Sunglasses in the hunter ring

[BroncoMo]

This is me just being sort of self conscious about this. What are yalls preferences for sunglasses color and type for in the show ring? I’m sure some ultra-traditionalists won’t/don’t care for sunglasses. But some of the rings and footing I show in, it’s a need for me.

I have shown in my military/sporty/athletic style sunglasses before and looked absolutely stupid. I don’t care for the look of giant dark-lensed aviators under the helmet. I’m thinking somewhat smaller frames and a lighter/neutral lens color? Thoughts? Anything y’all have seen in the show ring and thought “yeah, that looks really good”?

[endlessclimb]

Frankly I think they all look stupid, and are pretty dangerous should you get bucked off.

The last show I was at, there was a lady with a sunglass-looking thing that clipped to her helmet. It flipped up and down. That was interesting… but it still looked pretty silly.

[McGurk]

How are sunglasses more dangerous than regular glasses in a fall?

I haven’t been able to wear contacts in over decade and I’m blind as a bat, I wear my glasses from the first thing in the morning to last thing at night, including when I’m riding. I have Transitions lenses that darken to sunglasses. Riding without them is not an option unless the horse is trained as a seeing eye animal.

@BroncoMo, I would opt for the most unobtrusive, minimalist pair you can find. If you need them, wear them. There are plenty of photos of big name riders in the hunter and jumper rings wearing sunglasses.

[endlessclimb]

They’re not - they’re equally dangerous. If it’s determined to be totally necessary, then it’s a risk that has to be taken. But any additional metal or plastic near eyes/ears/nose/mouth is a pretty serious risk.

I take that risk with my earrings. I’m not saying I’m lilly white here.

[McGurk]

You can put something like a Croakies strap on the glasses -

The strap would be hidden by your helmet. That would keep the glasses in place. I should probably consider that for foxhunting.

If you take a direct hit to the face, and the frames break, yes, there’s still some potential for damage, but in the range of risks we take riding horses over fences, that’s pretty low on the list.

[BroncoMo]

I mean, I had a pair of sunglasses that came off my face when I was getting bucked off, hit my face on the top of the horses head, sunglasses popped off, landed under said bucking beast, and took a direct hit from him. I literally watched my sunglasses get stepped on as I was falling through the air. All it did was pop a stem out, which was easily fixed. So perhaps I stick with my military-types; they are ballistic after all

I ride and work around horses all the time with them. Not saying there’s no risk, but I simply can’t be without.

[McGurk]

Photo of the military style ones?

They may be your best bet.

[BroncoMo]

I figure the likelihood of getting stabbed in the eyeball with sunglass particles is a lot lower than me biffing it in to a big oxer because I can’t see I can’t stand being outside without. I just figured it would be worth a post to see if there is some magical brand people use that don’t look totally ridiculous. Though I’m not above looking ridiculous so I can see where I’m going.

[BroncoMo]

They’re just low profile Oakleys. I hate how they look under a helmet, the stems are hard to get under/through a hair net. But they’re ballistic so I guess they’re less likely to become shrapnel in the event that everything hits the fan.

[Alterrain]

Pilla! Life changing sunglasses. Lots of BNR are wearing them (which is not why I wear them). And the owner is a horse person!

[widge]

I like goodrs around horses/sports. Cheap, lots of style options, polarization is okay.

[BroncoMo]

Those are on the short list of options I’ve been looking at. Lots of options. Not to mention they have some hilarious style names, packing, and back stories

[Tha_Ridge]

I just can’t see very well when it’s bright out, coupled with the ultra-reflective footing at some horse shows, so I wear my sunnies most of the time. Honestly, not worried from a safety perspective, as they would go flying off my face long before posing any sort of risk. I happen to think I look pretty cool, but it truly does make difference for me from a practical perspective.

[Tha_Ridge]

Oh, and I’ve worn them on the hunters too. Certainly is never the reason I win or lose.

[BroncoMo]

Looks good to me!

[crackerjack]

I wear them because my eyes water a lot in the sun. So it’s either I look like I’m crying (which actually it could be depending on the day…) or wear the glasses. Literally tears run down my face. Yes I think it looks like a weird old lady look but at least I can see. At one show my horse bucked (he was having fun…) and the glasses didn’t budge. It would be the same for people who wear regular glasses to see.

Some people also wear sunglasses because of eye damage due to the sun.

[luvmycabanaboy2]

I know, not hunters, but Laura Collett jumps around the biggest eventing courses in the world in goggles, so maybe something like these would be more safe than just a standard pair of sunglasses?:

12 things you might not know about Badminton winner Laura Collett - Your Horse

2 She rides in SSG Goggles

Due to the blindness, Laura wears SSG goggles — similar to those worn by steeplechase jockeys — every time she sets out over solid fences because her sight is affected by bright sunlight.

[the_continental]

I have blonde retinas and really can’t tolerate bright sunlight very well. If I’m on light footing I can barely keep my eyes open. I buy lightweight sunglasses typically designed for runners that are made of silicone, or have silicone padding, so they stay in place. Sunski Topeka and Goodr are two I like.

[AmmyHunter]

Unless it is really overcast with no glare, I wear sunglasses for my rides at home and in every show (hunters and jumpers). My eyes are just too sensitive to the sun not to, so for me it is a necessity, and I never worry about how it looks. I find the most low profile ones I can, usually Costas or Maui Jims (the Sandy Beach model is a favorite). It certainly has never affected my results - my mistakes are the only things that do that LOL!

[Janet]

Falling with glasses.

I have been wearing glasses full time since I was 8. Plastic lenses since they became available/affordable. I have had at least my fair share of falls, and have broken quite a few plastic frames doing that. But it never did any damage to ME other than a slight bruise on my nose. Now I wear metal frames, and when I fall in them the worst I have done is bend the frames. In fact, in some cases the glasses have probably protected my eyes from dirt/footing/sticks.