EQUITANA Essen 2027

EQUITANA: World Equestrian Sports Fair returns from 18–24 March 2027 at Messe Essen, Essen, Germany. Organised by RX Germany, the biennial event brings together an equestrian product marketplace, professional exchange, education and live horse experiences. Its 2025 edition welcomed 600 exhibiting companies and 109,258 visitors from 56 countries, according to the organiser. The programme for 2027 is still being prepared.

Why EQUITANA Essen matters

Discover and compare equestrian products

The fair gives visitors a setting to look across product ranges rather than assess each supplier in isolation. The official event description identifies equestrian equipment, clothing and technologies for equestrian sport; the 2025 final report also describes capital goods, transporters and trailers, and complete equestrian-centre solutions. Buyers can compare practical details, ask suppliers about fit and use, and note which products warrant follow-up.

Connect equipment decisions with horse care and training

Horses and horsemanship are central to the event, not simply a backdrop to product displays. The organiser’s 2025 programme included a health-focused area, veterinary education and discipline-specific training. Riders, trainers and stable teams can use demonstrations and learning sessions to frame questions about welfare, care, equipment suitability and training practice. The 2027 programme has not yet been published.

Meet a varied equestrian audience

The 2025 edition drew visitors from 56 countries and combined trade-fair activity with public-facing experiences. This makes the event relevant to both commercial participants and people involved directly in riding, keeping, breeding or caring for horses. The organiser reported 600 exhibiting companies and 109,258 visitors for that edition; these are 2025 figures, not a forecast for 2027.

See high-value products in person

The 2025 final report describes Hall 3 as a place to examine transporters and trailers and other capital goods, including solutions ranging from wheelbarrows to complete equestrian centres. It reported almost 100 transporters and trailers displayed across 16,000 square metres in that hall. For products whose dimensions, construction or handling matter, an in-person comparison can help visitors decide what specifications and supplier information to investigate next.

Who should visit EQUITANA Essen?

Retail buyers, dealers and distributors

Useful if you are reviewing your equestrian range, considering additional suppliers or comparing equipment for customers across different riding disciplines. The organiser provides an exhibitor directory and product directory for planning. Before attending, identify the product categories and commercial questions that matter to your assortment.

• Compare saddles, tack, apparel and horse-care ranges by intended use and construction.
• Ask suppliers about available sizes, materials, maintenance, warranty and supply arrangements.
• Separate products for immediate range review from ideas that need more technical or customer research.

Stable operators, facility planners and horse owners

Useful if you are considering equipment or capital goods for day-to-day horse keeping, training or facility operation. The 2025 report describes displays of transporters, trailers and complete equestrian-centre solutions. Bring the operating requirements that shape your decision rather than relying on a general product impression.

• Compare capacity, dimensions, surface and installation requirements for the intended facility or use.
• Ask about servicing, operating costs, delivery and the support available after purchase.
• For transport solutions, note vehicle compatibility, loading arrangements and the needs of the horses being carried.

Riders, trainers and instructors

Useful if you want to connect products and training ideas with your own discipline and horse. EQUITANA combines displays with live demonstrations and educational formats. At the 2025 edition, the programme included discipline-focused sessions, training events and a veterinary teaching show. Treat these as examples of the previous edition; check the 2027 programme when it is released.

• Decide which training, equipment-fit or horse-care questions you want to explore.
• Compare how products are intended to be used, and ask what evidence or fitting advice the supplier can provide.
• Use demonstrations to form questions, then seek qualified advice for decisions specific to your horse.

Breeders and equestrian-industry professionals

Useful if your work connects breeding, horse care, services, training or the supply chain around horses. The event’s range of disciplines and professional formats can help you identify relevant suppliers and follow discussions about the industry’s development. The 2025 edition included a specialist congress and a vocational-training format; the next programme remains to be announced.

• Map the parts of the horse-industry supply chain most relevant to your work.
• Look for potential service, equipment or distribution relationships and record a clear reason to follow up.
• Compare industry perspectives without assuming that a conversation guarantees a commercial result.

Horse enthusiasts and families

Useful if you want to experience equestrian disciplines, horses, demonstrations and show formats alongside the exhibition. The 2025 edition included the HOP TOP SHOW and a family show, as well as activities for younger visitors. The organiser has not yet published the full 2027 programme, so check which shows and family formats are scheduled before making plans.

• Review the announced programme and ticket information before choosing a day.
• Prioritise the live experiences that matter most to your group.
• Allow time for both the show programme and the exhibition areas if you want to see both.

