Staying high and dry

Georgia Guerin speaks to productde experts to better understand what goes into making clothing and rugs waterproof

- Georgia Guerin

IT’S no stretch to say that every equestrian needs waterproof clothing at some point, especially in the UK, whether it’s a winter riding coat, over-trousers, breeches or gloves. Most horses will wear a waterproof turnout at some point in their life, if not regularly, too.

Choosing products that meet your needs can be a challenge if you’re not sure exactly what to look for. With the help of those who know the technical ins and outs, however, you’ll be able to make an informed purchasing decision and understand where your money’s going.

First, it’s important to understand the difference between waterproof and water-resistant, says Hannah Law, Ariat’s product manager covering apparel and accessories.

“Water-resistant clothing is sufficient protection if you get caught in the odd shower or even a bit of snow – it’s what you might call showerproof. If a product is waterproof, however, it means that it’s unaffected by heavy precipitation over a long period of time.”

Most equestrians need this higher level of protection.

“Within the realm of products that are considered waterproof, there are varying levels of performance,” Hannah adds. “We test performance using the Japanese Industrial Standard, which measures the fabric under both increasing and constant pressure, and gives a water column rating measured in millimetres.”

Karlijn Burm, who is head of creative and design at Hy Equestrian, explains that to describe something as waterproof in accordance with British standards, the product must score higher than 1,500mm in a hydrostatic pressure test.