What to Wear to an Equestrian Event: A Rider & Spectator Style Guide

By Carin, Founder & Creative Director, Rönner

There is something very special about dressing for the equestrian world. Whether you are getting ready to ride or attending an equestrian event as a spectator, I always come back to the same idea: you want to feel comfortable and appropriate for the occasion, but you also want to feel feminine, polished and like yourself.

In many ways, this question—what should a woman wear in the equestrian world?—is where the creative process at Rönner begins.

Horses and the equestrian world have always been a part of my life. My mother, Ines Rönner, was a rider, and I grew up watching her get dressed to compete in dressage, attend clinics or simply train. I rode too, although always more as a hobby, and today I experience this world mostly as a spectator, watching my three daughters ride every weekend.

Being surrounded by riders for so many years has given me a very close understanding of what women need from their clothes. What they wear has to perform. They spend long days outside, moving, riding and going between the stable and everything else life brings that day. But as a designer, I have always believed that functionality doesn't have to mean sacrificing femininity, individuality or beautiful design.

And as a spectator, I love that equestrian events give us an opportunity to dress in a way that feels timeless and elegant while still having a little fun with our love for horses.

So, whether you are in the saddle or watching from the sidelines, here is my approach to dressing for an equestrian event.

What to Wear to an Equestrian Event as a Rider

Although I am not an active rider today, I have spent most of my life surrounded by women who ride—from watching my mother when I was growing up to watching my daughters today.

Over the years, one thing has always been clear to me: riding clothes need to work incredibly hard.

They need to move with you, keep you comfortable through changing temperatures and long hours outdoors, and perform without becoming a distraction. But I also believe they can make you feel beautiful.

This is the starting point for our Activewear Collection.

We work with technical fabrics selected specifically for performance: four-way stretch, moisture-wicking and quick-dry properties, odor protection and, most importantly, UV protection.

But once we have taken care of performance, that is where the fun begins.

Equestrian Prints: Where Our Design Process Begins

Prints have always been at the heart of Rönner.

When we started the brand, the equestrian apparel world looked very different. Riding clothes tended to stay within a very sober palette—navy, grey, perhaps burgundy—and there were very few options for women who wanted something more expressive and feminine.

We saw an opportunity to approach dressing for the barn in a completely new way. We introduced color and equestrian prints at a time when this was almost nonexistent in the riding world, and that idea remains at the heart of what we do today.

Creating our prints is one of the longest and most considered parts of our design process.

There is a very fine line when working with equestrian motifs. I want our prints to feel personal—to have a voice that quietly says, "I love horses," without having to scream it. They should feel distinctive and unmistakably equestrian, but always elegant.

For me, it is important that they never become too literal or feel tacky. I want them to remain classic and timeless, with just the right amount of personality and femininity to make them feel special.

That balance is something we obsess over.

Sometimes the equestrian reference is obvious only when you look closely: a beautifully drawn snaffle bit, a stirrup incorporated into a pattern, a horse hidden among florals, or a tiny embroidered motif placed unexpectedly on a collar or sleeve.

For me, those details are what make a piece special.

The Equestrian Polo Shirt: A Timeless Riding Essential

If I had to choose one piece that belongs in every equestrian wardrobe, a beautiful polo shirt would be very high on my list.

The polo is a classic for a reason. It is polished without being overly formal, comfortable enough to ride in and incredibly easy to style.

At Rönner, it has also become one of our best-selling categories and a piece we love reinventing season after season.

We use our signature prints, unexpected contrasts and small details to make each polo feel different. Inside you may find our distinctive blue-and-white stripes, while our latest collections incorporate delicate equestrian embroideries—snaffle bits, florals and stirrups—placed in feminine areas such as the sleeves and collars.

Even our colorways are carefully considered with riding in mind. We think about how they will look with classic breeches so that putting together a polished riding outfit feels effortless.

They are fresh and comfortable for riding and other sport activities, but what I love most is that their life doesn't end at the stable.

Change your breeches for jeans or shorts and the same polo becomes an easy casual outfit for lunch, errands or a weekend away. That versatility is one of the reasons I consider the equestrian polo shirt a truly timeless piece.

We are constantly evolving this category, creating options for different styles, sleeve lengths, colors and prints, while always staying true to the classic polo that inspired us in the first place.

Discover our Equestrian Polo Shirts →

Quarter-Zips: The Perfect Equestrian Base Layer

Our quarter-zips, or Q-zips as we usually call them, are another of my personal favorites—and they are often the pieces our clients discover and then come back for again and again.

They make the perfect base layer for riding because they are streamlined, flattering and incredibly comfortable.

Depending on the season, we create them in extra-light or medium-weight technical fabrics, always paying close attention to fit and movement. As with our polos, our signature prints transform a practical riding layer into something much more distinctive.

We are constantly evolving this category too: changing prints and materials, playing with collar heights and exploring different sleeve details and silhouettes.

A beautiful printed Q-zip with classic breeches is one of my favorite ways to make a riding outfit feel sophisticated without trying too hard.

And once again, I want these pieces to work beyond the saddle. Pair a Q-zip with jeans, leggings or shorts and suddenly it becomes part of your everyday wardrobe.

Discover our Equestrian Q-Zips →

Equestrian Jackets & Vests: Layers That Work In and Out of the Saddle

Layers are essential for long days around horses, which is why equestrian jackets and vests have become another important part of our Activewear Collection.

One of our most iconic silhouettes is our cropped embroidered jacket.