What can you find at EQUITANA Essen?

The organiser describes more than ten subject areas spanning the equestrian world. Publicly described product groups and examples include:

• Riding and horse equipment: equestrian equipment, saddles, tack and related accessories.
• Clothing: riding apparel and clothing for equestrian use.
• Horse transport: transporters and trailers, including products that visitors could examine in detail at the 2025 edition.
• Stable and facility systems: stable equipment and solutions for equestrian facilities, including complete centre concepts represented in the previous edition.
• Care, health and welfare: horse-care topics, veterinary education and health-related content from the 2025 programme.
• Training and sport technologies: products and technologies connected with equestrian sport, training and the needs of different disciplines.

These examples are grounded in the organiser’s current event description and 2025 final report. The 2027 exhibitor and product listings may change as the edition approaches.

What makes EQUITANA Essen different?

It combines a broad equestrian marketplace with education and live horse experiences. The 2025 final report describes the 28th edition as a meeting point for product discovery, professional discussion and knowledge transfer. It records a two-day specialist congress, the Agria Health World, a veterinary teaching show, discipline-focused training and performance, the HOP TOP SHOW “Volaris”, and the family show “Hoppi Toppi”. It also reports that 25 employers and around 600 participants took part in the first Vocational Training Day.

The same report describes visitors examining nearly 100 transporters and trailers in Hall 3 and seeking expert advice. That combination matters for visitors who need both a broad view of equestrian products and the chance to inspect selected capital goods closely. These programme elements describe 2025 only; they should not be treated as confirmed for 2027.

What should you try to achieve at EQUITANA Essen?

A useful visit starts with a decision you want to make, not a goal to “see everything”. Examples of focused objectives include:

If you buy or distribute equestrian products

Identify a short list of suppliers and product ranges to evaluate for your customers. Record the target customer, discipline, product specification, supply questions and next step for each priority contact.

If you operate a stable or equestrian facility

Compare a defined set of equipment or facility requirements. Bring measurements, capacity needs, maintenance constraints and the questions you need answered about installation and service.

If you ride, train or teach

Take away two or three practical questions to investigate about equipment, care or training. Use demonstrations to sharpen those questions and distinguish general information from advice that must be specific to your horse.

If you are attending for the live experience

Choose the performances or demonstrations you most want to see, then build the exhibition visit around them. Check the 2027 schedule when available; the previous edition’s programme is not a promise of repeat sessions.

How to prepare before EQUITANA Essen

1. Define your purpose

Choose whether your priority is sourcing, a facility or capital-goods decision, professional learning, horse-care information, or the show programme. If you have several goals, rank them so that an unexpected conversation does not displace the decisions you came to make.

2. Use the exhibitor and product directories

The organiser’s visitor-planning page recommends reviewing exhibitors and products before attending. Use the directories to identify companies and products relevant to your purpose, then save a manageable shortlist. The organiser also describes Colleqt: exhibitors place QR codes on their stands, which visitors can scan to receive key company information by email.

3. Check programme and ticket information

When this page was reviewed, the organiser’s programme section said “Coming soon”. Recheck the official programme and ticket information before travel, especially if you are planning around a performance, training session or family activity. Fees, session times and the final 2027 schedule should not be assumed from the 2025 edition.

4. Prepare product-specific questions

• For saddles and tack: what fitting, horse-shape, discipline and adjustment factors should be considered?
• For riding apparel: what materials, sizing, care and intended-use information should you compare?
• For trailers and transporters: what capacity, dimensions, towing compatibility, safety features and service arrangements matter?
• For stable systems: what site measurements, installation work, ventilation, maintenance and daily workflow requirements apply?
• For horse-care products: what use instructions, supporting information and professional guidance are appropriate?
• For training technologies: what problem does the product address, how is it used, and what evidence supports the claimed function?

5. Prioritise contacts

Sort potential stops into A—essential to a decision, B—useful to compare, and C—explore if time allows. Leave space for relevant discoveries, but keep a clear reason for each high-priority conversation.

How to make the most of the exhibition

For each supplier or demonstration, capture a short record: Company → product → why it is relevant → question answered → next action. For example, a stable operator comparing facility systems might note the required capacity, site constraints, maintenance needs and which specifications still need confirmation. A retailer might record the customer group, range gap, delivery terms to ask about and the next review step.

