Hermès riding gear

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lovebirkinbait

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May 12, 2022
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#1
Please only reply if you actually ride horses and have worn Hermès equestrian gear!

I’m disenfranchised by the availability of information available online re: where other brands gear is made.

I also know that Hermès is quite transparent with where their items are made and they are NOT made in China like many other expensive equestrian brands…

I am very conscientious of what I wear re: chemicals etc. I also want to be able to wash riding gear without special care. I need good grips on my breeches!

If you wear the riding gear, how do you like it? How does it hold up in real life? How is functionality and does it need special care or can you throw your dirty gear in the laundry like a normal person? Does it stay nice after washing / drying in the machine?
 
#4
Breeches and leggings are excellent quality as are puffa coats, gillets and jumpers. The only item I’ve been disappointed in is the polo shirts. They pull and pill in the wash. They’re still nice, but I wouldn’t buy again. They do look a bit tatty, but May wash better if you use a laundry bag.

I wear my riding clothes daily and wash in machine including the puffa jackets. Some of the colours aren’t equestrian friendly so I avoid the very light colours for practical reasons.

Availability of some items can be limited too.

Sizing can be tricky. Most items you have to size up, but not everything, so you do need to try on. Feel free to pm me if you want to discuss specifics on any items.

If you own a horse I’d recommend the brushes and saddle pads too, fantastic quality.
 
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#6
lovebirkinbait said:
Please only reply if you actually ride horses and have worn Hermès equestrian gear!

I’m disenfranchised by the availability of information available online re: where other brands gear is made.

I also know that Hermès is quite transparent with where their items are made and they are NOT made in China like many other expensive equestrian brands…

I am very conscientious of what I wear re: chemicals etc. I also want to be able to wash riding gear without special care. I need good grips on my breeches!

If you wear the riding gear, how do you like it? How does it hold up in real life? How is functionality and does it need special care or can you throw your dirty gear in the laundry like a normal person? Does it stay nice after washing / drying in the machine?
Click to expand...

I don’t know how to answer here. What style do you ride? Where do you live? Are you looking for show clothes or everyday riding?

I own a horse and ride a fair amount. I have a large equestrian wardrobe. I don’t particularly care for Hermes’ equestrian collection as a lot of it is just too… Instagram-friendly, not actual horse-friendly. I wear a lot of Pikeur and Cavaleria Toscana, which I believe are not made in China. I assume other higher-end equestrian brands are not made in China, either.

All Hermes breeches I have ever seen don’t have silicon or suede grips, so if you need that, go with Pikeur. They also come in fairly light colors. Might be fine for a show, but I am not wearing white breeches everyday.

Their vests are nice enough but honestly, expensive for what they are. They are not special in anyway.

I don’t know what your specific chemicals concerns are — most equestrian clothes are generally synthetic fabrics that are extra treated. As a result, they wash and wear well. I haven’t seen anything specific about Hermes equestrian items that would make them wear better than anything else.

I do love their equestrian warm-up fleece — my husband and I have one each.
 
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#7
AnnaE said:
I don’t know how to answer here. What style do you ride? Where do you live? Are you looking for show clothes or everyday riding?

I own a horse and ride a fair amount. I have a large equestrian wardrobe. I don’t particularly care for Hermes’ equestrian collection as a lot of it is just too… Instagram-friendly, not actual horse-friendly. I wear a lot of Pikeur and Cavaleria Toscana, which I believe are not made in China. I assume other higher-end equestrian brands are not made in China, either.

All Hermes breeches I have ever seen don’t have silicon or suede grips, so if you need that, go with Pikeur. They also come in fairly light colors. Might be fine for a show, but I am not wearing white breeches everyday.

Their vests are nice enough but honestly, expensive for what they are. They are not special in anyway.

I don’t know what your specific chemicals concerns are — most equestrian clothes are generally synthetic fabrics that are extra treated. As a result, they wash and wear well. I haven’t seen anything specific about Hermes equestrian items that would make them wear better than anything else.

I do love their equestrian warm-up fleece — my husband and I have one each.
Click to expand...
I wear a lot of Pikeur too. I mix and match with the Hermes items I think are worth the money!

Like you say depends on what you want. Leisure wear/ride once-few times a week? Or a horse owner riding daily or professional riding all day every day.
 
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#8
AnnaE said:
I don’t know how to answer here. What style do you ride? Where do you live? Are you looking for show clothes or everyday riding?

I own a horse and ride a fair amount. I have a large equestrian wardrobe. I don’t particularly care for Hermes’ equestrian collection as a lot of it is just too… Instagram-friendly, not actual horse-friendly. I wear a lot of Pikeur and Cavaleria Toscana, which I believe are not made in China. I assume other higher-end equestrian brands are not made in China, either.

