New Equestrian Trends, Gear & Style Coming Our Way

There’s something about walking a trade show floor that gives you a very different look at where the equestrian industry is headed.

At AETA, we spent several days looking at what’s coming for Fall 2026, Holiday, Spring 2027 and beyond — from new show-ring silhouettes and technical fabrics to horse gear, kids’ collections, giftables and a few things that simply made us stop and say, okay, that’s clever.

Not everything we see at market ultimately makes it into the stores. Part of our job is sorting through what’s new, what’s genuinely useful, what fits our customers and what may be beautiful but just doesn’t make sense for the price. This year, a few themes kept showing up again and again.

Fair warning: I usually take you through the trade show in the order of our appointments, basically bringing you along from brand to brand with me. This time, I thought I’d take more of a 10,000-foot view. Same behind-the-scenes access, just organized around the bigger trends and standout products we kept seeing across the show. If you’ve been following these trade show recaps for the last few years, let me know which format you prefer!

Performance Fabrics Are Getting Smarter — and Better Looking

Technical apparel certainly isn’t new to equestrians, but what stood out this year was how brands are beginning to make the technology part of the design.

Laser-cut perforations, all-over micro ventilation, strategically placed mesh and lightweight fabrics were everywhere. Instead of hiding ventilation panels, designers are using them to create patterns, shapes and texture.

At Equiline, we saw everything from incredibly lightweight UV layers to perforated polos and training shirts with keyhole ventilation. Their warm-weather pieces felt almost weightless in hand — exactly the kind of thing we appreciate when summer riding stops being “warm” and turns into “why do we live here?” territory.

TKEQ took a similar idea in a slightly different direction, using laser-cut ventilation to actually create graphic patterns in its long-sleeve layers.

Equinavia also leaned heavily into breathable fabrics for Spring ’27, including the Juni and Aurora schooling shirts with perforated and laser-cut ventilation.

While Ariat is bringing a big upgrade to their vented sleeve Sunstopper collection for 2027. Just check out some of these fun colors and patterns on the horizon!

It’s one of the clearest trends we saw across multiple brands: riders want technical clothing that supports equestrian athletes.

The Show Ring Is Getting a Little More Personality

Traditional hunter/jumper style isn’t disappearing — not even close — but designers are clearly testing how much personality riders are willing to bring into the ring.

At RJ Classics, one of our favorites was an asymmetrical show shirt that adds visual interest to the sleeve while still looking polished underneath a show coat that will arrive in three colors in Spring 2027. We also saw colored show shirts trying to edge their way back into competition wardrobes.

And yes, there was one lilac shirt under a brown coat that photographed so close to white that we may need to give the internet its own equestrian version of The Dress.

RJ also showed a new coat with strategically placed black panels. On the hanger, it doesn’t tell the whole story — the placement is actually incredibly flattering. Whether every traditional hunter trainer is ready to embrace black sleeves and paneling is another question entirely. That said, we’ve got some on the way and trust me when I tell you this coat on the hanger does NOT do it justice. I can’t wait for you to see how beautifully this looks on a rider. It’s absolutely stunning and SO flattering!

At Equiline, color is creeping into coats too, including a gorgeous green alongside navy options with contrasting buttons.

We’re interested to see where this goes. The equestrian show ring will always have rules and tradition, but there’s clearly room developing for riders who want just a little more individuality.

Schooling Breeches Are Borrowing Heavily From Athleisure Trends

This may have been one of the strongest apparel trends at the show.

Traditional schooling style breeches are getting softer, stretchier and more athletic, while the casual riding tight is gaining more tailoring and structure. The two categories are meeting somewhere in the middle. Formal show breeches are keeping their structure but adding in compression technology to assist muscles in quicker recovery after competition. Wait – Are we FINALLY being recognized as ATHLETES? Obviouisly equestrian apparel brands have known this for years, but it’s nice to see high tech athlete textile technology crossing into equestrian breeches, tights and tops.

RJ Classics showed me a hybrid breech with an athletic, almost legging-like feel while still keeping recognizable breech structure and construction. It comes in three classic colors and they’ve paired it with a generous envelope pocket on both legs to keep those treats and your phone handy!

Equinavia’s FS Birgit followed the same general direction with technical perforated areas and traditional breech styling.

And for riders looking at value, Equinavia had some especially interesting options. The classic Maude knee patch breech comes in around $129, with a more technical silicone grip version only slightly higher. That puts a genuinely polished show breech within reach for riders who aren’t interested in spending premium-brand money every time they need new show tans.

We also saw pull-on tights in both schooling and show colors, knee-grip and full-seat options, many coming in under $100. That matters. Performance and fit shouldn’t be reserved exclusively for a $300+ breech.

