After a world of fashion and accessories inspired by fitness and tennis, Sporty & Rich is making a foray into equestrianism. The New York-based brand, which has transformed well-being into a veritable lifestyle, is turning its attention to another sporting discipline popular with “Old Money” and increasingly recommended for its therapeutic virtues.
Sporty & Rich is once again creating an event with a capsule.
After limited-edition vintage-style fashion and accessories collections with some of the great names in luxury hotels (Cap Eden Roc, Bristol, Ritz Paris) and the release of a beautiful Wellness book retracing the philosophy advocated by founder Emily Oberg, the Sporty & Rich brand is back in the news with a capsule collection dedicated to horseback riding.
Available this Monday, October 14 at 9 a.m. in New York, on the brand’s website and in its flagship store in the Big Apple, not far from the Hamptons. This horse-racing mecca was also highlighted by Ralph Lauren during his Spring-Summer 2025 show.
This incursion, reminiscent of the Hugo Boss capsule launched in 2023, testifies to the continuing popularity of equestrian sport, especially in cowboy country. The initiative also shows that, in these times of financial crisis for the luxury sector, niche markets remain the surest way to unlock new pockets of growth.
Equestrian Drop, a first
Sporty & Rich launches its first capsule collection dedicated to the equestrian world.
Soberly named “Equestrian”, the collection (56 items) features “elegant cashmere pieces, equestrian-themedouterwear, down jackets for the colder months, chic velvet ensembles and ultra-cozy fleece sets.”
In keeping with its vintage, elegant aesthetic, Sporty & Rich borrows the tones that made quiet luxury great, namely “a palette of soft beiges, tobaccos and blues.”
The operation was announced on Instagram on October 12, with an enigmatic black-and-white photo of American model Christy Turlington with no description. At the age of 19, one of the leading supermodels of the 1990s posed for a Calvin Klein campaign on her horse in a chunky knit turtleneck sweater, scarf and jodhpur.
Five other shots from fashion series produced between the 80s and 2000s followed, each capitalizing on the effervescence of feminine equitation. This femininity is echoed by model Luna Bijl, the face of the collection.
An Olympic effect?
If old money and preppy (university-inspired) but also gorpcore (polar-inspired) and even Americana are no strangers to this craze around cavalier style, judging by the look of Beyoncé and Taylor Swift’s fans during her Era’s Tour, another phenomenon would help justify the move: the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Indeed, during the dressage event, held on August 3 in the majestic setting of the Château de Versailles, a fervent supporter of Team America had created a stir not only for his comments but also for his style of dress. Snoop Dogg was spotted with his girlfriend, Martha Stewart, both in elegant equestrian attire.
The 59-year-old rapper opted for a $300 black six-button tailsuit over a white polo shirt and pants. He then accessorized his look with items from Munich-based Roeckl, including brown leather chaps, black sneakers and gloves. His aviator glasses were Givenchy, adorned with stars. These were complemented by a bomb from French brand Shadowmatt. The ensemble was completed by an iconic gold S-shaped brooch.
The rapper thus witnessed the performance of 44-year-old British rider and horse breeder Becky Moody, who achieved the highest score in the first round with her horse Jagerbomb. Snoop Dogg didn’t fail to strike a pose with her.
This “athletic chic” look for women riders was one ofthe major fashion trends spotted by Vogue magazine this fall.
The magazine points out that the riding jacket, with its clean, slim lines, hugs the body’s curves perfectly, while slim-fitting pants help to elongate the silhouette, as do high boots.
The glamour associated with horse riding has been seen before in magazine clippings and catwalk shows. We remember Charlotte Casiraghi riding her proud steed for the Chanel Haute Couture Spring-Summer 2022 presentation, or the royal must-have pieces in the wardrobes of Lady Diana and Kate Middleton.
A booming equestrian scene
But the other, more obvious reason behind Sporty & Rich’s “Equestrian” capsule is undoubtedly the potential of the booming equestrian apparel market.
Helmets, gloves, boots and fleece jackets, for example, have already seen a brilliant boom in 2023 with brands such as Ariat, Pikeur and Sorel. These brands are benefiting from the growth of women’s riding and the greater visibility of this style of clothing on social networks. This phenomenon concerns racing as well as equestrian events (steeplechase, dressage…) and alternative sports such as Hobby Horsing, or horse jumping with wooden horses, popular with Generation Z and Alpha.
Sporty & Rich can thus support the development of riding boot sales. According to HTF Market Intelligence Consulting Private Limited, sales of riding boots are expected to grow at an annual rate of +6.1% from 2024 to 2032. This steadily growing market is driven in particular by the growing popularity of equestrian sports and leisure riding. And the American market is particularly buoyant.
Although only 1.3% of American households own a horse (1.6 million), 30.5% of them are enthusiastic about equestrian activities and shows, according to data compiled by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) in 2023. In addition, 43% of the more than 7 million horses in the United States are used for leisure riding. According to the AHCF, the U.S. horse industry contributes $122 billion a year to the American economy.
And America isn’t the only promising market for equestrianism: China, since the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, and now Saudi Arabia, are also keen on the equestrian style.
In China, the sport is given a more upscale dimension, with a single 45-minute lesson costing $115. As in England, polo enjoys a prestigious image in the Middle Kingdom, with season tickets costing $50,000.
Meanwhile, the Tabuk region of Saudi Arabia is emerging as a new equestrian hub. Personalities such as Arwa Al-Talbi and Ohoud Al-Majzoub are promoting the discipline not only as a means of improving physical health, but also as a means of enhancing psychological and mental well-being.
Equitherapy, or equine mediation for therapeutic purposes, developed in the 1960s and recognized as a complementary treatment for physical and psychological disorders, is growing in popularity. The method, which consists in relieving, re-educating or healing through the horse, is aimed at the elderly, people with disabilities and those in social distress.
This is Sporty & Rich’s strength: addressing a new market, while remaining consistent with its vintage elegance with a sportswear accent, and its DNA focused on well-being.
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Featured Photo: © Sporty & Rich
