The Shires family
Family-owned since 1968
Shires Equestrian: the family of brands for horse and rider
Shires Equestrian is a family-owned British company that has made gear for horses and riders since 1968. It began with better-fitting horse blankets and now runs specialist ranges: Shires Moretta footwear, Shires Aubrion clothing, Shires Karben helmets and stirrups, Shires Velociti leatherwork and Shires ARMA horse wear. Tack of the Day carries every Shires brand and line made available in the US.
Tack of the Day carries every Shires brand and line made available in the US. Shires was one of our first brands, and it has been a go-to for so many of our customers ever since.
Shires for the RiderShires Moretta boots, Shires Aubrion breeches, tops and show coats, and Shires Karben helmets.Shop for the Rider
Shires for the HorseShires blankets and fly gear, Shires ARMA boots and pads, Shires Velociti bridles, halters and barn gear.Shop for the HorseThe Shires family tree: Moretta, Aubrion, Karben, Velociti, ARMA
Shires Moretta, Shires Aubrion, Shires Karben, Shires Velociti and Shires ARMA are all Shires Equestrian's own specialist ranges. Plenty of riders own a Shires Moretta boot, a Shires Aubrion layer and a set of Shires ARMA boots without knowing they come from the same family.
For the Rider
Rider and Horse
Also from Shires:Tempest and Highlander blankets, FlyGuard fly masks, Avignon bridles and breastplates, Topaz halters, FreeGraze and Greedy Feeder hay nets, Ezi-Groom brushes, Shires girths, Digby & Fox dog coats and collars.
Shires Equestrian history: from jute blankets to a family of brands
Shires Equestrian has been family-owned since 1968. It started out making horse blankets that fit better and has grown into a family of specialist ranges for horse and rider.
A family company making better-fitting blankets
Shires began as a family-owned business making horse blankets that fit better. The first were jute stable blankets and waterproof canvas turnouts.
A British company with a global reputation, we're built on a no-nonsense idea: to make products that fit well, perform, and stand the test of time.
Specialist ranges for horse and rider
Shires says today's blanket fabrics are much lighter and easier to care for, and the blankets have been joined by Shires Moretta, Shires Aubrion, Shires Karben, Shires Velociti and Shires ARMA. Shires is based in Leominster, Herefordshire, and its US company, Shires Equestrian Inc, is in Epping, New Hampshire. Shires says it is cutting packaging and moving to more sustainable materials wherever practical.
Shires sizing, brand by brand: boots, clothes, helmets and tack
Each Shires range has its own size guide, so a size in one Shires range doesn't carry across to another. Start with the guide for the range you're buying. Shires Moretta boots and Shires blankets have full size guides of their own; the other Shires ranges keep their charts on their brand pages.
- Shires Moretta tall bootsFoot size, calf width and boot height
- Shires Moretta country and paddock bootsFoot size and UK to US conversion
- Shires Aubrion breeches, tops and show coatsClothing sizes by body measurement
- Shires Karben helmetsHead circumference, XS (49–51 cm) to XL (61–63 cm)
- Shires ARMA horse bootsPony, cob and horse sizes
- Shires Velociti bridlesPony, Cob, Full and X-Full
- Shires blanketsHow to measure your horse for a blanket
Shires for horse and rider: kits for both sides of the barn
The Shires family covers the rider and the horse, so one order can kit out both. Here are three common moments at the barn and the Shires ranges riders reach for in each.
Winter at the barn
Horse: Shires turnout blankets, Shires stable blankets, Shires ARMA horse boots
Rider: Shires Moretta country boots, Shires Aubrion coats and vests, Shires Aubrion riding tights
Bringing home a new horse
Horse: Shires halters and leads, Shires ARMA brushing boots, Shires hay nets and barn gear
Rider: Shires Moretta country boots, Shires Aubrion riding tops, Shires Aubrion gloves
Want the horse and rider to match? See Matching Shires sets for horse and rider.
What riders say about the Shires family of brands
Riders tell us the Shires family earns its place on fit, wear and value: boots that fit short legs and full calves, a helmet dial that ends pressure headaches, horse boots that come out of the washing machine looking great, and blankets that size the same every time. One rider's Pamina tassels didn't last; the boots did. Here it is in riders' own words.
