You’ve seen the photos. The perfectly coordinated team. Matching jackets. Flawless braids. Horses stepping in sync like they’re part of some equestrian ballet. Looks effortless, right?
Yeah. Bullshit.
I’ve spent the last 14 years stitching custom riding gear for teams that look like they have it all together — and behind every single one of those polished photos is a story of last-minute panic, budget fights, size charts that don’t fit anyone, and riders who just wanted to feel like they belonged — but got handed a jacket that rode up when they sat down.
So let’s cut the fluff.
This isn’t a sales pitch. It’s not a glossy brochure from a brand that’s never seen mud on a show coat. This is what happens when you actually try to build team spirit in a sport that’s built on individualism. And how something as “simple” as a jacket can either hold your team together — or rip it apart.
I’m not here to sell you on colors and embroidery.
I’m here to tell you why equestrian team jackets matter more than you think — and why 90% of clubs fuck it up.
And if you run a horse riding club, manage a collegiate team, or are trying to build something real with a group of riders who care — this is for you.
Team Spirit Is a Lie — Until It Isn’t
Here’s what no one tells you: team spirit doesn’t start with a pep talk. It doesn’t start with a win. It starts with a piece of fabric.
I know that sounds stupid. But hear me out.
I was at a regional event last fall. Two teams. Same discipline. Same level. One team wore mismatched jackets — some in hunt coats, others in windbreakers with club logos slapped on. The other? Navy blue jackets. Gold trim. Matching belts. Names embroidered on the sleeve.
You know which team won?
Neither. It was a tie on points.
But here’s what happened: the second team got noticed. Judges mentioned their “professional presentation.” Sponsors asked for their contact info. Parents started asking, “How do I get my kid on that team?”
Team spirit isn’t about chanting or huddles. It’s about belonging. And the first thing that says “you belong” is what you wear.
The Jacket Is the First Uniform
You don’t need a mascot or a slogan. You need a jacket that fits. That breathes. That doesn’t ride up when you post.
Because when a rider pulls on a jacket with their name on it — when they see their teammate in the same thing — something shifts.
They stop being “just a rider.” They become part of something.
And if you’re rolling your eyes right now, good. Means you haven’t stood in a barn at 5 a.m. with a team that’s about to compete and watched them silently put on their jackets like armor.
It’s Not About Looking Good — It’s About Feeling Seen
Let’s be real: most riders don’t care about fashion. They care about not looking like an amateur.
And nothing screams “we’re making this up as we go” like a team where half the people are in different colors.
Custom team apparel isn’t vanity. It’s dignity.
It says: We matter enough to have a look. We’re not just a collection of individuals waiting our turn in the ring.
And yeah — it helps with performance. Not because the jacket makes you ride better, but because it changes how you carry yourself.
The Data Doesn’t Lie (Even If I’m Tired)
A 2021 study from the Journal of Sports Psychology found that athletes in visually cohesive teams reported 27% higher confidence levels during competition — even when skill levels were identical.
Not magic. Not luck. Just the power of showing up as a unit.
Custom Team Apparel Is Not a Luxury — It’s a Tool
Here’s the thing I’m tired of: people calling custom gear a “nice-to-have.”
It’s not.
It’s a performance tool. Like a good saddle or proper stirrups.
And if you’re still thinking of custom team apparel as “just clothes,” you’re missing the point.
The Myth of the “Generic” Jacket
I’ve had club managers tell me: “We’ll just get black jackets from Amazon. Same look, cheaper.”
Cool. How’d that work out?
Spoiler: it didn’t.
Because generic jackets don’t fit riders. They’re made for mannequins, not people who spend six hours in the saddle. They don’t breathe. They don’t stretch. And when it rains? They turn into plastic bags.
And when a rider feels restricted, overheated, or embarrassed by their gear — their focus shifts from the horse to their damn jacket.
That’s not “saving money.” That’s sabotaging your team.
Functionality Is Part of Identity
At Fexwear, we don’t just slap a logo on a jacket and call it a day.
We ask:
- What’s the season?
