by the Maryland Horse Council (first published in the May 2025 Equiery)
The level and scope of application of federal tariffs, as well as retaliatory tariffs imposed by other countries, have been ping-ponging around during the month of April with dizzying speed. At this writing, it is impossible to predict what the tariff situation will be by the time you read this. Nevertheless, the very fact of the uncertainty is already taking a toll on equestrian-related commerce.
On April 6, New Zealand based equestrian helmet manufacturer, ARRO, posted on their Facebook page:
“The new U.S. tariffs—especially these latest Trump policies dropping with little warning—are hitting our premium carbon fiber helmets hard, with some tariffs exceeding 50%. Unlike mass-produced plastic helmets, our slim margins and the short notice don’t even allow us to pivot or shift production to the USA. We’re pausing U.S. shipments to monitor the trade situation, so stock shortages may start in May with a flow-on impact to some other countries. We’ll keep you updated! Meanwhile, during this time we’re working on some exciting new safety gear. Thanks for sticking with ARRO—here’s hoping these trade wars settle soon.
On April 8, the company added:
“Following our previous post: We’re pausing new shipments to the USA while these tariff wars (hopefully) get resolved soon. We’ve still got some stock left in the USA, but it’s likely to sell out quickly with no fresh deliveries incoming for a few months.
We’re avoiding the risk of shipments getting slapped with sudden tariff hikes mid-transit. Relocating production isn’t a fast fix either—most manufacturers need 6-12 months to shift supply chains. For helmets, it’s even more complex: safety testing and re-certification drag the timeline out further.
Here’s the kicker: No main equestrian helmets are even made in the USA. So, all premium safety helmet brands (including motorbike ones) are in the same boat, navigating these challenges together.
Fingers crossed things stabilize soon!”
The American Horse Council published a comprehensive discussion of the potential ripple effects of tariffs on the equestrian industry and community. You can read the full article here: https://horsecouncil.org/project/tariffs-the-horse-industrys-journey-into-the-great-unknown/
