Tuesday 9 August 2016

Sun Shirt Review - Horze Blaire

There are many cool things about the horse blogging community, one of which is learning about trends in attire for both the horse and rider. I know I am super slow to the sunshirt party, having read several helpful reviews of EIS and Kastel shirts, but in my defense, sunshirts are still only starting to gain traction here in the great white north.

Despite it being Canada, we do get hot summers (you wouldn't believe how many people think it's a frozen wasteland year-round - my co-worker's cousins from India packed the heaviest parkas they could find for a trip to Alberta in July). Also, our higher latitude means the days are longer so even an evening ride doesn't prevent the risk of sunburn.

I wanted to buy a sunshirt, but they are expensive enough whereby I wanted to be able to try one on to evaluate the fit before buying, so ordering from the interwebs was out. My first opportunity to look at sunshirts in person came when I visited the Equestrian Factory Outlet trailer at one of the Gold shows I scribed at.

I first saw a rack of EIS shirts and tried on a couple sizes. I really wanted to like them, but I didn't. The fabric was stretchy, but it was not what I would call flattering. Also, the arms were too snug for my liking, and too long. The salesperson could see I was waffling, and showed me the Horze Blair shirts that they also had.

Technically, the name of the shirt is "Horze Blair Women's Long-Sleeved Technical Show Shirt". However, it's basically a sunshirt. It has UV protection, moisture wicking, and mesh panels on the bottom of the arms.

White Horze Blair shirt

It's a sunshirt, but it's also more than a sunshirt. It has a stiffer buttoned collar and cuffs, which is white with blue stripes. You can button it to the top and use it as a show shirt, or turn the collar down and have an appropriate work shirt. The mesh is the exact same colour as the rest of the shirt so it doesn't look too "sporty".

The second I put one on, I loved it. The fit was perfect. I loved how the arms were a little looser, it made it much more comfortable.

White one from the back
note: I chose a looser size for comfort, you could get rid of the creases if you sized down

The only colour they had in the trailer was white. I don't generally like to wear white, and especially not for grooming and schooling horses, but I did need a new show shirt so I bought one. Then I found out that they also had them in navy at their other location so I ordered one of those too. I've since discovered that they can be bought in baby blue as well.

Navy Horze Blair shirt

I've had the shirts for close to two months now. I've worn them numerous times, for riding, for showing, for camping, and also to work. I still love them.

Fit well under my show coat

They wash well, and have held up excellently. They do keep the sun off, and stay reasonably cool even in temperatures in the mid 30s (C).

If I had to give a complaint, I'd say that I wish the cuffs were made of technical fabric instead of cotton. The cuffs take substantially longer to dry than the rest of the shirt if you are out in the rain, or bathe your horse, or are shoulder deep in a river looking for your cell phone (what, you don't do that regularly?). The white cuffs also can start to look dirty pretty fast, but that's more when you use them for every-day use like me, the cuffs are good as a show shirt. I have gotten out all the stains in the wash though. My only other complaint is that they don't come in many fun colours.

I had my arms in this shirt submerged in this muddy river,
after washing the cuffs are still nice and white

Overall, if you are looking for a new sun shirt or show shirt, I highly recommend the Horze Blairs. The price point is also cheaper than Kastel or EIS at $80 cad which is another bonus.

Note: These views are entirely my own, nobody asked me to review this shirt and I got no financial benefit from doing so. 

13 comments:

  1. I live in my sunshirts. I'm a redhead with typical redheaded skin (aka it thinks about seeing sun and gets burned). The only thing that has saved me this summer has been the sunshirts. I hadn't heard about this brand *scurries off to google*

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. They don't seem to market it specifically as a sunshirt which is probably why it's less popular and why you haven't heard of it. Functionally it works like a sunshirt though.

      Delete
  2. I also haven't tried this one. I've got Kastel, Noble Outfitters and Ariat sunshirts (I've got the skin of a Ginger, without the hair) and I've lived in them this summer. They aren't the most flattering so I think I may have to look at grabbing one of these as well.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm lucky, I have all Irish genes, but I somehow didn't get skin that burns too easily. I still like the idea of sunshirts though.

      Where did you get your Kastel? I've been trying to find somewhere in Alberta where I can try one on in person

      Delete
    2. I bought them online. If you didn't like the EIS it's pretty safe to say you won't like the Kastel's. The arms are snug (and really long) and the fabric is very very unforgiving.

      Delete
  3. Thanks for the review, I was really unsure of the Horze shirts but I think I want to give them a try

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Glad to help :)

      I've heard mixed things about Horze as a brand in general, but these shirts seem to be very good quality.

      Delete
  4. Finally found the original link for the shirt, US folks can get them for only $50. Also available in short sleeve and pink. http://www.horze.com/show-shirts/horze-blaire-womens-long-sleeved-functional-show-shirt/33209.html?color=BRPI

    ReplyDelete
  5. I like a lot of the Horze clothing! My only complaint is that I feel like their shirts are not quite long enough for me, but I have a big chest and long torso, so this is not unusual. I love their breeches, though.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I feel like you'd probably have the same problem with this one. The shirt is a decent length for me, but I wouldn't say it has much extra length, and I'm pretty short.

      Delete
  6. That sound like my super cool rompf show shirts that I refuse to do anything but show in. I don't want to mess them up!! I'll have to check them out next time I'm shopping.

    Especially if they're in any way less unflattering than stupid kastel. Those things are the WORST. I mean, great cut and fabric, but yikes.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. These are at least cheap enough that it's affordable to risk messing one up by wearing it day-to-day.

      I haven't had a chance to try the Kastels yet, but I'll tell you, I wouldn't be posting near as many photos of myself in the EIS I tried on, that thing highlighted all the wrong parts.

      Delete
  7. My husband has a Horze sun-shirt, but I haven't tried them yet.

    ReplyDelete