Equiline Had A LOT Going On

One of our longer appointments this market was with Equiline, and there was plenty to unpack.

Their breeches have been performing very well for us, so we paid particular attention to new additions there. A new higher-rise show-tan breech caught our attention as a possible addition, along with updated back-pocket detailing on another new style.

They’re also playing with crystal embellishment in a way that feels more refined than “put rhinestones on it and call it a day.” One collection uses staggered crystal detailing almost like falling raindrops along the breeches.

Unfortunately for our hunter/jumper crowd, that particular breech is currently full-seat only — no knee-grip version. Their jumper show shirts continued the same restrained sparkle story, including a black-and-white style framed with tiny square crystals.

On the coat side, there’s a wide range of price points. The higher-end Hayley sits around $889, while the Miriam comes in closer to $500. That potentially gives riders who love the Equiline look a more attainable way into the brand.

There’s also a new core mesh coat on the horizon priced around $599 with crystal detailing and impressive ventilation. This one hit a particularly nice middle ground between trendy and technical with a price point that won’t make your wallet cry – too much.

Equiline is also expanding its protective offerings with an Allshot vest featuring a removable washable outer liner. The current concept is roughly in the $800–900 range, with plain or crystal liner options. We especially liked the idea being discussed of eventually making liners available separately so riders could replace or change the exterior without replacing the entire vest.

Kids’ Riding Clothes Are Finally Getting More Interesting

This was one of the more encouraging parts of the show. There were a lot of options for young riders that weren’t simply tiny versions of adult products with adult price tags.

Equinavia had coordinated schooling shirt-and-breech sets coming in under $100, including blue and pink options with playful horse-print detailing.

There were also kids’ sun shirts, cotton barn tees and technical tops with Norwegian-inspired horse graphics that were fun without feeling overly juvenile.

For parents buying clothes for children who seem to grow three inches between horse shows, approachable price points matter. A lot.

Heritage Equestrian Style Is Having a Moment

This one kept popping up in completely different parts of the show.

Dapple Bay leaned hard into vintage equestrian imagery for AW26 and SS27, using old-school hunt scenes, fox hunting, hounds and side-saddle imagery in linings, reversible pieces, sun shirts and horse gear. And it works.

The collection manages to feel nostalgic without looking like it came out of somebody’s grandmother’s tack trunk.

There were also plenty of gift-able pieces — socks, cosmetic bags, keychains, value jewelry and other easy holiday items — alongside cozy winter apparel and new show shirts. We saw that same heritage instinct vendor wide across the trade show.

Some of the Best Discoveries Were Small Things

Trade shows aren’t only about helmets and breeches. Sometimes it’s the little things that make you stop.

Kunkle showed me a new value schooling glove that was comfortable, breathable and generously cut, he also gave me a sample to put to work. More on my perfomance thoughts coming soon! Plus a winter riding/show glove with an impressively thin warm liner. Warmth without bulky fingers is harder to accomplish than it sounds.

I also saw THE softest equestrian ear plugs from ACE Equestrian. The material was so soft and spongy but at the same time dense. These squishy ear plugs are going to be perfect for use on horses with sensitive ears, or horses who manage to Houdini Shake every other style of ear plug out into the void. These plugs seem to check all the boxes. Soft, squishy, easy to insert, stay put and so comfy your horse will forget he’s wearing them!

Another particularly interesting recovery product from ACE Equestrian was a neck chiller designed to help cool horses after schooling or competition. It can also be repositioned over the back or inverted depending on how it’s being used.

Those are the things we love finding at market: products that solve very specific horse-person problems.

Giftables Are Becoming Their Own Serious Category

There were a LOT of small, easy-to-gift products this year.

One new find was Lucky Chuck, a performance boot sock company offering light compression, a low-bulk fit inside riding boots and a huge assortment of fun prints. They have kids’ paddock-boot socks now, with adult paddock-boot versions expected for Spring ’27.

Ego7 has a new collection of gear bags that are a must-have for any active equestrian. If you’re like me and somehow end up bringing the contents of your tack room and wash rack to every horse show, may I present the Axel backpack from Ego7. This thing is the kitchen sink of backpacks. Whatever you’re hauling from the trailer or stall to the ring, chances are it fits in here.

The best part? It doesn’t have to stay huge. Only carrying a few things? Roll the top down, latch it, and get on with your day. It’s anything but a one-trick pony, and honestly, it would make a great gift for any active equestrian.

All of the Ego7 gear bags have a soft-touch, waterproof finish that makes them especially barn-friendly. They don’t pick up shavings, hay, or every stray piece of barn debris, and the all-weather textile helps keep your gear clean and dry no matter what Mother Nature throws at you. Because we all know Mother Nature laughs in the face of a sunny-and-75 horse show forecast.