- What’s the discipline?
- Are they riding in 90-degree heat or 40-degree drizzle?
- Do they need ventilation? Pockets? Reflective strips?
Because if the jacket doesn’t work, the rider won’t wear it. And if they don’t wear it, the team falls apart — visually and emotionally.
I had a collegiate team come to us after their first event in off-the-rack jackets. Two riders overheated. One tore a seam during a jump-off. Another said she felt “like a tourist” compared to the other teams.
We redesigned their gear with moisture-wicking fabric, underarm vents, and reinforced stitching.
Next event? They didn’t win. But they were the only team the judges complimented on their “preparedness.”
The Hidden Cost of Cheap Gear
Let’s talk numbers.
You can buy a generic jacket for $80. Or a custom one for $160.
But here’s what that $80 jacket costs you:
- 30% return rate due to fit issues
- 60% chance it won’t last a full season
- 100% chance it won’t represent your club with pride
Meanwhile, a $160 custom jacket from Fexwear:
- Fits 95% of riders (we do size kits)
- Lasts 3+ seasons with proper care
- Becomes a symbol — not just a garment
And yeah, it’s double the price. But spread over a season? Over a team? It’s not even close.
The Fit Test No One Talks About
We once sent 30 jackets to a club. Five came back.
Not because of quality — because we didn’t do a fit test.
Now? We require at least 3 team members to test samples before full production.
Because no amount of branding fixes a jacket that rides up when you sit.
Horse Riding Club Gear Is Branding — Whether You Like It or Not
You think your club doesn’t have a brand?
Wrong.
Your brand is whatever people see when they look at your team.
And if they see mismatched jackets, faded logos, and riders who look like they’re borrowing clothes — that’s your brand.
You’re Advertising Whether You Want To or Not
Every time your team steps into the arena, they’re on camera.
Parents. Sponsors. Recruiters. Other clubs.
And what they see is your gear.
I worked with a small riding academy that was struggling to grow. Their lessons were great. Their instructors were solid. But no one was signing up.
We redesigned their horse riding club gear — not just for riders, but for staff. Instructors got matching jackets. Kids got color-coded vests. Even the barn signs got updated.
Six months later? Waitlist doubled.
Not because the jackets made them better riders.
Because they looked like a real club.
The Logo Isn’t the Point — The Feeling Is
You don’t need a fancy crest or a Latin motto.
You need consistency.
One club I worked with used a simple horseshoe and their name in clean font. Nothing flashy.
But they used it on everything: jackets, saddle pads, water bottles, social media.
Now, when people see that horseshoe, they know.
And that’s branding.
Not marketing. Not ads. Just repetition. Recognition. Respect.
Merch Is a Silent Fundraiser
Let’s be real: most clubs are underfunded.
But merch? That’s passive income.
I’ve seen clubs sell custom jackets to parents for $180 — cost to club: $130.
Profit: $50 per jacket.
Sell 20? That’s $1,000 — for a warm-up lesson series, a team trip, or new grooming kits.
And parents want to buy it. Because it makes their kid feel like part of something.
The “Just One More” Trap
Beware the “let’s just do a few” approach.
You order 10 jackets. Then 5 more. Then 3.
Each time, setup fees, design time, shipping — it adds up.
Better to plan for 2–3 years and order in bulk.
We offer tiered pricing at Fexwear for this exact reason.
The Emotional Weight of a Name on a Sleeve
Here’s the part that gets me.
It’s not the fabric. Not the logo. Not the price.
It’s the name.
I had a rider DM me last year. Said her Fexwear jacket was stolen at a show.
She wasn’t mad about the cost.
She said: “It had my name on it. And my team’s patch. It was the first time I felt like I really belonged.”
I sent her a replacement. No charge.
Because I get it.
That jacket wasn’t just clothing. It was proof.
Names Matter
We don’t charge extra for names. Because they’re not an add-on.
They’re the point.
When a young rider sees their name stitched next to their teammate’s — when they wear it into the ring — it’s a signal: You’re one of us.
