04/16/2026
Walk any horse show grounds and you’ll see visors, sunglasses, lightweight long sleeves, maybe a little sunscreen applied in the morning before first ride. There’s far more awareness around sun protection than there was 20 years ago.
But according to dermatologist and rider Dr. Monica Halem, most equestrians are still missing a critical piece of the conversation.
“The sun and the ultraviolet rays actually reflect off the footing,” she explains. “So you are getting it even though you are protecting yourself from the top down.”
Equestrians live outside. We feed before dawn, school at midday, hack in the afternoon, walk courses at dusk. Even on cloudy days or in the winter, we’re still exposed. “The sun is the number one cause of not only aging, but cancer,” Halem says.
And the danger isn’t limited to the obvious burn. Ultraviolet A (UVA) rays pe*****te deeper into the skin and are responsible for DNA damage that can lead to melanoma—the form of skin cancer that can be deadly.
Many riders assume they’re protected if they’re not getting visibly red. But UVA rays pass through clouds, reflect off pale sand and synthetic footing, and bounce upward toward the underside of the chin and jawline—areas many riders forget to protect.
That visor shielding your forehead? It’s not blocking what’s coming up from the ring.
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📸 © Heather N. Photography
