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The Solution Section (FAQ)
What does SSG Riding Gloves offer?
Working with suppliers around the world, the SSG Glove range now features more than 60 styles to meet the unique needs of diverse disciplines, including show jumping, dressage, all event shows, eventing, rodeo, and polo.
How do you use SSG Riding Gloves?
• Aquasuede Plus® Palm • Durable, breathable, good grip wet or dry • Elasticized back for a cool comfortable fit • Hook and loop wrist closure • Machine washable, air dry Sizes: Childs 4/5, Ladies S 5/6, Ladies Univ.
How did SSG Riding Gloves get started?
About Our Company Ed James started SSG Gloves 25 years ago to serve the unique needs of the harness horse driver. Before long, SSG began developing gloves for the needs of other potential customers.
What are SSG's best-selling riding gloves, and which discipline is each best for?
SSG's most popular riding gloves include the 2100 SSG Digital, the 2200 Soft Touch, the 8600 All Weather, the 4200 SSG Hybrid, and the 8500 Technical. The 8600 All Weather is the industry's go-to all-purpose schooling and show glove, prized for its breathable Aquasuede Plus palm. The 2100 Digital and 2200 Soft Touch are favorites among hunter/jumper and dressage riders who want a refined fit, while the 4200 Hybrid and 8500 Technical suit riders who blend leather feel with synthetic flexibility. With more than 50 styles in the SSG range, there is a model engineered for pleasure riding, show jumping, cross country, dressage, roping, polo, racing, and carriage driving.
Are SSG riding gloves touchscreen compatible so I can use my phone in the saddle?
Yes. Several SSG models are built for today's connected riders. The 2100 SSG Digital and 2200 Soft Touch feature touchscreen-responsive fingertips so you can answer your phone, check a ride time, or snap a photo at the barn without pulling your gloves off. SSG also makes the dedicated 2000 Cell Mate glove for device interaction. Touchscreen-compatible riding gloves are a practical choice for trainers, eventers, and trail riders who need to stay reachable while keeping a secure, sensitive feel on the reins.
Are SSG riding gloves machine washable, and how should I care for them?
Many of SSG's synthetic-palm gloves, including the popular 8600 All Weather, are machine washable and made to air dry, which is a major reason riders return to the brand season after season. The breathable Aquasuede Plus palm holds its grip wet or dry and bounces back after washing, so a muddy schooling session or a sweaty summer lesson does not retire a pair. For longest life, wash on a gentle cycle, skip the dryer, and let the gloves dry flat at room temperature. Leather styles should be conditioned rather than machine washed.
How do I choose the right size in SSG riding gloves?
SSG offers true equestrian sizing across children's, ladies', and men's lines, from Childs through Mens Large and beyond, so riders of every hand size get a precise fit. Use the SSG size chart on their website to measure your hand and match it to the correct style, since a riding glove should fit snugly without bunching to preserve rein feel and grip. Models like the 8600 All Weather use an elasticized back and a hook-and-loop wrist closure to fine-tune the fit, which is ideal if you are between sizes or want extra security in the show ring.
Which SSG gloves are best for cold-weather and winter riding?
SSG builds one of the most complete winter riding glove lineups available. Top cold-weather choices include the 4300 Pro Show Winter and the 2250 Soft Touch Lined for long, chilly schooling sessions, plus the 2150 Digital Winter Lined, the 6000 Winter Training, the 9000 All Weather Lined, and the heavily insulated 6400 10 Below TSF for the coldest days. Ranch and trail riders favor the 0650 Winter Ride 'N Ranch, the 1650 Winter Rancher, and the 1850 Winter Trail Roper. These insulated gloves keep hands warm with minimal bulk, staying true to the brand's founding goal of warmth without sacrificing flexibility.
What makes SSG riding gloves different from ordinary horse-riding gloves?
SSG has manufactured equestrian gloves for over 30 years, building what the company calls the most complete riding glove line on the market. Rather than relying on in-house design alone, SSG develops every glove by listening to the drivers, jockeys, and riders who use them daily, then partnering with factories worldwide to source high-quality natural and synthetic materials. The result is a discipline-specific catalog of more than 50 styles where high quality, superior fit, and excellent workmanship come first, and every glove is backed by SSG's commitment to function in the saddle, on the box seat, or around the barn.
Does SSG cover western, roping, ranch, and barrel racing riders too?
