Let's face it: The last thing you really want to do in summer is pull on a pair of breeches. They're hot, they're tight, and they do NOT make a good match with sweaty legs. But the Kerrits Flow Rise Performance Tight changes all of that, and makes a great option for warm weather riding.

The Kerrits Flow Rise Performance Tight is lightweight, breathable, and is possibly the softest riding tight I've found. It's ultra-comfortable, and even the stitching is non-irritating. The fabric is four-way stretchable, meaning that it gives and moves with your movement, a major plus when you're mounting up and riding. It's not restrictive at all, and until wearing these tights, I didn't realize just how restrictive some of my breeches actually are.

I have to admit, when I first felt these tights I didn't think they'd hold up to the demands of riding. They're thin, which is great because it also makes them breathable and lightweight, but they're also soft, and it just didn't feel like there was enough there to hold up to stirrup rubs and hours in the saddle.

I was wrong. These tights have held up beautifully, and they're comfortable even in sticky-hot weather. There's a noticeable difference between wearing these tights and wearing other breeches or tights - these are of a much lighter weight and I found myself far more comfortable in them in the heat. The two-inch elastic waistband further adds to their comfort, as it doesn't dig in like other waistbands do.

These tights are definitely made with attention to quality. The knee patches have held up well, and all of the stitching in these tights is straight, accurate, and strong. The leg cuffs have a bit of elastic sewn into the insides to keep them from riding up, and the overall style of the tights is flattering, cut well and close to the body without being restrictive. I'm also impressed with the range of colors these tights are available in, from the traditional to brighter, patterned colors.

These tights have clearly proven themselves to be excellent for summer riding, and I'd definitely recommend them. I would, though, love to see the addition of belt loops to these tights for a bit more of a secure fit. (Kerrits sizing on these tights is generous, so if you're between sizes, measure carefully and you'll probably want to go a size down.)

You can buy the Flow Rise Performance Tight from Kerrits directly. Be sure to also check out the Kerrits Facebook page.

July has been hot and humid here, so the time has definitely been right to test out Polar Products, Inc.'s Cool Comfort® Hidden Vest and the Cool Comfort® Deluxe Sports Vest. Both of these vests use Polar Products' Cool Comfort® technology. According to Polar Products, this "innovative new hybrid cooling system combines the efficient cooling power of evaporation with the direct cooling of frozen water."

Each vest is activated by submerging it in cool water for up to 20 minutes. During that time the crystals contained in the vest expand into pea-sized balls, absorbing water. As you wear the vest, the water slowly evaporates, cooling you in the process. You can also freeze the vests for additional cooling.

The Hidden Vest (the tan vest in these photos) is lightweight and involves minimal fabric. The fabric is stretchy, making it comfortable to wear, and it also remains incredibly light, even once the crystals have absorbed water. This vest is also highly adjustable. It features three Velcro straps in the front that you can easily adjust, and a Velcro strap on either side of the vest's bottom allows for a tailored fit and keeps the vest from riding up or bouncing.

I found the Cool Comfort® Hidden Vest to be excellent for riding. It's lightweight and comfortable, and the fact that you can adjust it in a number of ways allows you to fit it to your body. Best of all, even when the crystals are expanded the channels they are contained in are narrow enough that the vest still fits discreetly under clothing. It would be a great addition if you're showing on a hot day, since it easily fits under a hunt coat and no one will know that you're wearing it.

The Cool Comfort® Deluxe Sports Vest (the blue vest in these pictures) is a bit more substantial than the Cool Comfort® Hidden Vest. It features a heavier-duty fabric than what is used in the Hidden Vest, and a zipper fastens the front. This vest isn't as fitted as the Hidden Vest, and it's not something that you could wear beneath a hunt coat or other clothing. With its looser fit, I did find that this vest moved around quite a bit during the ride, especially at the trot. It is also substantially heavier than the Hidden Vest, so I'd recommend it for wearing during barn work, ground work, or other chores.

The advantage of the Deluxe Sports Vest is that it does contain more cooling crystals, and I found that it cooled me faster than the Hidden Vest. These crystals also make it bulkier, though, so you have to select the vest that's most in line with the qualities most important to you. I found that freezing both vests led to faster cooling, but the cooling properties of the Deluxe Sports Vest also lasted longer than the Hidden Vest.

In summary, both vests were effective. I tested them in the high humidity of Massachusetts, so if you live in a lower-humidity climate, then you may not find it necessary to freeze the vests, as the evaporative properties may be more effective. I found that the Cool Comfort® Deluxe Sports Vest provides more thorough, faster cooling, but the Cool Comfort® Hidden Vest's incredibly discreet design makes it appealing for anyone riding in a show or clinic.

