Men's Equestrian Style Guide: High-Performance Riding Clothes for Male Riders

Men's equestrian gear has been the quiet afterthought in horse riding apparel for years. Most brands design for women first — which makes commercial sense, since women make up the majority of Australian riders — and then adapt or upsize for men. The result? Breeches that don't sit right at the waist, jackets that pull across the chest, and gear that looks like it was designed for someone else's body entirely.

Things have shifted. Struck Apparel, a Canadian brand founded in 2014 by Kevin Maxie and Ashley Glanc in Erin, Ontario, built their entire men's line from the ground up. Not adapted from women's patterns — designed for men from the first stitch. For Horses, the Italian brand known for their fabric engineering, makes men's breeches that rival their women's Ultra Move line in both fit and function. And Jump'In, the French show jumping specialist, has been cutting men's competition jackets for decades.

The iRide EQ men's collection runs 89 active products across six brands — real men's-cut breeches, show jackets, shirts, helmets, and accessories. This guide breaks down what actually fits, what's worth the money, and what to leave on the rack.

The Best Men's Breeches Available in Australia

Here's where men's riding gear has historically fallen flat. Most breeches on the market are designed for women's hip structure, with a narrower waist-to-hip ratio and a knee patch position calibrated for a different leg length. Men need a wider waistband, a different rise, and knee patches that actually land on the knee — not above it.

Struck Apparel gets this right. Their Men's 50 Series breeches ($403 AUD) are built on a men's-specific pattern — wider waistband, longer front rise, and a leather knee patch positioned for a male leg. The 4-way stretch fabric moves with you in the saddle, and the cut is clean enough for competition. I've seen riders scope 1.10m courses in these without the breeches shifting or riding up at the waist, which is more than I can say for most "unisex" options.

For the Italian corner, For Horses brings the SANSONE Ultra Move ($368 AUD) — their flagship men's breeches featuring their proprietary Ultra Move 4-way stretch fabric. Founded in 2002 near Vicenza by Giovanna Novello and Andrea Piovan, For Horses has been engineering technical equestrian fabrics for over two decades. The SANSONE sits cleanly through the leg, has a genuine men's waistband, and the grip system keeps you locked in the saddle without that sticky residue some cheaper options leave behind.

Jump'In also offers the Super X Men's competition breeches ($350 AUD) — a French-made option with a men's cut and a competition-ready finish. If you're deciding between the three: Struck for the cleanest men's-specific cut and Canadian craftsmanship. For Horses for Italian fabric tech and that premium feel. Jump'In if you want French competition heritage on a budget.

One thing I'll say — don't buy breeches online without checking the size chart properly. Men's European sizing doesn't translate neatly to Australian sizing, and a 46 EU is not a 46 AU. Measure your waist, check the brand's chart, and if you're between sizes, go up. Trust me on this one.

Men's Show Jackets: Competition-Ready Cut

The show jacket is the centrepiece of your competition outfit. For men, the fit is even more critical than for women — a men's jacket needs structure through the shoulders, a clean break at the waist, and enough room through the chest to move without pulling. A women's jacket sized up will always look wrong.

The Struck Apparel MJ10 men's show jacket ($644 AUD) is, in my opinion, the best men's competition jacket available in Australia right now. It's made in Canada on a men's-specific pattern — the shoulders are cut for a male frame, the waist is tailored, and the fabric has enough stretch that you can actually ride in it. Available in black and navy, both EA-competition-legal for dressage.

For a French alternative, Jump'In makes the AIRTEC men's competition jacket ($408 AUD). It's breathable, lighter than the MJ10, and cut with Jump'In's show jumping heritage — so it works well for riders who are sweating through a long weekend in the Australian summer. Not as structured as the Struck, but a solid mid-range option.

For Horses also makes the CARLO show jacket ($682 AUD) — but stock is low (1 unit at time of writing), so check availability before banking on it. For Horses also produces the OSCAR tailcoat, which is the one you'd want for higher-level dressage, but it's currently out of stock. If you see it come back, grab it — tailcoats at that level are hard to find in Australia.

The key thing: EA dressage requires dark jackets (black, navy, dark green, or dark brown). Show jumping gives you colour freedom — so if you're jumping, you can play with the jacket. If you're doing dressage, stick with navy or black. Check the current EA rules and your event schedule before you buy, because rules update annually.

Show Shirts: What Goes Under the Jacket

The show shirt is the layer that touches your skin all day, so fabric matters more than anything else. You want something that breathes on a 35-degree Sydney afternoon and doesn't show sweat through your jacket. A good competition shirt also needs a collar that sits right under a show jacket — too high and it pokes your jaw, too low and you look underdressed.

