UPF Sun Shirts for Summer Riding | LV Tack

UPF Sun Shirts: A Must for Summer Riding | LV Tack
  

What Is UPF and Why Does It Matter for Riders?

If you've spent any amount of time researching sun protection for outdoor athletes, you've probably seen the acronym UPF on clothing labels. UPF — Ultraviolet Protection Factor — is the textile equivalent of SPF in sunscreen. It measures how much ultraviolet radiation a fabric blocks before it reaches your skin. A shirt rated UPF 30 blocks roughly 97% of UV rays; UPF 50+ blocks 98% or more.

For most outdoor athletes, this is a nice-to-have. For riders, it's close to essential. Think about what a typical summer ride actually involves: you're outside, often for one to four hours, frequently during peak UV hours between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. You're at elevation in a saddle, meaning less shade. Your arms, neck, and face are continuously exposed. And unlike a runner who might duck inside after 45 minutes, you have a horse to untack, cool out, and put away — adding another hour of outdoor time after the ride itself.

Cumulative UV exposure is the primary driver of premature skin aging and the leading cause of skin cancer, and riders accumulate a lot of it season after season. Wearing UPF sun shirts for riders is one of the easiest, lowest-effort changes you can make for long-term skin health. Browse our Sun Shirts & Base Layers collection to see everything we carry.

How Sun Shirts Keep You Cooler Than You Think 

Here's the counterintuitive part that surprises most people: a quality sun shirt keeps you cooler on a hot day than no shirt at all. This isn't marketing copy — it's physics, and it's the same principle behind why cultures in hot, sun-drenched climates have traditionally worn light, long-sleeved garments rather than going sleeveless.

Here's how it works. Direct sun hitting bare skin heats your surface temperature rapidly. A lightweight, moisture-wicking sun shirt creates a micro-barrier that blocks radiant heat while simultaneously pulling sweat away from your skin and allowing it to evaporate. That evaporative cooling effect — combined with the blocked radiant load — results in a cooler skin temperature than bare exposure.

The key word is lightweight. A heavy cotton long-sleeve traps heat and soaks up sweat like a sponge. Sun shirts designed for athletic use are typically constructed from thin, open-weave polyester or nylon blends that allow exceptional airflow while still delivering UV protection. The result: you stay covered, protected, and genuinely more comfortable through a long day at the barn.

What to Look for in a Riding Sun Shirt

Not every sun shirt is created equal, and some features matter a lot more to riders than to, say, hikers or golfers. Here's what to prioritize when you're shopping for Sun Shirts & Base Layers:

• UPF rating of 30 or higher: UPF 50+ is the gold standard. Anything below UPF 30 provides minimal benefit over a regular shirt.
• Moisture-wicking fabric: You will sweat. A shirt that moves moisture away from your skin and dries quickly is non-negotiable for riding comfort.
• Four-way stretch: Riding requires full arm extension, twisting, posting, and a full range of upper-body motion. A shirt that pulls, bunches, or restricts movement will frustrate you within minutes. Look for at least two-way stretch; four-way is ideal.
• Flatlock seams: Seams that sit flat against the skin don't create pressure points under show jackets or base layers. This matters most for competition days.
  
• Thumbholes: Optional but loved by riders who want continuous wrist and hand coverage without gloves. Especially useful on trail rides and long schooling sessions.
• Collar style: Mock-zip collars or quarter-zip styles offer adjustable neck coverage. A higher collar protects the neck without feeling constricting — look for stretchy, soft necklines.
• Fit: Sun shirts for riding should be athletic-fit — snug enough not to billow under a jacket, but not so tight that they restrict breathing or look inappropriate. If you plan to wear yours under a show coat, size accordingly.

Sun Shirts vs. Regular T-Shirts for the Barn

We hear this one a lot: "I just wear a regular T-shirt — isn't that fine?" It depends on what you mean by fine. A standard white cotton T-shirt offers roughly UPF 5–7 when dry, meaning it blocks only about 80% of UV rays and even less when wet with sweat. Compare that to UPF 50+ sun shirt fabric blocking 98%+ of UV radiation, and the gap is significant over a full season of riding.

Beyond UV protection, cotton T-shirts absorb sweat and stay wet, which can lead to chills during cool-downs, saddle friction on skin, and post-ride discomfort. They wrinkle under jackets, don't layer cleanly, and often don't hold up well to the combination of sunscreen, fly spray residue, and frequent washing that barn life demands.

Technical sun shirt fabrics, on the other hand, are designed for exactly this environment. They resist odor, dry fast, maintain their shape and UPF rating through dozens of wash cycles, and look polished enough to wear straight from the barn to the feed store without changing. It's a genuine upgrade, not just a trend.

Styling Your Sun Shirt On and Off the Horse

One of the things riders love about modern sun shirts is how versatile they've become. Early versions were purely functional — boxy, bland, and obviously athletic. Today's options come in a range of colors, patterns, and silhouettes that work equally well in the saddle and off it.

At the barn, pair your sun shirt with breeches or riding jeans and your everyday boots. The athletic fit keeps things neat and professional without looking overly structured for a hack day. For lessons or shows, a fitted sun shirt works perfectly as a base layer under a show coat — smooth seams stay flat, moisture wicking keeps you from overheating in the ring, and the coverage adds a polished finish to the overall look.

Off the horse, sun shirts translate easily into casual summer wear. Wear them with shorts or athleisure pants for errands, yard work, or weekend outdoor activities. Many riders end up buying two or three — one specifically for competing, one for everyday riding, and one for life off the property. Check out our full riding apparel collection and our show apparel section for options that work from the warm-up ring to the show pen.

Our Favorite Sun Shirt Picks

We carry sun shirts from some of the most trusted names in equestrian apparel — brands that riders actually rely on through full seasons of training, showing, and trail riding. Here's how to think about choosing:

• For everyday barn work: Look for a midweight option with a relaxed athletic fit. You want full range of motion for tacking up, grooming, and handwork — not just riding. Simple solid colors wash well and go with everything.
• For competition: A slim-fit, flatlock-seam shirt in white or a neutral that complements your show jacket is the move. Make sure it layers smoothly and doesn't add bulk in the collar area.
• For trail and outdoor riding: Thumbholes and a higher collar offer maximum coverage for longer days out. A vented back panel makes a real difference on slow, hot trail rides where you're not generating as much airflow.
• For kids and juniors:  Fit matters more than style at this stage. Look for plenty of room through the shoulders and torso, easy care, and a cheerful color that the kid will actually want to wear.

Browse our current stock - we update inventory regularly as new colorways and styles come in from our brand partners.

Shop Sun Shirts at LV Tack

LV Tack is a woman-owned equestrian shop based in Long Valley, NJ, with national shipping. We handpick our inventory to carry gear that actually works — the stuff we'd use ourselves and recommend to our riding friends without hesitation.

Ready to stock up for summer? Head straight to our Sun Shirts & Base Layers collection and find your next go-to barn shirt. While you're there, explore the rest of our riding apparel collection for breeches, polos, and everything else you need to look good and ride well all season long.