Be sure to check out our review of Polar Products' Cool Max Fashion Vest, then visit the Polar Products website and Facebook page. Be sure to tell them that The Equine Insider sent you!.

I hate the heat. I really, really hate it. Especially when I'm riding or doing barn chores in it. So I've been searching (for years) for something that would make riding/running/just being outside in the heat more tolerable.

I think I've found it. The Kool Max® Fashion Vest by Polar Products uses frozen inserts to cool you during hot days. The vest offers five pockets where you can use the inserts, three of which are located on your spine to provide maximum cooling.

I know, I know - how often do we, as equestrians, have access to a freezer? What if I told you that Polar Products also makes special ice packs called Cool58™ Packs that can freeze at a temperature of 58 degrees? That's right, they can freeze in your fridge. But do they work?

The answer, in short: YES. Incredibly well, actually. I popped these packs into my fridge and within about an hour, they were frozen solid. Here's a tip: Make sure that you lay the packs out flat; when I say they freeze solid, I mean SOLID, so you might have an awkward half-bent pack sticking into your back if you don't think ahead.

Now on to the vest itself. I'm in love. I mean it - true love. I tried the vest with both the Cool58™ Packs and the standard ice packs that it comes with. I found that both worked equally well, but the Cool58™ Packs give you the obvious advantage of not needing to have access to a freezer to freeze them - you can toss them in your fridge or throw them into a bucket of ice water.

The vest features five pouches for the inserts - three on the spine, and one on each side of the front. The pouches are each individually insulated to help make the cooling effect last longer, and a bit of Velcro at the top makes inserting and removing the packs easy.

This vest is somewhat fitted, and was very comfortable. It features two outer pockets, so it's work-friendly. A front zipper keeps it secure, and I found its fit to be pretty flattering, even with the ice packs inserted. Because it's fitted, it doesn't bounce around much at all. The only suggestion I'd have would be to insert a drawstring around the bottom edge so that riders can truly cinch the vest up against themselves.

I wore this vest both while riding and doing barn chores, and simply loved it. I chose super-hot, super-humid days to put this vest to the test, and it passed with flying colors. Each time I wore the vest outside its cooling properties lasted for between three and four hours. I wore it over a light T-shirt and could feel the cooling well. I was much more comfortable, and was a happier person as a result.

When my apartment's air-conditioning cut out, this vest went to work. I wore it as I was sitting on the couch and cleaning the apartment, and found it to be wonderfully soothing. It's fairly lightweight - just a few pounds with all of the packs inserted - and I found that I could comfortably sit and lie on the couch with it on (without the ice packs digging into my back).

I found the Kool Max Fashion Vest to be well made and of a great quality. Its seams and stitching are all straight and tight, and it's held up incredibly well to the wear that I've put on it. The vest itself is lightweight and quite breathable, made of cotton and spandex, and it can be machine washed, which is an advantage it has over many other cooling products. It's also highly effective even in muggy climates, since it doesn't use evaporation technology.

This vest is great for riding and barn chores, and I also think it would be excellent for long show days when you're standing around waiting. I have it in black, so it's discreet, and it doesn't look bulky when you're wearing it. It can't quite fit under my hunt coat, but it's perfect for schooling, lessons, or downtime on show days.

The one drawback to this vest (and to the Cool58™ Packs) is price. It is pricey (the vest is listed at $129.95 and the Cool58™ Packs are listed at $57.50 for a set), but then again, for the comfort it offers, I say it's totally worth it, especially if you're outside in the heat for long hours, or if you're heat-sensitive. This vest is a quality product that seriously works. Now that I have this vest, I don't know how I could live without it.  

Want to learn more? Check out all of the cooling products offered by Polar Products on their website, or on their Facebook page. (And let them know that The Equine Insider sent you!) We'll have reviews of two more cooling products from Polar Products coming up shortly - in the meantime, check out our review of Polar's Cool Comfort Crown Cooler.

Looking for a way to stay cool in the summer? The Kerrits Venti Shortsleeve shirt is specially designed for equestrians. Made with Cooltek fabric which wicks moisture and uses rapid evaporation technology, this shirt is designed to keep you cool in the saddle and around the barn.

I found this shirt to be lightweight and comfortable even during some super humid days. While it is semi-fitted, I found that it wore loosely, which I prefer in the summer for the extra air circulation. The shirt fit me well and was not at all restrictive, either during barn chores or while riding. I also wore it while going running a few times, and it was quite comfortable and cool.

