Riding Glove Size Guide: How to Measure Your Hand

Riding with Farris

In dressage the glove all but disappears — thin enough to feel everything, tidy enough for the ring.

Dressage is a discipline of subtlety, and your gloves should match it. Where a jumping glove is built to grip and survive, a dressage glove is built to vanish — thin enough to feel every conversation down the rein, and tidy enough to pass in the ring. Here's how to choose.

Feel comes first

The whole point of a dressage glove is sensitivity. You want the thinnest glove that still protects your hands, so nothing gets in the way of your contact. A bulky or padded glove muffles the fine rein aids dressage depends on — the opposite of what you're trying to achieve.

What to look for

• A thin, close fit. Second-skin snug, no loose fingertips, so your feel stays crisp.
• Subtle grip. Enough to keep a secure, quiet contact without the heavy tack of a cross-country palm.
• A refined appearance. Clean, well-fitted, and in a permitted colour — presentation counts in the ring.
• Breathability for long schooling sessions and warm-ups.
• Comfort with a double bridle, where you're managing two reins at once and feel matters even more.

The colour question

White or light gloves are the traditional look in dressage, and at many levels dark or black gloves are also allowed. The rules vary by level and by federation, so don't assume — check the current rulebook for your competition before you go. Get the colour wrong and it can cost you marks or worse.

How dressage gloves differ from jumping gloves

It's a question of emphasis. Dressage rewards the thinnest, most sensitive glove; jumping and eventing reward grip and durability for fast, physical, often wet rounds. Many riders own both — see our take on show jumping and eventing gloves for the other end of the spectrum.

Sizing

Measure around the widest part of your palm (no thumb), read it in inches, and check our sizing chart. For dressage especially, err toward snug — a close fit is what preserves the feel you're paying for.

Frequently asked questions

What colour gloves are allowed in dressage?

White or light-coloured gloves are traditional in dressage, and at many levels dark or black gloves are also permitted. Rules vary by level and federation, so always check the current rulebook for your competition before you compete.

Are gloves mandatory in dressage?

At most competitions gloves are expected and often required, but the exact rule depends on the level and governing body. Even where they're optional, most dressage riders wear them for a cleaner, more consistent contact.

What gloves do dressage riders wear?

Thin, close-fitting gloves that maximise feel on the reins, usually with a subtle grip and often in white or a permitted dark colour. The priority is sensitivity and a refined appearance rather than the heavy grip and durability jumping riders look for.

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