All Hermes breeches I have ever seen don’t have silicon or suede grips, so if you need that, go with Pikeur. They also come in fairly light colors. Might be fine for a show, but I am not wearing white breeches everyday.

Their vests are nice enough but honestly, expensive for what they are. They are not special in anyway.

I don’t know what your specific chemicals concerns are — most equestrian clothes are generally synthetic fabrics that are extra treated. As a result, they wash and wear well. I haven’t seen anything specific about Hermes equestrian items that would make them wear better than anything else.

I do love their equestrian warm-up fleece — my husband and I have one each.
Click to expand...
Thank you!! I looked into both brands and I do not see where they are made on their websites. Are you able to check the tag please? I am just a leisure rider who needs grips at this point in my life and DOES NOT want anything made in China or overtly synthetic or difficult to care for.
 
#9
I'd like to remind everybody engaged with this thread, please discuss Hermes. It may be in comparison to others, but if the chat gets too general equestrian (i.e. non-H) I will merge this thread with our chat thread. TY.
 
#10
lovebirkinbait said:
Thank you!! I looked into both brands and I do not see where they are made on their websites. Are you able to check the tag please? I am just a leisure rider who needs grips at this point in my life and DOES NOT want anything made in China or overtly synthetic or difficult to care for.
Click to expand...
Pikeur is made in Germany.

That being said, I know some of Hermès’ saddle pads, ect are made of synthetic fibers, and I believe they are made in Switzerland. I don’t know of any equestrian producers who only use natural fibers.
 
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#11
Handbag1234 said:
Breeches and leggings are excellent quality as are puffa coats, gillets and jumpers. The only item I’ve been disappointed in is the polo shirts. They pull and pill in the wash. They’re still nice, but I wouldn’t buy again. They do look a bit tatty, but May wash better if you use a laundry bag.

I wear my riding clothes daily and wash in machine including the puffa jackets. Some of the colours aren’t equestrian friendly so I avoid the very light colours for practical reasons.

Availability of some items can be limited too.

Sizing can be tricky. Most items you have to size up, but not everything, so you do need to try on. Feel free to pm me if you want to discuss specifics on any items.

If you own a horse I’d recommend the brushes and saddle pads too, fantastic quality.
Click to expand...

I agree on the brushes, also the bits. I don't actually mind the saddles and other tack, so long as they fit the horse perfectly and you get the right combo for the right sport/hack.

@lovebirkinbait, I personally wouldn't bother with their riding attire. There is better on the market both in Europe, I'm sure there must be as good in the US. I use Shires for casual, vintage tweed for hacking (I don't do competitions anymore). I can't say Hermes is worth it unless money doesn't matter. As I've written before, the only place I've ever been to and felt underdressed was in Stuttgart, Germany. Even stable grooms had a livery uniforms. It's the only stables I saw full Hermes grooming kits and Loro Piana boot bags.
 
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#12
Vintage Leather said:
Pikeur is made in Germany.

That being said, I know some of Hermès’ saddle pads, ect are made of synthetic fibers, and I believe they are made in Switzerland. I don’t know of any equestrian producers who only use natural fibers.
Click to expand...

Sadly not anymore.

Hermes makes excellent pure wool horse blankets though and cotton bandages.
 
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#13
lovebirkinbait said:
Thank you!! I looked into both brands and I do not see where they are made on their websites. Are you able to check the tag please? I am just a leisure rider who needs grips at this point in my life and DOES NOT want anything made in China or overtly synthetic or difficult to care for.
Click to expand...
Hermes breeches don’t have any grips as far as I am aware.

What is ‘overly synthetic’ to you? The days of riding in cotton and wool are long gone. Out of curiosity, I have gone through the Hermes website equestrian section, and the only non-synthetic item is a 100% cotton sweatshirt (and I think it is Hermes Fit, not actually from the equestrian line). I am in California and while I wear a vest or a light jacket in the winter, I would be extremely uncomfortable actually properly going through a dressage class in a cotton sweatshirt. Trail riding, maybe.

If you really want to spend money on Hermes equestrian items, I like their brushes and saddle oil. I felt the saddle pads were not what I am looking for, but the ear bonnets are perfectly cute. If you are a leisure rider — which I take to mean you don’t own a horse — you may not wish to invest in those items.
 
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#15
AnnaE said:
You mean polo wraps? Those are 100% polyester.

I am in California so I have never figured out what people do with woolen horse blankets 😂
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Oh, so sorry. I thought I bought cotton bandages (worn in the box) from H. Maybe I bought them somewhere else.

I used to put them under a jute rug. Horses are clipped in the Winter here.
 
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