I really enjoy the fact that this shirt is tagless - there are absolutely no scratchy tags, which are the worst in the summer. The long front zipper (10 inches) makes sliding the shirt on and off easy, and you can do so while wearing a ponytail without having to redo the ponytail. I also like the fact that there is a zippered pocket on the right side. Since I'm right-handed, this is very convenient, and the pocket is large enough to hold some horse treats, keys, or a phone, though the fabric is so light that I wouldn't recommend weighing it down too much. When not in use, the pocket isn't visible.

This is one of the most breathable shirts that I've worn. If you examine the fabric closely, you'll see that it's actually textured, which I'd imagine is part of what helps to keep you cool while wearing it. It definitely wicks moisture - I wore it for between 1.5 and 4 hours at a time doing heavy physical activity on hot days, but never found that the fabric retained sweat or got heavy.

The Kerrits Venti Shortsleeve is well-constructed - despite numerous wears and washes it's held up well and still looks new. The stitching is strong and accurate, and the zippers still move smoothly. I'd definitely recommend it for summer riding, especially if you live in a humid climate. For the price ($49.00 on the Kerrits website), you'll get excellent use out of a very comfortable summer shirt. Plus, it comes with an adorable tiny package of "Kerrit" seeds that you can plant and then feed to your horse later on. You can't beat that!

Looking for a way to stay cool around the barn? Polar Products' Cool Comfort Crown Cooler uses evaporation and frozen water to provide cooling to your hat, helmet, or other headgear. According to Polar Products, Inc., "Special water-absorbing polymers soak up many times their volume in water for an extended period of time. Garmets can be chilled or frozen for additional cooling energy. Additionally, in drier climates the garmets provide hours of evaporative cooling."

I put the Cool Comfort Crown Cooler to the test, taking advantage of the 80+ degree weather we've been having here in Massachusetts lately.

Here's a tip: The first time you use the Crown Cooler, you're supposed to soak it in cold water for 20 minutes. If you're like me and you're easily distracted (okay... so I'm downright forgetful), set a timer or an alarm so that you remember to take the Crown Cooler out of the water 20 minutes - and not 2 hours - later. Because if you leave the Crown Cooler submerged in water for two hours, it will become seriously oversaturated to the point where it's bulging at the seams and you won't stand half a chance of fitting it - and your head - into a helmet, a hat, or any other headwear.

But, once I'd waited 3 days for some of the water to evaporate and for the Crown Cooler to recede to a manageable size, I tried it again. This time I got it right and managed to remove the Cooler on time. Initially flat as a pancake, the Crown Cooler was now about a half inch in thickness. After wringing out the excess water, I started trying it out.

I tried a few different things with the Crown Cooler. Initially I'd been hopeful that I could wear it in my riding helmet, but that didn't work out too well. The Cooler is a little bit too thick to fit comfortably in my regular helmet. I did dig out my show helmet which has some extra room left for my hair, and it did fit more comfortably (but now I have no place left to put up my hair). Still, the Cooler did fit and it was comfortable and cool, though I didn't notice a huge difference in how it helped me battle the heat.

Next I tried the Cooler in a baseball hat, thinking it could be worn while mucking stalls and doing barn chores. It was a very tight fit, and didn't work too well. However, Polar makes a baseball hat specifically to be used with the Cooler, so that might be a better route.

I then tried the Cooler under a straw-brimmed hat that I wear while doing ground work with my mare. Success! While the hat didn't have a place to attach the Crown Cooler to (the Cooler does have a square of Velcro to keep it secure), this setup was comfortable and functional. I did feel somewhat cooler, so the next day I placed the Crown Cooler in the fridge for an hour before using it, and the cooling effect was much more noticeable. I found that freezing the Crown Cooler also increased the cooling, but it was initially a bit too cold, even though I wrapped it in a bandanna.

The Crown Cooler is definitely effective, but it takes a little work to find a suitable way to wear it with some sort of headwear. I found it most effective when it was refrigerated, and it can also be reactivated by putting it in cold water for a few minutes, which makes it easy to use while around the barn. The Crown Cooler does depend on evaporative technology, so using it in the muggy Massachusetts heat may have diminished its effect to a point. Still, refrigerating or freezing the Cooler can increase its effect. At a very reasonable price ($8.95) it's well worth adding the Crown Cooler to your summer barn kit.

You can buy the Crown Cooler directly from Polar. Be sure to visit Polar Products on Facebook, and keep an eye out on The Equine Insider - we'll have reviews of three more Polar cooling products coming up shortly!

