Tariffs: What Equestrians Can Expect in the Months Ahead

August 26, 2025 Veronica Green-Gott

The United States is facing unprecedented times. Are you tired of hearing that statement yet?

The U.S. government is enacting tariffs on a majority of countries in the global economy which has thrown the supply chain into disarray. With negotiations taking place all over the world, the exact percentage of the tax has been changing on a near-daily basis, making it difficult for American businesses to plan accordingly. However, with many ongoing negotiations coming to a close, the outcome of this tidal wave of tariffs is starting to surface.

Understanding Tariffs

Before we discuss how tariffs will impact the supply chain for equestrian goods, it’s important to understand a few facts about the topic at hand. A basic understanding of what tariffs are and how they work will help you come up with a comprehensive financial plan for your future.

Put simply, tariffs are taxes imposed by a government on goods and services imported from other countries. Typically, governments impose tariffs to raise government revenue, insulate domestic industries from foreign competition, redirect consumers to purchase domestic goods, and apply pressure on foreign governments as part of a trade negotiation or to encourage a foreign government to comply to their will.

While it’s true that domestic industries can benefit from the decrease in foreign competition, the rise of the global economy has muddied the waters. In theory, as foreign goods become more expensive, consumers will start to purchase domestic products, allowing domestic companies to expand. However, many domestic industries rely on the global supply chain for materials– including the equine industry.

There are a few myths floating around about who pays a tariff and what that looks like. As an importer and exporter of equestrian goods and materials around the world, Breeches.com is intimately familiar with how tariffs work. The US Importer of Record (put simply: the company importing materials or goods into the country) is legally responsible for paying the tariff. For example, if Breeches.com (an American company) imports fabric for a pair of breeches from India, Breeches.com is responsible for paying the tariff to the customs agent at the border.

Tariffs from a Company’s Perspective

For companies like Breeches.com, the total cost to import a product or material into the country is the customs duty rate plus the supplementary tariff.

Let’s dive into more detail here. The customs duty is the baseline duty assigned underneath the Harmonized System (HS) code classification of a specific product. Every HS code corresponds to a “Most Favored Nation” (MFN) duty rate in the tariff schedule created by the United States. The supplementary tariffs that have been all over the news since early 2025 are in addition to the base duty.

For example, if Breeches.com were to import a saddle, the transaction would look something like this:

A saddle under HS code 4201.00.30 might carry a base MFN duty of 2.4 percent. If the saddle is coming from India and is subject to a 25 percent supplementary tariff, the total import duty would equal a base duty of 2.4 percent plus a 25 percent supplementary tariff for a total of 27.4 percent.

2.4% (base duty) + 25% (supplementary tariff) = 27.4%

So, the total tax on this hypothetical saddle would be 27.4 percent. If the saddle is coming from India, the total cost to import the saddle would rise to 52.4 percent as of August 27th. For some companies, this would take up the entirety of their profit margin and mean the difference between making a profit or losing money altogether.

Prices Are Going to Go Up

As American equestrian companies face higher production costs, they will have to pass some of those higher costs onto American consumers. But consider this: just because there is a tariff of 50 percent on materials coming from India doesn’t mean that the cost of your favorite pair of breeches will go up by 50 percent. Many importers are trying to lean on the rest of the supply chain to absorb some of that cost. This means they’re looking for new suppliers in countries with lower tariffs or are experimenting with different materials. At the end of the day, the total product price may go up by five to ten percent, hypothetically.

The equine industry sources the majority of its products and materials from two of the countries that have been hit the hardest by tariffs– India and China. China accounts for the majority of hardware, helmets, and safety equipment, while India provides U.S.-based equestrian retailers with textiles and leathers for clothing and tack. In the early days of the tariffs, India had been insulated from higher taxes, but is now being targeted. While India is currently facing a 25 percent tariff, that number is poised to go up to 50 percent on August 27th. China will be hit with a 30 percent tariff, with a 90-day truce in effect as of August 12th.

This article was written on August 14th. Double check the numbers in the source list below when you read this article.

Consumers are already starting to see prices on the rise. At the end of July, Proctor & Gamble announced they’re going to raise prices on about a quarter of their products. According to Oxford Economics, “...prices are rising and retail prices for goods like furniture, toys, and household appliances are increasing at annual rates of several percent.”

After months of uncertainty, as deals are made and tariffs kick into effect, you’ll start to see prices increase now. It’s not just companies that are dealing with tariffs that will increase prices. Competitors who are not impacted by tariffs will also raise prices– but by a lower amount.

For example, if company A has to raise prices by 10 percent due to tariffs, its competitor, company B, can now raise prices by 8 percent. Company B is now making more money than before and performing better than Company A because, in comparison, it looks like it's cutting consumers a deal.

Equestrians already operate on a tight budget. Rising prices on essential items like veterinary supplies, tack and equipment, and stable supplies will have a significant impact on the industry as a whole and your own wallet.

What You Can Do

Horse owners, trainers, and riders won’t take a hit lying down. Even in a situation like this one, we’re not helpless. You can take several actions to reduce the impact of tariffs on your pocketbook.

Prioritize your savings. If you’ve been slacking on building your emergency fund, now is the time to tuck any extra money away. Cut back on nonessentials. Wait to buy that new tack set (strange for an online tack store to say we know, but we’re all about practical advice), hold tight to your funds and dedicate them to things you need: board, vet, and farrier bills. Build your emergency funds.

Strategize what you spend your money on. Stock up on nonperishables that you use on a regular basis before prices rise further. This could be vet wrap, hay nets, hoof care basics, or first aid supplies.

If you’re planning on making a big purchase, rethink your strategy. Don’t spend money on a brand name just because it’s the “in” brand to purchase. Choose a brand that offers affordable, quality saddles, like Henri de Rivel.

Turn to your community! Evaluate how you can support your trainer and barnmates and how you can all help each other in return. This can be as simple as creating a box of free stuff at your barn. If you bought a fly mask that you just aren’t happy with, consider throwing it into the box– maybe it will be the perfect fit for your friend’s pony a few stalls over. And one day when you need some electrolytes or horse treats, you just might find those in the box when you need them.

What to Expect from Breeches.com

As a company, we prioritize increasing accessibility to equestrian sports by offering quality equestrian apparel and horse supplies for a variety of budgets. That mission is about to become more important than ever before. We remain committed to providing affordable equestrian products, but unfortunately we are not immune from the stresses the tariffs are putting on the overall global supply system.

Negotiations are ongoing and no one knows what the final tariff percentages will be, but we’re being as proactive as possible. As a whole, we’re hoping to avoid passing on too much of the tariff cost and will be evaluating the entire supply chain to see where we can get our manufacturers to help us and where we’ll have to absorb some of the cost. The time will come where we do have to pass some of the cost of tariffs onto our customers. We’re hoping to delay raising our prices as long as possible to ensure you’re able to continue to access what you need.

If you’re hoping to avoid the increased prices that are just over the horizon, shop now on Breeches.com.

Don’t forget to take a look at our Clearance section!