For Horses makes solid men's show shirts. The GIOVE ($192 AUD) is their technical show shirt with Italian-engineered fabric — it stretches, breathes, and the collar sits clean under any jacket. The ADRIANO ($208 AUD) is a step up in fabric weight and detail. Both are competition-legal white or light-coloured options that meet EA dressage and show jumping requirements.

Jump'In offers the Felix competition shirt ($167 AUD) — a more affordable option with good stretch and a clean collar. And Struck Apparel makes the Men's Series 1 Long Sleeve ($224 AUD) for riders who want a Canadian-made option that matches their MJ10 jacket in cut and fabric family. For schooling or warmer days, For Horses also makes the JOHNNY ($219 AUD) and GIANNI ($219 AUD) schooling shirts — both lighter weight, both breathable, both men's-cut.

Shop our full range of competition show shirts at iRide EQ.

Helmets: Non-Negotiable Safety

Let's be blunt — your helmet is the one piece of gear where you don't compromise. EA rules require an FEI-approved helmet for all competition since July 2022, and FEI rules have mandated certified helmets since January 2022. A helmet that doesn't fit or hasn't been certified is not gear, it's a liability.

Freejump, founded in 2001 in Bordeaux by Yann Dubourg, makes the Voronoi ($1,025 AUD) — a helmet with temple protection that meets FEI certification standards. The Voronoi Carbon ($1,799 AUD) is the top-tier version with a carbon shell for riders who want maximum impact resistance. Both are manufactured in France, both fit a range of head shapes, and both are the helmet I'd put on a mate's head without hesitation.

If you're spending under $300 on a helmet, check out our riding helmets collection — but for competition, I'd push you toward the Freejump range. The temple protection alone is worth the money. Browse all helmets at iRide EQ.

Finishing Touches: Ties, Gloves, and Socks

The accessories are where a lot of men's competition outfits fall apart. You've got the jacket and breeches sorted, but the wrong tie, no gloves, or rattling socks will undo the whole look.

For competition ties, Struck Apparel makes a Men's Knitted Competition Tie in white ($56 AUD) — clean, traditional, and exactly what EA dressage expects. They also do a Men's Slim Competition Tie ($84 AUD) in black or white for a slightly more modern line. Don't overthink the tie — white knitted is the safe bet for dressage, and you won't get marks deducted for it.

Gloves are mandatory for EA dressage and expected at all levels. For Horses FH Leather Gloves ($68 AUD) are Italian-made, genuine leather, and they break in nicely after a couple of rides. For riding socks, Jump'In makes a two-pair pack ($62 AUD) that breathes well and doesn't slip inside your boots — which is the one thing riding socks actually need to do. Shop our full riding gloves and riding socks collections.

For riding boots, stick with black or brown formal boots — tall boots for dressage, paddock boots and gaiters for show jumping are acceptable at most levels. And don't forget a stock or tie — EA requires neckwear for dressage, and a clean tie reads sharper than an open collar.

EA Dress Rules: What Men Actually Need to Wear

I'm not going to pretend the rulebook is light reading — but the basic framework is simple. For EA dressage, you need: a dark jacket (black, navy, dark green, or dark brown — the HSV brightness must be under 32%), white or light breeches, black or brown formal boots, a white or light shirt, and dark or neutral gloves. A tie or stock is traditional and expected. At higher levels (Prix St Georges and above), a tailcoat or shadbelly is appropriate for men — and yes, there is a genuine difference between a men's tailcoat and a women's version in the cut and tail.

For show jumping, the colour rules relax significantly. You can wear a brighter jacket, a statement colour, or a patterned design — but you still need a formal riding jacket (no casual tops). White or light breeches, formal boots, and a certified helmet remain mandatory. Tie or stock is customary but not always enforced — check your specific event's schedule.

The big thing for men: your gear needs to look intentional. Not thrown together from whatever was in stock. A matched set — men's-cut breeches, structured jacket, clean shirt, knotted tie, proper boots, certified helmet — reads as a competitive rider who takes the sport seriously. A mismatched outfit reads as someone who showed up at the last minute.

For a full breakdown of dressage competition rules, read our guide on how to dress for dressage. And if you're heading to your first EA show, our what to wear to your first EA affiliated show guide walks through the complete outfit checklist.

One common mistake I see at every show: men using the wrong stirrup length for their discipline. It won't affect your outfit, but it'll affect your riding. Sort your gear, then sort your position — they're equally important.

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