I go through riding gloves like water. Seriously, you wouldn’t believe how quickly I rip, tear, or wear through gloves. I had pretty much abandoned the idea that any single pair of gloves could last me through a season, but Noble Outfitters’ Perfect Fit Glove may have proven me wrong.

The Perfect Fit Glove is exactly that - it fits my hand like it were custom-made for me. Other gloves I’ve tried on are always just a little too long in the fingers, or they’re too tight across the back of my hand. The Perfect Fit Glove is incredibly comfortable, and the stretch jersey fabric is very breathable and soft against my skin. The gloves provide a close fit, eliminating the bulk that you’ll sometimes find in other gloves.

The glove provides great grip while riding, and I often forget that I’m wearing it. The palm and fingers are lined with suede which helps keep a firm grip on the reins. The Velcro wrist closure makes the gloves easy to put on and take off, and also secures them well. For those of you who use your smart phones while riding, you’ll be pleased to know that the gloves are also touch screen friendly.

Finally, the gloves are really well made. I’ve been using mine for months now and they show no signs of wear. According to Noble Outfitters, the critical seams of the gloves are double stitched. The stitching has held up well, and thanks to the fact that Noble Outfitters reinforced the forefinger, thumb, and pinky, the gloves are still showing no wear in those areas. (I’m always wearing through these heavily used areas in my gloves.)

For a glove that fits this well and is this comfortable, you can’t beat the price – Noble Outfitters lists the gloves at $22.99. You can feel good about your purchase, too - Noble Outfitters donates 5% of their profits to “equestrian focused youth programs that foster equine interest and participation while strengthening values and providing meaningful learning experiences.”

I have arthritis. And carpal tunnel. And nerve damage. And a whole bunch of other issues. I have these problems in my wrists and my hands, and sometimes, when the weather fluctuates or I’m too stubborn for my own good and insist on doing too much typing, too much practicing (I play the flute), or grooming my horse for too long (yes, there is such a thing), I pay for it.

My mom gave me Back On Track’s wrist braces in hope that they would help relieve some of my pain. I had worn all sorts of braces and wraps, but none had really been effective. Back On Track products take a different approach, though – according to their website, Back On Track products are made with “state-of-the art, ceramic powder-infused Welltex fabric, which works with your natural body warmth to provide a gentle warmth. The ceramic powder reflects your own body warmth as a far infrared wave, a form of energy that has documented pain relieving effect.” I figured it was worth a try.

The braces definitely help my wrists. Wearing them seems to result in a greater range of mobility and comfort. After wearing them while sitting around the house a few times, I decided to put them on while I rode. I found it easier to hold the reins, and the pain in my hands and wrists, while not gone, was reduced.

The Back On Track wrist braces are comfortable and flexible. They fit snugly, but I found that the fit didn’t bother me after a few minutes. I like the fact that they’re black, so they can fit discreetly under most outfits. They’re a bit warm, so they probably wouldn’t be the most comfortable during hot summer rides, but the improvement I felt while and after wearing them has convinced me to keep up the practice of using them during rides whenever possible. I’d be interested to try Back On Track’s riding gloves and may have to pick up a pair in the future.

For more information on Back On Track’s products (they have large product lines for humans, horses, and dogs), visit their website.

I have a hard time finding helmets that fit. I have a large, oval-shaped head. Since I don’t regularly show or ride in clinics, I don’t need a fancy $300+ helmet, but I do need something comfortable and lightweight that I can wear while schooling and trail riding.

I’m so glad that I discovered Ovation’s Deluxe Schooler. This helmet is incredibly lightweight and comfortable. It’s low-profile and fits my head incredibly well – there are none of the pressure points or gaps of space that I sometimes find in wearing other helmets. The adjustable harness system features a dial in the back to ensure a perfect fit for each individual. The helmet’s chinstrap is covered with a soft piece of fabric, which I appreciate – the fabric is cushy and prevents you from having the nylon strap directly against your chin.

Additionally, the Deluxe Schooler provides great ventilation and is lightweight enough to make it comfortable even during the summer months. It’s stylish looking, and you wouldn’t believe that you can get such a great helmet at such a great and affordable price.

I was heartbroken when I had a riding accident just a few months after buying my Deluxe Schooler. My helmet hit the ground – hard – but did a great job of protecting my head. My only disappointment in the Deluxe Schooler is that the replacement policy offered by Ovation was limited and did not prove advantageous when purchasing a replacement lower-end model of helmet. Still, I think the helmet is excellent, and it remains my favorite helmet model.