The IceRays field guide
A rider's guide to sun sleeves
If you ride, you know how the hours slip away. You catch the horse, groom, tack up, ride, hose down and feed. For most of that time your forearms are out in the sun. Sun sleeves are a simple way to cover them while you keep the short-sleeved shirt you like to ride in. This page covers how they fit with your riding kit, what they will and will not do, and a few habits that make them easy to live with.
Why riders think about their arms
For most of a ride your hands are on the reins and your arms are held out in front of you. On a sunny day that puts the tops of your forearms square in the sun, often for hours at a time. A brim cover on your helmet helps your face. Your shirt covers your shoulders. The forearms are usually the part left out.
A long-sleeved riding shirt is a good answer, and Cancer Council recommends clothing that covers as much skin as possible. But plenty of riders find long sleeves warm on a summer morning, or would rather wear a club polo. A pair of sleeves covers the gap, and it comes off in seconds when you are finished for the day.
What UPF 50+ means, in one plain line
UPF tells you how much of the sun's UV gets through a fabric, and UPF 50+ blocks 98%+ of UV.
The IceRays fabric was tested by ARPANSA in 2015 (black sample) and rated UPF 50+, the top "Excellent" category. UPF ratings are measured on fabric that is dry and not stretched, so a comfortable fit matters. You can read the 2015 test details (PDF, opens in a new tab) and what they cover, or see what UPF 50+ means for a longer explanation.
Put them on before you get on
- Put your sleeves on at the tack room or the car, before you catch the horse. It is far easier than trying with gloves on or a lead rope in your hand.
- Bunch the sleeve into a ring, slip your hand through and smooth it up your arm with a flat palm. Do not haul it up by the top band.
- Settle the cuff at your wrist. Then pull your riding gloves on, either over the cuff or under it. Try both at home and pick the one with no strip of bare skin at the wrist.
- Check the top band sits under the sleeve of your shirt, so no skin shows when you reach forward.
Never fiddle with a sleeve while you are riding. If something feels wrong, halt somewhere safe, get off if you need to, and sort it out on the ground.
Will they stay up in the saddle?
Do a quick check at home before your first ride. Hold your arms out as if you have the reins. Bend your elbows, reach forward as you would to give with your hands, and lift one arm as if you were opening a gate. If the top band slips down, settle it a little higher on your upper arm. If it pinches or leaves a deep mark, it is sitting in the wrong spot, so move it or contact us for help.
One size fits all adults. If you are buying for a child at pony club, ask us first.
What sleeves do not do around horses
We want to be clear about this. IceRays are lightweight fabric for sun cover. They are not riding protection. They will not stop a bite, a rope burn, a scrape from a fence rail or an injury in a fall. Keep wearing your helmet, boots, gloves and body protector if you use one.
If you are working around wire, thorny scrub or rough timber, a sturdy long-sleeved work shirt is the better choice. Our honest page on UV versus thorn protection explains why. Check your sleeves for snags and holes now and then, because a hole lets sun straight through.
Hot days, dust and the rest of your sun cover
The fabric is light and breathable. Some people find it comfortable to wear on warm days, especially when it is a little damp and there is a breeze, a bit like a damp shirt on a windy day. That is a comfort feeling, not a change in your body temperature. On hot days keep drinking water, and give yourself and your horse a rest in the shade.
Sleeves are one part of your sun cover, not the whole lot. Cancer Council recommends five steps together whenever the UV is 3 or above: covering clothing, sunscreen, a hat, shade and sunglasses. For riders that means:
- sunscreen on your face, ears and the back of your neck before you tack up
- a brim or peak on your helmet if your discipline allows it
- sunglasses that sit comfortably under your helmet harness
- shade for both of you during breaks
UV can be high on cool or cloudy days, so check the UV forecast on the free SunSmart app or the Bureau of Meteorology website rather than going by how warm it feels. ARPANSA also notes that UV bounces off surfaces, and lighter surfaces reflect more than darker ones. A pale sand arena is worth keeping in mind.
Colours, competitions and the drive to the show
IceRays come in six colours: White, Black, Beige, Light Blue, Light Grey and Charcoal. Darker colours tend to show arena dust and horse hair less. Cancer Council notes that darker colours of the same fabric generally absorb more UV than light pastel shades. The 2015 test was on the black sample. Our guide to whether sleeve colour matters has more.
If you compete, check your rule book or ask the steward before you wear sleeves in a class. Some events set the dress, or require a jacket. Sleeves are handy for warm-ups, lessons, trail rides and long days at the stables.
Towing a float to a show means a long stretch with one arm by the window. In Australia that is your right arm. If you drive in the US, it is your left. Our driving page covers sun through the car window.
Care, and how many pairs you need
Follow the care label. Take damp, sweaty sleeves out of your grooming kit when you get home, rather than leaving them balled up with the brushes and the hoof pick. Keep them away from hook-and-loop straps, which can catch the fabric.
A pair is two sleeves, one for each arm. If you are at the stables most days, a spare pair means one can be washed while you wear the other. A four-pack is AUD 120. That works out to $30 a pair, and $31.80 less than buying four single pairs. It also covers a riding friend or two. Or choose your sleeves one pair at a time.
Questions and answers
Will the sleeves stay up during rising trot?
Do the at-home check first: arms out as if holding the reins, elbows bent, then reach forward. If the top band slips, settle it a little higher on your upper arm. If it pinches or leaves a deep mark, move it or contact us for help.
Do I wear my riding gloves over or under the cuff?
Either works. Try both at home and choose the one that leaves no strip of bare skin at your wrist when you hold the reins.
Do sun sleeves protect against scratches, bites or rope burn?
No. They are lightweight fabric for sun cover, not riding protection. Keep your helmet, gloves, boots and other riding gear, and wear a sturdy work shirt around wire or thorny scrub.
Can I wear them in a dressage test or a show class?
Check your rule book or ask the steward first. Some events set the dress. Sleeves are useful for warm-ups, lessons and training days.
Are they suitable for pony club kids?
One size fits all adults. If you are buying for a child, contact us before you order.
Do I still need sunscreen?
Yes, on your face, ears, neck and hands. Cancer Council recommends clothing, sunscreen, a hat, shade and sunglasses together whenever the UV is 3 or above.