What functional textiles are there in equestrian sports?
In equestrian sports, functional textiles are used to withstand a wide variety of weather conditions. Therefore, the saying applies to riders and horse owners: „There is no bad weather, only bad clothing.“ To ensure that you are optimally protected in wind, rain, snow as well as sunshine, the materials for riding and stable clothing must have certain properties. Which materials are used for riding jackets, mackintoshes, breeches and the like? What properties do functional textiles have to fulfil so that time with the horse is fun in all types of weather?
1. Soft shell, leather & Co. – Which materials are used in riding clothes?
From the all-rounder soft shell to artificial leather and silicone – a whole range of textiles are used in the equestrian world to ensure that the rider is optimally clothed from head to toe. However, not every material can be used for every piece of clothing. The care requirements of the individual materials are just as different, which we have summarised for you here in an textile care overview.
With good care, genuine leather lasts a lifetime
Genuine leather is animal skin that is used as a by-product of the meat industry. As it is an animal product, it requires labelling.
Advantage: abrasion-resistant, durable, tear-resistant. Lasts for years to decades with good care
Disadvantage: Animal product, expensive and time-consuming production
Use: Full-seat breeches, riding boots, stable shoes
Care of imitation leather is easy
Imitation leather consists of textile fabric covered with a coating of synthetic material, e.g. polyester. It is usually preferred to real leather in textile production because it costs less than real leather and is also not made from animal skin.
Advantage: not an animal product, cheap production, easy to care for, washable, tear-resistant and stable.
Disadvantage: less breathable than genuine leather
Use: riding breeches, riding boots, stable shoes
The silicone of the grip breeches is easily cared for
Silicones are now also used in equestrian clothing. These are synthetic polymers with a high resistance to water and heat. The silicones are applied to the trim of grip breeches and not sewn in. This has the advantage that the trim remains flexible and guarantees the highest possible comfort when riding.
Advantage: provides a firm hold and fit in the saddle.
Disadvantage: Depending on the pattern applied (zigzag, stripes or dots), it could wear off more quickly.
Use: grip breeches
Washing and waterproofing soft shell correctly
Soft shell, the all-rounder among functional textiles, has long since found its way into equestrian sports. It is not only used for transitional jackets, but also for riding breeches and riding gloves for winter and windy weather. Soft shell is not a protected term for a specific material. It is much more a composition of three layers of fabric:
The outer fabric is abrasion-resistant, robust and water-repellent. It also protects against the cooling wind chill effect. The soft inner fabric offers maximum comfort, while the function of the intermediate layer depends on the main focus of the textile. This function can be windproofness, breathability or water-repellent properties.
Advantage: perfect for equestrian sports due to its versatility, ideal for the transitional season, lightweight, quick-drying.
Use: transitional jacket, riding coat, riding waistcoat, riding trousers, riding gloves
Oilskin and Wax-Cotton are extremely easy to care for
Textiles made of oiled or waxed cotton with a weather-resistant PU coating are called Oilskin or Wax-Cotton. Oilskin is ideal for rainwear that can be worn in the stable or on trail rides. The material is characterised by its waterproofness and high durability. It is therefore the ideal companion in extreme weather conditions.
Advantage: extremely water-repellent and windproof, breathable, odourless
Disadvantage: high weight
Use: riding rain coat
Down requires careful care
Down is the term used to describe the downy feathers or bottom feathers of ducks and geese. They have a short keel and extremely soft feather branches, which have a very high thermal performance. For this reason, they are used in the textile sector primarily for lining winter jackets. Moreover, due to its lightness, down does not weigh much and thus makes even the thickest winter jackets light as a feather.
However, the process of obtaining down usually means immense stress for the poultry to be feathered, which is questionable from an animal welfare point of view. For this reason, many manufacturers of winter jackets use imitation down, which does not endanger animal well-being and is also easier to care for than real down.
Advantage: high thermal performance, very light and easier to compress.
Disadvantage: questionable from an animal welfare point of view, costly and difficult to care for.
Use: winter jackets, winter gilets
Animal well-being is a top priority at Kramer Equestrian, which is why we do not use products with real down. In our range of fillings for winter riding jackets, you will find the more easy-care and yet effectively effective imitation down.
You can find out which steps you need to take when caring for the individual functional textiles here in our step-by-step care instructions in the following article.
2. High demands on riding clothes – which properties must functional textiles fulfil in equestrian sports?
In equestrian sports, style and function are often combined in one piece of clothing. The demands on the materials are therefore very high, but at the same time they vary. What functions do riding jackets, breeches and the like have to fulfil?
Waterproof: the penetration of water through the outer fabric is completely prevented, so that the inner material remains dry. Waterproof materials are usually also windproof but not necessarily the other way round.
Water-repellent: also called waterproof, water and dirt bead up on the surface. However, in continuous and heavy rain there is no guarantee that the inner material will stay dry.
Windproof: keeps wind out completely so that the body does not cool down. More uncomfortable to wear during active stable work or riding training, as windproof clothing is less breathable.
Wind repellent: keeps wind partially out. Allows more air circulation than windproof clothing, so it is more comfortable to wear during stable work and riding.
Breathable: describes the extent to which the membrane transports water vapour from the inside to the outside. This creates a comfortable, drier wearing climate as it counteracts excessive sweating.
UV protection: is not only important for skin protection. Clothing should also protect against harmful solar radiation, the ultraviolet rays. The protection depends on the tightness of the synthetic fibre, cotton or wool. Special UV-protective clothing can absorb up to 98% of all UV rays.
Stretch (4-Way-Stretch): elastic fabric offers maximum freedom of movement for maximum comfort in the saddle and on the ground. Stretch fabric is especially important for riding breeches, as they have to adapt optimally to the posture of the legs. This avoids annoying creases that could rub between the leg and the saddle. Stretch materials are also used in tight-fitting competition jackets to guarantee sufficient freedom of movement.
In order to maintain the functions of the individual materials, functional textiles require special care. For example, a rain jacket with oilskin cannot be cleaned in the same way as a rain and seasonal jacket made of soft shell material. The same applies to the cleaning of riding breeches with artificial leather and genuine leather trim.
To ensure that you continue to enjoy your riding and stable clothing for a long time, we have listed care steps and care products for the individual functional textiles in the following chapter. You can find out what these look like in detail in the „Step-by-Step Care Instructions“.