Have you ever looked at a jockey and wondered why they wear such weird clothes? The colours of their silks – as their pyjama tops are officially known – and tightness of their breaches certainly catch the eye.
Meanwhile, race horses have to wear specified gear too in order to safely compete. There’s more to horse racing then simply slapping a saddle on a stayer and cantering off down the racecourse. So, what gear do jockeys and horses wear in racing? Let’s find out!
Horse racing gear for jockeys
Jockeys are notoriously small and slight, while being exceptionally strong. They need to be as light as possible so as to not affect the horse, but strong enough to steer their ride. So why do they always look so bulky and puffy when racing? That’s because of the gear they need to wear in order to stay safe.
Helmet – Jockeys must wear helmets in order to ride in the UK and Ireland. They’re also known as caps and feature the colours of the jockey, forming part of the jockey’s “silks”. Helmets must meet UK and/or EU standards, meaning jockeys have only a select number of brands to choose from.
Goggles – Goggles are crucial for jockeys when racing, as dirt, mud, rain and plenty of other horrible things flick up into their faces. They are made to stay fixed to the jockey’s face during races and not fall off.
Body Protector – The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) brought in tougher standards on body protectors in 2025 to improve safety of jockeys. All body protectors must now be at Lewes 2 standard, which effectively ensures greater protection for the wearer. Body protectors are made of shock absorbing foam rubber and effectively look like a stab vest. They weigh around half a kilogram and cost about £300.
Silks – A jockey’s silks refer to the colours they wear for a race, in order to be identifiable. When we talk about silks, what we usually mean is the thin vest that is worn over the body protector. Silks reflect the trainer who has entered the horse, meaning some races feature jockeys with identical silks bar a change in helmet colour.
Gloves – Riding gloves are a must for jockeys, as they need as much grip as possible to ensure they have full control of the reins. It also helps them hold the whip.
Padded pants – If you’ve ever ridden a bike for any considerable distance you’ve probably considered buying some padded cycling pants. Well, imagine doing that while bumping your bum up and down on the saddle for 10 minutes, multiple times a day. Jockeys wear padded pants to ease the pain on pretty much anything that comes in contact with the saddle.
Breeches – Breeches are the trousers that jockeys wear when racing. They are far less restrictive than jodhpurs and allow the jockey enough movement to shift on the saddle when required. Jockeys usually wear a base layer under their breeches to keep warm and protect their legs from rubbing on the saddle too much.
Whip – Jockeys can use a whip when racing but are restricted in how they use it. Whips are there to guide and encourage horses. Overuse of the whip can lead to fines and suspensions. Whips are made from energy absorbing material and jockeys can only use brands that have been approved by the BHA.
Boots – Jockeys wear boots up to the bottom of the knee. They help keep feet and ankles stable, which is particularly important during jumps races. Boost must be smooth so as not to harm the horse.
Leg sleeves – Jockeys also wear leg sleeves on their ankles and shins to prevent their boots from chafing and damaging their skin.
Race horses can wear headgear during races
Horse racing gear for horses
Of course, horses also have to wear specified gear in order to race. A lot of this gear is about ensuring the horse runs safely and can be controlled by the jockey, so that it doesn’t stray into harm.
Reins – Horses must be fastened to reins correctly in order for jockeys to be fully in control of their rides.
Bridle – The bridle is the headgear that is strapped around the horse, in order to hold the reins and the bit in place.
Bit – The bit is usually a length of wood that is attached to either side of the bridle and placed in the horse’s mouth, between the teeth. When a horse is “on the bridle” it means it has accepted the bit in its mouth.
Blinkers – Blinkers are headgear that a horse can wear in order to prevent it from being distracted in its peripheral vision. They come in various round shapes and are made of metal with a leather skin over the top.
Halter – A halter is what a racehorse wears when it’s back in the stable before or after a race. It is switched for a bridle during races. Halters are less complicated than bridles but are the main headgear for horses when they’re being transported.
Shadow roll – Like blinkers, shadow rolls are designed to partially block the horse’s line of vision so that it’s not distracted when racing. Shadow rolls are soft rolls, usually made of wool, that run across the horse’s rose. The horse can’t see directly down, so is less likely to be spooked by shadows.
Cheekpieces – Cheekpieces look like vertical shadow rolls. They are less restrictive than blinkers but do roughly the same job. In effect, they restrict a horse’s peripheral vision.
Tongue tie – Some racehorses struggle to run at maximum speed because their tongue blocks their airways. One way to get around this and make it more comfortable for horses to run is by using a tongue tie, which gently pins the horse’s tongue away from its wind pipe.
Saddle – Jockeys place saddles on horses in order to make it more comfortable for both them and the ride. Saddles are made of soft but sturdy material and come with stirrups for the jockey’s feet.
Weights and weight cloths – Horses wear a weight cloth under their saddles to reduce friction between their skin and the saddle. The weight cloth also features pockets on either side, where lead weights can be added to ensure the horse is carrying the correct weight.
Shoes – Horses wear aluminium shoes under their hooves when racing and training. If a horse loses a hoof then they are said to have ‘spread a plate’.
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