I have ridden in the Moretta Pamina ones a lot and even wore them for lessons and some schooling shows-- I like them enough that I got a pair of Shires field boots as well. I have short legs and fat calves and they fit me well which was a huge selling point. The tassels did not last very long though!
I recently bought a Shires Karben WP helmet with a dial. It's a revelation - perfect fit and no more headaches from pressure points; plus it looks nice.
I love my Shires Arma Air Motion boots for every day. Breathable, washable, dry quickly and not too expensive. I've tossed them in the washing machine and they come out looking great.
I love my Aubrion ones. Squat proof for big bum and thighs!
I only buy rugs from Shires Equestrian these days as the sizes are consistent, and so is the quality. I have absolutely no complaints and would confidently recommend.
Beautiful quality leather, really really love it. I always buy my leatherwork from shires for the quality and the fair prices and accurate sizing
Rider reviews are quoted word for word from public rider discussions and checked against the original posts, October 2026.
Shires Equestrian FAQ
Does Tack of the Day carry every Shires brand?
Yes. Tack of the Day carries every Shires brand and line made available in the US, including Shires, Shires Moretta, Shires Aubrion, Shires Karben, Shires Velociti and Shires ARMA. Shires was one of the first brands Tack of the Day carried.
Who makes Moretta, Aubrion, Karben, Velociti and ARMA?
All five are specialist ranges from Shires Equestrian: Shires Moretta for footwear, Shires Aubrion for clothing, Shires Karben for riding helmets and stirrups, Shires Velociti for leatherwork and Shires ARMA for horse wear.
Is Shires a British company?
Yes. Shires Equestrian describes itself as “a British company with a global reputation.” It is based in Leominster, Herefordshire, and its US company, Shires Equestrian Inc, is in Epping, New Hampshire.
How long has Shires been making equestrian gear?
Shires Equestrian has been family-owned since 1968. It started out making better-fitting horse blankets, first jute stable blankets and waterproof canvas turnouts, and has since grown into a family of specialist ranges.
Do all Shires brands size the same?
No. Each Shires range has its own size guide, so check the guide for the range you're buying. They are all linked in Shires sizing, brand by brand, on this page.
Did you know… Shires facts, and the riders who prove them
A few facts from Shires and its product details, each with a rider who has put it to the test.
Shires got its start in 1968 making jute stable blankets and waterproof canvas turnouts. The gear has been built for hard use ever since.
I lived in a pair of shires country boots which lasted me 7 years… I never cleaned them - they were held together by mud and swear words
Shires really did name a hay net the Greedy Feeder. Its holes are about 1 inch, small enough to make a horse work for every bite.
my two are extracting every last bit through double bagged shires greedy feeder nets - they absolutely love it and suck it out like spaghetti!
The Shires FreeGraze AirFlow grazing muzzle has a hole in its rubber base, so grass still gets in for restricted grazing.
Shires FreeGraze grazing muzzles
★★★★★Purchased for my "dominant" horse that won't stop biting my other horses! I got tired of horses coming in from the fields with bloody bite marks! Works perfectly!! He can eat and my other horses are safe from the "land shark"!!
Shires says its fabrics are much lighter and easier to care for than the jute and canvas it started with.
I have several and they wash great. I think it's prob fake wool but my very spendy gelding never worked that out
Shires ARMA is the Shires family's horse wear range: brushing, tendon, over reach and bell boots, pads and halters.
I really rate the Shires Arma rubber ones, they last my big clumsy oaf ages, never rub, easy to clean
Shires Moretta half chaps come in short, regular and tall heights as well as sizes, so they fit more legs.
These are lovely quality however I bought the short and they appear to be longer than my other Moretta gaiters for some reason so they dig in behind my knees sometimes, I still wear them though. In fact when I'm in the saddle they make my stumpy legs look longer so that's a win for me!
Rider reviews are quoted word for word from public rider discussions and checked against the original posts, October 2026.
Sources: Shires Equestrian, About Shires and About Us (Shires Equestrian Inc), with the company addresses on those sites, checked October 2026. Product details from the Tack of the Day catalog, October 2026.