Okay shoppers! I have a clinic next month, will probably be outside, so anticipate temps in the 50’s. Breeches are navy. Looking for something long sleeve that will be warmish, attractive, and preferably $70 or less. I have gone down the rabbit hole on a few websites but most of the long sleeve shirts seem to be sun shirts so they have mesh… Any suggestions?
Smartpak has some pretty Piper shirts for $40. You can get any old shirt and top it with a nice vest.
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Have you tried them? Do you like them?
I wear uniqlo merino sweaters for cool weather clinics.”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹
This is what I was going to suggest.
I bought some under armor 1/4 zip long sleeves in white , rust and blue to wear at lessons, I am at the last lesson of the night so it’s getting in the fifties. They have done great in the rain, hot and cool, they keep me comfortable. Below $40 and I can pair with a thin fitted vest to keep me good into the upper 40’s but still let perspiration wick away. I am really tall and most horse stuff does not fit me, but these fit well, instructor complimented them.
I for one love the mesh sun shirts and continue to wear them into the 50’s. It’s amazing just how warm 50 degrees is when you are working. Ariat has some nice shirts under $70. Smartpak and Riding Warehouse are my go to spots for them.
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For me, 50s aren’t quite shirt sleeve weather but you might work up a sweat riding. I would wear a long sleeve technical fabric top with a light to medium weight vest I could shed easily and a parka for sitting in the bleachers watching others ride. I get my technical fabric shirts from general athletic wear lines, if you get them on sale or at a discounters they are much much cheaper than anything sold for equestrians.
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Everything Scribbler said. I’d add looking to Goodwill or another second hand store for your top. Add a vest for sure, and bring a jacket for watching.
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Thank you all - I actually am looking to splurge a bit and perhaps buy one of the sun shirts people recommend. Does anyone have a specific one they like? I know I can do this for less and usually do, but for some reason with this clinic I feel like treating myself to a nice shirt. I was looking at the Kastels and the Tailored Sportsman…
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Horze has some nice ones. I have a periwinkle blue one from them with white collar and cuffs that I have worn with navy breeches and a crimson vest for clinics.
Even if I can’t ride my way out of a paper bag I can at least look the part 
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I have been pleased with Arista Equestrian, made in Canada. Quite flattering, and well constructed. There are clearance items on their website in your price range:
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A note on the Kastels for me I like to pull up my long sleeved shirts and these have a cuff at the end and that don’t allow expansion so they don’t shorten as easily. The Aristas are nice but on the heavier side of the technical shirts. Lovely shirts though and they last and last.
The vest idea is a good one so if you are working hard you can remove it.
However I noticed you said navy breeches, some clinicians like riders to be in light colored breeches,so you might want to check with the organizer
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I just found a 3/4 zip Nike shirt at TJMaxx that has mesh at the pits, but is more of a thin fleece material (like UA ColdGear), then there is a thinner spandex material strip extending down the forearm, and a patch of the same material across the back. Just wore it this morning with a soft shell vest for my lesson when it was about 30f in the indoor this morning and it was perfect. Actually started to get a bit warm with the vest towards the end of the lesson. So I wouldn’t expect the mesh to be a problem at 50f, especially if you have a thin vest you can wear as well if needed. I think the 1/4 zips with the standup collars look sharp, even if they aren’t equestrian-specific.
Sorry, I have no experience with the Piper shirts. I am like the others, I frequently buy something from TJMaxx or Sierra Trading Post, rather than “equestrian” wear. Unless I find something on sale. We just had a clinic at our barn and it was 50ish and very damp yesterday, with a breeze. When not riding, it was darn cold. While riding, one could work up a sweat. You might consider a second shirt for just spectating. Even the tech fabrics feel very cold if you are sweaty.
1,000% swear by my Kastel shirts. I’ve worn a couple of the other brands and nothing compares. Check out their website - they always have clearance deals going on, as does Riding Warehouse.
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Sunshirts - I wear these all the time. One thing to keep in mind - the lighter weight ones like Kastel are made for … very fit people. They show every lump and bump because the fabric is very soft. I like a little more structure (and I weigh 115 lbs but am not stick thin) and go with the heavier weight ones when not wearing a vest. Ariat has a slate blue colored one that looks nice with navy, and you can add a navy vest on top. Noel Asmar is super flattering but also super expensive. Every once and awhile I pick up something on sale - it is always really nice looking, but not something I can typically afford.
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I bought this shirt from my favorite vendor, bc it was so gorgeous and I couldn’t resist it. I wore it at a schooling show and it looked great.
http://sesporthorse.com/customized-brittany-l-s-wicking-base-layer-top-in-dk-navy/
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Vests are great, but for crispy weather in a clinic, I do like a v neck sweater over a show shirt type top or turtleneck. I bought several Calvin Klein v neck sweaters just for clinics–they are thin so not bulky and you can remove them if you get too hot and, surprisingly, they are not expensive.
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