And for the kids who’ve been shuffled between trainers, who’ve felt like extras in someone else’s story — that matters.
The Jacket Outlives the Season
I’ve had riders send me photos five years later.
Same jacket. Faded. Maybe a patch on the elbow.
But still worn.
At reunions. At barn jobs. At weddings.
Because it’s not just gear.
It’s memory.
And if you think that’s “too emotional” for a blog about jackets — fine.
But you’ve never watched a 16-year-old put on their first team jacket and stand a little taller.
The Alumni Effect
Strong team gear creates alumni pride.
And alumni? They donate. They refer. They come back.
One club now has a “Legacy Line” — retired jackets redesigned for parents and former riders.
Sells every year.
The Real Reason Teams Fail at Custom Gear
It’s not the budget.
It’s the process.
I’ve seen teams spend months picking colors, then rush the fit. Or skip samples. Or let one person decide for everyone.
And then wonder why half the team doesn’t wear the jacket.
The “Design Committee” Disaster
One club had a 7-person design committee.
Colors changed three times. Logo got redesigned five times. Deadline missed.
They ended up with a jacket no one loved.
Lesson: Pick 2–3 decision-makers. Get input, but don’t democratize design.
The Rush Job That Breaks Trust
Another team waited until 3 weeks before nationals.
We did a rush order. Jackets arrived 2 days before.
But two sizes were wrong. One rider got left out.
She didn’t say much. But she didn’t wear the jacket.
And that’s on us? Partly. But mostly on them for not planning.
The One-Size-Fits-No-One Lie
Stop ordering “unisex” jackets without testing.
Women’s cuts. Men’s cuts. Petite. Tall.
They exist for a reason.
At Fexwear, we offer 8 size profiles. Not because we’re fancy — because riders come in all shapes.
And if you ignore that, you’re not building unity. You’re building resentment.
The Sample Rule
Always — always — order 3–5 sample jackets first.
Let real riders try them. Ride in them. Wash them.
Then adjust.
It’s not extra work. It’s respect.
What Fexwear Actually Does Differently
Look, there are a lot of companies making custom riding gear.
We’re not the cheapest. We’re not the flashiest.
But here’s what we do:
- We answer emails. Like, actually answer them.
- We don’t outsource design. Our team has been in the barn.
- We offer free design mockups. No commitment.
- We send size kits. No guessing.
- We fix mistakes — even if it’s not our fault.
And we’ve learned this the hard way.
I once shipped 40 jackets with the wrong thread color.
Not a disaster. But not right.
I called the team manager myself. Apologized. Redid them. Paid shipping.
Because this isn’t just product.
It’s trust.
And if you’re going to put your team’s name on a jacket — you deserve a partner who gives a shit.
We’re Here for the Long Ride
We don’t want one order.
We want to be the reason your team looks the same in five years.
Because that’s when it matters.
When the new riders see the veterans in the same jackets they’ll one day earn.
That’s legacy.
And yeah, I’m tired.
But I’ll keep making jackets that matter.
Wrap-Up
I’m not going to tell you this is easy.
It’s not.
Building a team is hard. Getting everyone on the same page is harder.
But if you want your riders to feel like they’re part of something — start with the jacket.
Not because it’s glamorous.
But because it’s real.
Because when everything else is chaos — the weather, the draw, the horse’s mood — that jacket is something they can count on.
And if you get it right?
They’ll wear it long after the season ends.
Trust me. I’ve seen it.
FAQs
Do you offer discounts for large teams?
Yeah. The more you order, the less each jacket costs. We’ll work with your budget.
Can we use our own logo?
Absolutely. Send us a file, or we’ll help you design one.
How long does it take?
6–8 weeks standard. Rush options available.
What if the fit is wrong?
We’ll fix it. Free exchanges. No hassle.
Do you ship internationally?
Yes. We’ve worked with teams in Canada, UK, Australia, and Europe.
Call to Discussion
What’s your take on this?
Have you been on a team where the gear made a difference?
Or one where it fell apart?
Seriously. Drop a comment or DM me — I read them all.