Use the official exhibitor and product directories to orient yourself and the Colleqt stand QR codes to collect company information where available. A digital contact record is most useful when paired with your own note about what you need to verify; avoid collecting information without a decision or follow-up purpose.

At demonstrations and learning sessions, write down the question a presentation helps you answer and any evidence you still need. A show performance can be valuable as an experience, while technical or purchasing decisions may require a separate conversation with a qualified professional or supplier.

Plan your time realistically

The 2027 event is scheduled across seven days. The organiser’s previous-edition report describes a substantial mix of product areas, arenas and programme formats, so a visit focused on several objectives may benefit from deliberate scheduling. The 2025 report’s Hall 3 example—nearly 100 transporters and trailers displayed across 16,000 square metres—shows why a visitor with a capital-goods requirement should allow enough time to compare relevant options rather than relying on a quick walk-through.

Before opening

Check the day’s confirmed programme, identify the first priority stands or sessions and review any changes to access information.

During the main visit

Group product comparisons where practical. Keep notes beside each supplier name and leave time to revisit a short list when a technical question needs a second discussion.

At the end of the day

Separate useful contacts from general information. Note which specifications, quotations, fitting questions or service details you need to request after the fair.

Beyond the exhibition floor

The 2025 programme offers examples of the event’s educational and performance formats, not a confirmed 2027 schedule. It included the two-day specialist congress powered by AVANT; the Agria Health World and veterinary educational show; the HOP TOP SHOW “Volaris”; the family show “Hoppi Toppi”; a first Vocational Training Day; discipline-focused sessions such as Western Day and a dressage matinée; training events; and stages including the #doitride glass studio and WeHorse stage. The organiser’s visitor page currently marks the 2027 programme as coming soon. Check the released schedule for current session names, times and access arrangements.

Travelling to EQUITANA Essen

The event is held at Messe Essen, Messeplatz 1, 45131 Essen. The organiser’s venue information says Essen Central Station connects to the exhibition centre by U11, with stops at Messe Ost / Gruga-Halle and Messe West-Süd / Gruga. It also describes routes from Düsseldorf Airport by rail and road. These are planning references from the organiser’s published venue information; check current timetables, access and event-day arrangements before travelling in 2027.

• Public transport: the organiser describes the U11 connection from Essen Central Station to the exhibition entrances.
• Rail and air: the venue page describes rail connections from Düsseldorf Airport to Essen and gives an approximate journey time; confirm current services before booking onward plans.
• Car: published event information describes parking at the venue and a park-and-ride option with a fair bus. Confirm availability, fees and operating times for the 2027 dates.

One day or several days at EQUITANA Essen?

The right visit length depends on whether you are attending for a focused purchase comparison, professional learning, or several show and exhibition formats. A single day may suit a visitor with a short supplier list or one main performance. More time may be useful if you need to compare capital goods, visit different product areas and attend scheduled learning or show sessions. The complete 2027 programme and hall plan should guide the final decision; do not assume that the previous edition’s schedule will repeat.

Bring a project to EQUITANA Essen

If you are evaluating a facility, trailer, stable system or significant equipment purchase, bring the details that shape the decision: the intended use, site or vehicle measurements, capacity, horse requirements, operating conditions, installation constraints and desired timing. For products related to horse care, training or fit, prepare the relevant questions and consult an appropriately qualified professional where a horse-specific assessment is needed.

For a retail or distribution project, note the customer group, discipline, product gap, expected range position and questions about availability, service, warranty and commercial terms. Ask each supplier for information that allows a fair comparison, and record any assumptions that still require checking.

After EQUITANA Essen: turn notes into decisions

Within a few days, organise your contacts into three groups:

• A — Immediate decision: a supplier or product directly connected to a defined purchase or operational need. Request the technical information, dimensions, service details or commercial terms still missing.
• B — Potential fit: a product, supplier or professional contact worth evaluating further. Compare it with your requirements and alternatives before committing.
• C — Market intelligence: information about trends, disciplines or product approaches that may inform future planning but does not yet support a purchase decision.

When following up, refer to the specific product or discussion and state what you need next. For equipment, this may include specifications, fitting guidance, delivery and installation details, maintenance arrangements or warranty terms. For horse-care or training questions, distinguish supplier information from independent professional advice. A collected contact is a starting point, not a guaranteed result.

Who should consider exhibiting at EQUITANA Essen?