We designed the proportions specifically with high-waisted breeches and leggings in mind. The shorter length creates a very flattering silhouette while also being practical for movement and riding.

Embroidery and small equestrian details give these functional layers a distinctly Rönner personality.

They are perfect to throw on in the morning at the barn, wear between classes at an equestrian event, or pair with a workout look away from the stable.

Explore Equestrian Jackets & Layers →

From the Stable to Lunch: Equestrian Clothing for Real Life

Spending so many weekends watching my daughters ride has also taught me something else: a day at the barn is rarely just a day at the barn.

There is breakfast on the way, hours beside the arena, changing weather, walking around the grounds, talking with friends and, very often, lunch or another plan afterwards.

This is one of the reasons versatility has become so important in our designs.

I love the idea that a polo or Q-zip can look perfectly at home with breeches in the morning and then, with a change into jeans or shorts, become part of a beautiful casual outfit.

Our Activewear Collection is designed for the stable, but it isn't meant to stay there.

More than anything, I want our pieces to make the women wearing them feel special and individual. There is something I find very beautiful about subtly communicating your love for horses through the way you dress.

Sometimes it is a tiny embroidered stirrup. Sometimes it is a print that only another horse lover will immediately recognize.

It becomes almost like a little language between people who share the same passion.

What to Wear to an Equestrian Event as a Spectator

And then there is the side of equestrian life I know particularly well these days: being a spectator.

With three girls who ride actively, I spend many weekends beside an arena. And while I may not be the one competing, I still want to feel appropriately dressed for the environment—comfortable enough for a long day around horses, but polished enough to go somewhere afterwards.

For me, this is where equestrian style becomes particularly interesting.

As a spectator, we have the freedom to take the codes of traditional equestrian dressing and interpret them rather than wear them literally.

Horse shows, polo matches, races and other equestrian events each have their own atmosphere and level of formality, but I generally follow one rule:

Dress for the setting, not in costume for the theme.

You don't need breeches and riding boots to look equestrian.

Instead, I prefer to bring subtle references from the horse world into an outfit through prints, embroidery, tailoring, beautiful materials and accessories.

This is exactly where our Lifestyle Collection comes in.

Equestrian-Inspired Clothing for Horse Shows, Polo Matches & Events

Our Lifestyle Collection begins with the same world and the same inspiration as our Activewear, but without the performance requirements.

Here we have more freedom to play with fabric, shape and silhouette.

You will find classic blouses reinterpreted with delicate equestrian embroideries, feminine silhouettes with floral and horse-inspired prints, embroidered dresses and pieces that reference traditional equestrian tailoring in a softer, more modern way.

Seasonal collections allow us to explore this world even further through suede jackets, equestrian-inspired blazers, ponchos and other special pieces.

These are the pieces I naturally reach for when deciding what to wear to a horse show, polo match or equestrian event as a spectator.

The idea is never to look as though you are about to ride. Instead, it is about borrowing from the beauty and heritage of the equestrian world and translating it into an elegant everyday wardrobe.

Explore Rönner Equestrian-Inspired Clothing →

How to Create an Elegant Equestrian Outfit

For a more casual horse show or daytime event, I love starting with a beautiful printed or embroidered blouse and pairing it with jeans or tailored trousers.

For something slightly dressier, an equestrian-inspired dress makes getting ready incredibly easy. Add a beautiful jacket or blazer if the weather requires another layer.

A suede jacket can also be wonderful for outdoor events because suede has such a natural connection to the countryside and equestrian life while still feeling sophisticated.

The key is balance.

If your blouse has a beautiful equestrian print, let that be the focus and keep the rest of the outfit simple. If you are wearing a more classic outfit, introduce the equestrian element through a jacket, scarf, shoe or other small detail.

I always think the most elegant references are the ones you discover rather than the ones that announce themselves.

Equestrian Shoes & Accessories: Sometimes One Detail Is Enough

You also don't need an entirely equestrian-inspired outfit.

Sometimes one special accessory is enough.

Our embroidered velvet shoes are one of my favorite examples. Wear them with jeans and a simple blouse, or slip into them after taking off your riding boots, and suddenly a very simple outfit feels elevated and distinctive.

The embroideries give that little nod to the equestrian world without overpowering the rest of the look.

For me, this is one of the easiest ways to incorporate equestrian style into an everyday outfit.

Discover Equestrian Shoes & Accessories →

What to Wear to an Equestrian Event: My Final Advice

Whether you are the one riding or the one watching from beside the arena, I don't believe there should be too many rules around what to wear to an equestrian event.

What matters is finding that balance between comfort, function and personal style.

For riders, clothing needs to move, protect and perform throughout the day—but I believe it can still feel feminine, polished and individual.

For spectators, there is even more freedom. We can borrow from the codes of traditional equestrian dressing—beautiful tailoring, timeless silhouettes, rich textures and subtle horse-inspired details—and interpret them in our own way.

For me, these two worlds have always been intertwined.

I grew up watching my mother, Ines, dress to ride. Years later, I rode for the simple pleasure of being around horses. And today, I find myself on the sidelines almost every weekend, watching my three daughters develop their own relationship with this beautiful sport.

Somewhere between all of those experiences is Rönner.

From the beginning, I wanted to create a different way of dressing for the equestrian world—one that respected its traditions but brought something new to them: color, prints, femininity and personality.

The collections continue to evolve, just as our lives around horses do, but the idea behind them remains the same:

We design for women who love horses and want that love to become a subtle part of the way they dress—in the saddle, beside the arena and far beyond the stable.

— Carin
Founder & Creative Director, Rönner