The Rider’s Closet: Supporting New Equestrians, One Thrifted Pair of Breeches at a Time

By Lindsay Brock

It was a closet purge that first inspired Georgina Bloomberg to get into the clothing business. But, not in the way one might think.

“I was cleaning out my closet in the house I grew up in and realized that I had a ton of show clothes that were in great condition but had simply been outgrown,” said Bloomberg. “I didn’t know what to do with it all. I have a lot of friends who used to ride as kids and gave it up later in life, and I asked a few of them what they did with their show clothes. The answer was the same; it was sitting in their closets because they didn’t know what to do with it all.”

After searching tirelessly to find a place to donate her still show-ring worthy attire, the question of where to go next sparked an idea that eventually birthed The Rider’s Closet in 2006. It first started at the IHSA level with Bloomberg’s alma mater equestrian team at New York University (NYU) and spread to schools throughout the country.

Today, The Rider’s Closet’s mission is to ensure that riding apparel is accessible to scholastic riding programs, pony clubs, equestrian camps, equine charities, and individual riders in need. The apparel is all donated by equestrians like Bloomberg who want to see what they once wore help someone else follow their path to the competition ring.

When asked about her reaction to the almost immediate success of The Rider’s Closet, Bloomberg responded with a smile, “I still remember getting my first thank you letter and picture of a recipient wearing clothes they received from us. They explained how without us they would have been forced to quit. It made all my hard work worth it.”

The program serves riders of all ages and at every level of horsemanship throughout the U.S. In 2019, The Rider’s Closet merged with the distinguished EQUUS Foundation to further its reach and impact.