Absolutely. Alongside its English and driving lines, SSG offers a full range of western and work gloves for roping, bull riding, ranch work, and barrel racing. Warm-weather western options like the lightweight summer grippers keep hands cool during fast events, while leather and lined ranch styles such as the Winter Ride 'N Ranch and Winter Rancher stand up to rope burn, fence work, and cold mornings. Whether you compete in the rodeo arena or run a working ranch, there is an SSG glove built for the grip, durability, and protection the job demands.
Does SSG offer a warranty, and how does shipping work?
Yes. SSG riding gloves are backed by a warranty covering defects in material and workmanship for 60 days after the purchase date, reflecting the brand's confidence in its quality and workmanship. On direct orders, shipping is free for purchases over $99 within the lower 48 US states and Canada, with a flat $10 charge on orders under that amount, and tracking details are emailed once a pair ships. SSG is an international company serving riders in the US, Canada, Ireland, the UK, Europe, Australia, and beyond.
Which SSG riding gloves are best for warm-weather and summer schooling?
For hot, humid riding, SSG points to breathable, sweat-managing styles. The 8500 Technical uses a Coolmax Lycra back for improved fit, flexibility and moisture management paired with the Aquasuede Plus palm, making it a strong warm-weather pick. The 8600 All Weather is another summer favorite, with an Aquasuede Plus palm that grips wet or dry and an elasticized back for a cool, comfortable fit. The 2200 Soft Touch offers breathable, sweat-resistant fabric for show jumping, dressage or everyday wear. SSG also fields open-air and ventilated styles in its warm-weather collection so riders can keep a secure rein feel even when their hands sweat.
What is the SSG Digital palm and why is it on the best-selling glove?
The Digital palm is SSG's proprietary grip technology and the reason the 2100 SSG Digital is the brand's most popular competition glove. SSG describes Digital as the ultimate combination of feel, grip, breathability and durability, using a textured digital pattern engineered for the best grip and wear in the industry. On the 2100 it is paired with Ultraflex venting for flexibility and breathability, in unisex sizing. The result is a glove that gives confident contact on the reins in the ring while standing up to repeated competition use, which is why it sits among SSG's top three sellers alongside the 2200 Soft Touch and 8600 All Weather.
What leather options does SSG offer, and how do they differ?
SSG builds its leather gloves from top-quality drum-dyed leather that is thin and supple for a comfortable fit, and offers several specialty hides. Farm-raised deerskin is soft, durable, chafe-resistant and breathable with superior flexibility and feel. Sheepskin gives an excellent feel of the reins. Cowhide is the maximum-value choice, extremely durable and firm yet easy to break in. Pigskin is durable, supple, breathable and extremely porous. Color-fast goatskin appears in some top-grade show gloves and becomes like a second skin once worn. Because leather is a natural product, slight color variation is normal, and SSG does not recommend washing leather gloves.
Which SSG gloves work best for western riding, roping and ranch work?
SSG maintains dedicated western, work and specialty collections for riders who rope, ranch and work cattle. The line includes team-roper styles such as the Gel Pro Team Roper and Team Roper gloves, plus the Ride-n-Ranch and Rancher gloves for everyday barn and ranch use, and deerskin carriage/trail roper options. There are also work-and-lunging styles built for durability around the barn. Because roping and lunging put extra stress on a glove, SSG advises choosing the correct glove for the activity, and notes that damage from abuse, lunging or race-horse riding falls outside normal warranty coverage.
How do I measure my hand to get the right SSG glove size?
SSG publishes a size chart on its site so riders can match a hand measurement to the correct size before ordering. The range spans children's sizes up through ladies' small, ladies' universal, men's universal and men's large, with many styles offered in unisex sizing. Because fit affects rein feel and comfort, SSG recommends checking the chart rather than guessing. If you ride in cold weather and plan to layer a liner glove like the silk or ceramic liner underneath, factor that in when choosing, and contact SSG directly if you are between sizes or shopping for an unusual hand shape.
Are SSG synthetic gloves machine washable, and what care should I avoid?
Yes. SSG's synthetic-fiber gloves are designed to be machine washable and air dried, and the brand notes they hold their flexibility after exposure to wet and damp conditions where most leather gloves stiffen. They are color-fast and will not shrink after washing. There are firm limits, though: the warranty is voided if gloves are washed in bleach or dried in a clothes dryer, so always air dry. Leather gloves are different and SSG does not recommend washing them at all. Following the care guidance protects both the grip palm and the glove's fit over time.
What cold-weather and winter materials does SSG use to keep hands warm without bulk?