Not going to lie, my pictures from the trade show floor did NOT do this bag justice, so I’ve created a multi-shot graphic for you to see how big it can be, but how tidy and handy it packs up.

Welligogs, whom we partnered with last fall is collaborating with everyones favorite classic equestrian plaid next season. The results is a beautiful waterproof wax jacket with Baker plaid accents. It’s classic equestrian plaid meets real world gritty outdoor equestrian! This is one of those pieces that will last a lifetime when well cared for and maintained. If I had to guess, I’m betting this is going to be a limited edition so if you’re all about the Baker plaid, put this at the top of your wish list for next season!

A Few Brand Experiments Made Us Look Twice

Trade shows are also where you see collaborations you absolutely did not have on your bingo card.

Riding Supply International (fka English Riding Supply) unveiled a well curated Tommy Hilfiger collaboration, that includes saddle pads and fly bonnets as well as rider apparel. The collection is both elegant and chic with a trendy flair.

Tommy Hilfiger obviously has enormous brand recognition, but in the U.S. equestrian market it doesn’t carry the immediate horse-world association of say H&M or Ralph Lauren. The collab was a hit at the trade show and we are curious to see how riders respond to this fresh new look in 2027.

We also stopped to look at Milton Menasco x Street & Saddle, a collaboration. Street & Saddle is a Canadian-made lifestyle collection with a very fashion-forward, barn-to-town feel. Milton Menasco brings a western equestrian flair to the collection with subtle nods to heritage western wear. Think, pearl snap button accents, earthy Mid-Western pigments, denim trims, soft piping and ribbon accenting across the collection.

We loved the stylish tops and cropped denim jackets, we are definitely putting this brand on the radar.

One New Collection We’re Watching

I also got an early look at an upcoming premium equestrian apparel collection from a new brand called Deja. It’s all very hush hush since the line won’t be released until later this fall. So the collection was viewed privately with a ‘no cell phones or photography permitted’. If that doesn’t make something all that more alluring, I don’t know what does!

I’ve been sworn to secrecy not to give away any specific details about the styles, designs or features. What I can say is that the line is thoughtfully built around actual riders: beautifully cut, lightweight schooling and show tops, premium seams and finishing, cool-touch performance fabrics and a beautifully cohesive color story.

There were a couple of pieces I would have happily walked out wearing, but left me with a wish list once it’s released. More on that one when we’re allowed to tell you more, trust me you’re going to want to stay dialed in for this release, it is TOP TIER and will be the talk of the barn once it’s released!

Matchy-Matchy Isn’t Going Anywhere

Matching rider-and-horse collections continue to be everywhere. Black and dark navy apparel and gear continue to be overwhelmingly popular with riders across the country.

Equiline showed coordinated saddle pads and bonnets for Spring ’27, and Equinavia had incredibly affordable ribbon-trim saddle pads with matching belts, halters and accessories. I’m a sucker for that preppy ribbon collection, and I’m not upset it’s making a come back.

There is something deeply satisfying about an entire tack-room color story coming together — and apparently the brands know us all too well.

What I’m Taking Away From AETA

If I had to boil this market down, a few things stood out:

Technical apparel is getting prettier. Ventilation and performance features are becoming actual design elements instead of something designers try to hide.

Traditional show clothing is loosening up — carefully. Color, asymmetry, contrasting panels and crystal details are sneaking into otherwise classic silhouettes.

Value matters. Some of the products that impressed us most weren’t the most expensive. Good technical breeches around $129, kids’ outfits under $100 and well-designed schooling pieces at approachable prices deserve just as much attention as luxury collections.

Equestrian heritage is back in a big way. Hunt prints, classic plaids and unmistakably horse-world imagery are appearing everywhere from apparel to saddle pads.

And perhaps most importantly, brands seem to be getting better at remembering that equestrians need clothes and gear that work in real life. We sweat. We get dirty. We spend twelve hours at horse shows. We live in breeches longer than anyone should admit. We need pockets. We need airflow. And occasionally, yes, we also want a little sparkle.

I’ll be sharing more as these collections actually begin arriving — and as always, we’ll keep doing the part that matters most: figuring out which of the thousands of things we see that are genuinely worth bringing home to you.

Most of what I covered here will be available Spring or Fall 2027. However some of it you will start to see for the upcoming holiday season. Like these quarter zips from R.J. Classics – 3 colors to choose from!

Tell me in the comments what your favorite brands or pieces are, and keep an eye on our website, social channels, and of course your inbox for the latest arrivals! We’ve also got new video content coming to our YouTube channel, where we’ll be talking with reps about the features and details of new products coming next year.

We Ride, We Show, We Know.