection of burning questions, from advice to advice for her younger self.

 

Can you share a simple exercise to help with a specific rider issue?

“A great one is to Find Your Centre. Many of our daily activities (mucking out, driving, sweeping etc) put more strain on one side of our body, or require more rotation to one side than the other. Often, they'll be completed by our dominant and more natural side automatically, or in some cases (like driving), you have no choice in the matter,” Erin explains.

“This can impact the symmetry of the rider and how we sit in the saddle, but also how far we are able to rotate each way, which may affect what we perceive to be the centre, when we're sat in the saddle,” she continues. “When standing with your feet hip-width apart, or sitting on a chair, have a play with how far you can rotate your body each way, and use a mirror to see if what you feel matches what you see, to find out what is comfortable, and whether there is a difference in your range of movement. Ideally, your range of movement should be the same each way,” Erin advises. “If this is not the case, it may affect what you feel is your 'centre', both off horse, and when you are sat in the saddle.”

 

Which is your most memorable horse and why?

“All of the horses I've been lucky enough to ride have taught me something and helped to make me the rider I am today.”

 

What’s your best piece of advice, and why?

“Always be ready - I was first reserve for Team GB for three different years, and it's the hardest role, but I'd never want to regret that I could have done more. It came in handy in 2017, when I got called up at the last minute to make my championship debut, and we came back with Team Gold and Individual Bronze!”

 

Which person do you look up to today in equestrianism and why?

“I admire anyone who is working in the equestrian industry; it's not all about the medals and the winning, but the small successes too - it takes a lot of hard work and resilience to keep working towards your goals.”

 

What’s your ultimate riding or training goal?

“One day I would love to ride at Grand Prix; until then my goal is PSG! I could do the movements, but never all on the same horse!”

 

What’s your biggest regret?

“Not taking enough time to enjoy the achievements – often, you’re so busy moving onto the next thing, you don't appreciate what you've done; so that's been one of my goals for this year.”

 

What would you’d tell your younger/teenage self?

“Everything happens for a reason, so learn from it but never give up.”

 

What’s the horse you would like to have ridden?

“I have so many! Valegro and Uthopia seem like obvious answers, but also Helen Langehanenberg's Damon Hill.”

 

Who would be your ideal dinner party guests?

“Michael McIntyre, Chris Hoy and James Corden.”

 

What will you be doing in 20 years’ time?

“Hopefully still riding and teaching, enjoying competing, and helping others to enjoy their horses too,” Erin concludes.

 

Visit Erin’s Facebook page to follow her journey - https://www.facebook.com/EOrfordDressage