On Sunday June 23, Vogue World Paris will celebrate 100 years of fashion and sports. With a uniform consisting of a sleek riding jacket, jodhpurs, and knee-high boots, horseback riding boasts some of the more stylish garb, meeting right in the middle of athleticism and fashion. While equestrians have long influenced the industry (see Stella McCartney, who staged her fall 2023 runway show in a stable), many models are horse girls themselves.
On the surface, modeling and horseback riding seem to have little in common. (After all, how much time does an average model spend on a horse?) But when you get down to it, both skills require poise, grace under pressure, and the ability to roll with the punches. It’s no wonder that so many of fashion’s most famous faces have become bona fide equestrians. But it’s not just the chic uniform that draws the fashion crowd. For some model horse girls, like Kendall Jenner, the stable serves as a sanctuary—a place to clear their heads amidst the fast-paced fashion world, while others like Edie Campbell thrive getting into the competitive spirit.
Jenner first got in the saddle at 4-years-old, and now owns three horses herself: Dylandra, Lady Bird, and a foal named Copernicus. She finds that the dual exercise and companionship help alleviate her anxiety. “Whenever I go ride, of course it’s a great excuse to get outside and not be on my phone and forget about work and fully put my brain and my energy into how I’m going to get my horse over these obstacles,” the model told Vogue in her summer 2024 cover story. “It’s like soul food for me. I loved this as a kid. It was something I did every day that I could. I was obsessed, like—boys who? I feel like my kid self when I’m out there.”
Some models even venture into the competitive world. Amanda Murphy and Campbell are both dressage champs. Meanwhile, Bella Hadid has gone full cowgirl, competing in local cutting horse competitions in Texas (plus, she did her 73 Questions in a stable!). Bella isn’t the only member of her family who loves to horse around. Taking after their equestrian mother, Yolanda, Bella and Gigi Hadid both fell in love with the sport. While Bella is a rodeo regular now, Gigi formerly competed in show jumping.
Fashion-loving horse girls have appeared in the pages of Vogue, too. Jenner shared her summer cover spread with some majestic co-stars, while Bella Hadid covered Vogue Italia posing atop a horse’s back. Writer and former model Plum Sykes was also featured in the magazine, decked out in full riding gear.
Below, check out some of our favorite model horse girls, in the pages of Vogue and beyond.