The organiser describes a platform for equestrian brands and the wider horse industry. Its 2025 report records exhibitors in equipment and capital goods, including transporters, trailers and equestrian-centre solutions, as well as participants in the event’s learning and show formats. Relevant profiles may include:

• Manufacturers and distributors of riding equipment, saddles, tack and apparel.
• Suppliers of horse-care, health and welfare products.
• Manufacturers of transporters, trailers and other equestrian capital goods.
• Providers of stable systems, facility equipment and equestrian-centre solutions.
• Companies offering technologies or services connected with equestrian sport and training.

For exhibitors, a useful objective is to define which visitors and decisions matter, what product information they need to compare, and what follow-up action is realistic. The organiser reported 600 exhibiting companies at the 2025 edition; 2027 participation and commercial terms should be confirmed directly with the organiser.

EQUITANA Essen visitor checklist

Before

• ☐ Define your main reason for attending and the decision you want to advance.
• ☐ Review the current exhibitor and product directories.
• ☐ Check the 2027 programme, ticket information, opening hours and access details when published.
• ☐ Prepare product-specific questions and a prioritised list of suppliers or sessions.
• ☐ Confirm travel arrangements and any relevant equipment or accessibility requirements.

During

• ☐ Keep your supplier and session priorities visible.
• ☐ Record product details, answers, unresolved questions and next actions.
• ☐ Use stand information tools where available and keep notes that explain why each contact matters.
• ☐ Distinguish general demonstrations from product-specific or horse-specific advice.

After

• ☐ Sort contacts into immediate, potential and market-intelligence follow-up.
• ☐ Request missing specifications, fitting information, service terms or commercial details.
• ☐ Compare suppliers against the requirements you set before the visit.
• ☐ Record what you learned and what remains unverified before making a decision.

Is EQUITANA Essen worth visiting?

EQUITANA Essen is likely to be most useful when you have a clear connection to horses, equestrian products, facilities, training or the wider horse industry. Buyers can use the product marketplace to compare suppliers; operators can examine capital goods; riders and trainers can connect demonstrations and education with practical questions; enthusiasts can plan around live experiences. The 2025 edition’s reported scale—600 exhibitors and 109,258 visitors—shows the event’s broad reach, but does not guarantee that every product or programme item will suit every visitor. Review the 2027 exhibitor and programme information, set priorities and leave with specific questions answered.

EQUITANA Essen 2027 at a glance

The dates and venue are announced by the organiser. The scale figures describe the 2025 edition; the 2027 exhibitor list and programme are still subject to organiser updates.

Make your EQUITANA Essen visit purposeful

Choose the suppliers, questions and experiences that match your reason for attending. Compare carefully, keep useful notes and follow up on the details that matter to your horse, business or facility. Discover. Compare. Learn. Decide. Follow up.

Equestrian industry opportunities in Germany

Market size and demand

EQUITANA’s 2025 final report cites the German Equestrian Federation’s estimate that Germany’s equestrian industry has turnover of €6.7 billion. The report does not specify the estimate’s reference year, calculation scope or breakdown by product category, so it is broad sector context rather than a current forecast or evidence of demand for a particular product.

Market drivers and commercial opportunities

The same report describes high energy, inflation, service and labour costs as pressures on stable operators and their customers. It also records exhibitor interest in direct product examination and expert advice for capital goods. These points may make stable systems, transporters, trailers and facility equipment relevant areas for suppliers and visitors to investigate, but they do not establish category-level sales or an unmet supply gap.

• Stable and facility equipment: operators may compare specifications, installation needs and ongoing service; suppliers should qualify site requirements and operating costs.
• Transporters and trailers: buyers may assess capacity, compatibility and safety details; manufacturers and dealers can use direct product discussion to understand requirements, without assuming a sale.
• Riding and horse-care products: retailers and professionals may review range fit and product information, then verify customer demand and applicable requirements independently.

Market-entry conditions

The research reviewed for this guide did not verify current Germany-specific import, certification or market-entry rules for equestrian product categories. Businesses considering cross-border sales should check the rules that apply to each product and shipment before offering or importing it.

What this means for exhibitors

Exhibitors may use EQUITANA to test how their products fit the needs of riders, retailers, stable operators and equestrian facilities, and to identify what technical or service information those audiences need. The published €6.7 billion estimate is not a forecast of event sales or a measure of demand for an individual company.

What this means for visitors

Visitors may use the fair to compare products and suppliers against operational or customer requirements, especially where equipment needs close inspection. The available market figure provides broad context; current demand, availability, prices and terms need to be checked with relevant suppliers.