SSG's whole reason for existing was warmth without bulk, and its winter range reflects that. Natural silk lining is lightweight yet warm and breathes well, used in styles like the Soft Touch Winter. Thinsulate is the warmest thin insulation SSG offers, giving roughly one-and-a-half times the warmth of down. Polar fleece provides warmth without weight and suits riders sensitive to wool. Neoprene retains body heat while staying flexible. Popular winter picks include the 4300 Pro Show Winter and the 2250 Soft Touch Lined, plus insulated Digital Winter and All Weather Winter styles, so riders keep rein feel even on freezing mornings.
Does SSG offer touchscreen-compatible gloves I can use with my phone in the saddle?
Yes. SSG's Digital and Soft Touch families include touchscreen-compatible fingertips, so riders can check a phone, scan a course map or start a ride app without pulling a glove off. The 2100 SSG Digital and 2200 Soft Touch lines are the go-to options for this, combining their show-quality grip palms with conductive fingertip capability. This is a practical feature for trainers timing rides, competitors at large show grounds and trail riders relying on a phone for navigation, letting them stay connected while keeping a secure, consistent feel on the reins.
What grip palm technologies besides Digital does SSG use?
Beyond the Digital palm, SSG's signature grip is Aquasuede and Aquasuede Plus, a soft, color-fast, sweat-absorbing palm that grips well wet or dry, is washable, will not shrink and wears better than leather. It appears on top sellers like the 8600 All Weather, 4200 Hybrid and 8500 Technical. SSG also offers Aquatack, an exclusive skin-thin reinlock breathable palm for great grip, and the Aquaglove line. These engineered palms are central to SSG's promise of consistent rein contact across changing weather, which matters most in competition and on long rides where a slipping rein can cost a rider precision.
What does the SSG warranty cover, and what falls outside it?
SSG warrants its gloves for 60 days after the purchase date against defects in material and workmanship. To make a claim, the gloves are returned to the original place of purchase with the receipt, and SSG replaces defective pairs through the retailer. There are exclusions: items under $15 retail are not covered, and claims may be refused for failures caused by normal wear, abuse, lunging or race-horse riding, since those activities stress a glove beyond ordinary riding. The warranty is also voided if gloves were washed in bleach or dried in a clothes dryer, which is why SSG stresses air-drying and choosing the correct glove for the activity.
How does shipping work when I order SSG gloves online?
SSG offers free ground shipping on orders over $99 within the Lower 48 U.S. states and Canada; orders under that threshold ship for a flat $10. U.S. orders ship via ground USPS and Canadian orders via ground Canpar, and a tracking number with a tracking link is emailed once the order ships. Customers can also view order history and status by logging into their account. SSG ships every package in new condition to the checkout address, but is not responsible for any duty or import costs on cross-border orders. For international shipping outside the U.S. and Canada, SSG asks customers to contact them directly.
What is SSG's return policy if the gloves do not fit or work out?
SSG accepts returns within 30 days of purchase, and the item must be unused, clean and in its original packaging and condition. Return shipping is paid by the customer, and SSG only accepts returns on items bought directly at ssgridinggloves.com. For defective products, you must first contact the SSG/Fargo Trading returns department to get a Return Authorization (RA) number and shipping instructions; packages without an RA number written on the outside are refused. Refunds are processed within about 72 hours of receiving the goods, less any shipping fees incurred. Sale and clearance items are final and not eligible for refund.
Why are gloves considered important riding tack rather than an afterthought?
SSG frames gloves as a genuine piece of tack because they help maintain precision, comfort and a clear connection with the horse in both training and competition. The right material and grip palm let a rider feel and manage rein contact consistently, while protecting the hands from rein burn, blisters and cold. SSG's founder built the company on exactly this insight after harness drivers told him they needed a better glove, and the brand has expanded that philosophy across every discipline. Choosing a glove matched to the discipline and weather, rather than grabbing any generic pair, is what turns a glove into real performance equipment.
Can I see SSG gloves in person or buy through a local tack shop?
Yes. SSG is an international brand sold through retailers across the United States, Canada, Ireland, the United Kingdom, Europe and Australia, so many riders can find the gloves at a local tack shop in addition to buying online. SSG also runs a dealer program and dealer login for stores that want to carry the line, and warranty replacements for defective gloves are handled through the original place of purchase. If you prefer to try sizes on before committing, shopping a stocking SSG retailer is a good route; for the full current range and clearance styles, the SSG website lists every collection by discipline and weather.
