Do you want to be a step ahead and create wellbeing for performance?

Made in Europe

Important R & D

The company was founded in 2008, after which teams of researchers, designers, functionality specialists, pattern designers and material and manufacturing technicians works on the development of our product portfolio. To date, more than 2,000 prototypes have been built as part of this process.

The guiding principles of our product development are anatomical and functional design, quality materials, safety and to be as environmental friendly as possible. 

For example, we use textile that is certified by bluesign® and OEKO-TEX®. 

I started to ride at the age of twelve and was immediate struck by a combination of great affection for the horses and the perpetual quest to find the right harmony between the horse and the rider. I grew up on Gotland, the largest island in the Baltic Sea, but moved to mainland Sweden at the age of 15,5 to attend the horse riding boarding school at the Swedish Equestrian Centers of Excellence at Strömsholm, actually the year it was launched. After some time eventing in England and working as a veterinary assistant I went to university where I earned a double master’s degree in Law, and Economics and Business Administration.

After my graduation I spent close to ten years working with supply chain, both for corporates and for a successful Software-as-a-Service start-up. The last position I had was in the management team of a national mid-size construction company. During all this time I spent much of my spare time with horses, just as any other “hobby rider”. However, I also spent a growing amount of time thinking about the state of the horse equipment used. It struck me how incredibly old-fashioned it is. New brands almost always had a “low quality, low price” strategy. At the same time friends and family that were not into horse riding were able to constantly upgrade their gears and equipment, be it for climbing, mountain-biking, or skiing. Surely also other horse lovers, and not only me would be interested in high-quality, innovative, and sustainable horse equipment? I decided to deliver the change, and founded Equimade in 2008.

In the years leading up to this decision, I had already spent weeks and months in trotting, racing, eventing, show-jumping as well as dressage and mixed competition stables. So I figured I had a good grip of what was needed conceptually. But how to turn these ideas into ground-breaking innovations? My dual approach was horse anatomy and cross-industry learnings. I read everything I could get my hands on to understand the horse anatomy – this has given me invaluable insights we’ve subsequently incorporated into our products. I walked sailing quays, examined the textile construction of firefighting uniforms, and visited bed manufacturing facilities. To name a few examples – each providing new perspectives, and new ideas for how to think about material innovation and product development. This combination made the trick! Concrete conceptual ideas were set for the Hocket, Easy Connect and other innovative products.  

All set and done? Not really, the idea is just the pre-requisite for the design and eventual industrialization, both challenging for non-existing products. For the design of our products we continued our “outside-the-horse-industry” thinking, involving, for example, opera costume makers, high fashion pattern makers, and shoe designers. In a similar way we’ve worked with R&D departments at manufacturers across Europe to develop new material to fit these products. I’ve been personally involved in all these processes. Why, you may ask? The answer is simple: I love being involved in all the details leading to our trailblazing products that provide such a huge improvement in the safety and wellbeing of our beloved horses!  

Thanks for being proactive and taking good care of your horses
/Rachel Lundgren