25 Horse and Rider Halloween Costumes You Won’t Believe!
Halloween isn't just for trick-or-treaters—bring the fun to your barn with these creative horse and rider costume ideas! Whether you're looking for inspiration from movies, TV, or traditional Halloween themes, we’ve gathered 25 of the best horse costumes that will make you and your horse the stars of any event this Halloween season. From classic favorites like Harry Potter to unique DIY costumes, there's something for everyone!
Costume Ideas from Popular Stories
1. When it comes to magical horse costumes, look no farther than the wondrous world of Harry Potter. This young writer looks like she’s straight out of Hogwarts. Here and horse are dressed up as Hermione and Buckbeak the Hippogriff.
Guide/Tip: Use a feathered blanket and attach eagle wings to the horse. The rider can wear a Hogwarts robe.
Purchase Options: Buckbeak wings and robes are available on Harry Potter fan sites.
Photo Credit: Harvest View Stables
2. Transform your horse into the iconic Headless Horseman from The Legend of Sleepy Hollow! All you need is a black cape for your horse, a pumpkin prop for the rider to carry, and some creative makeup to give that spooky, headless effect. Perfect for Halloween shows and parades, this costume is sure to turn heads—literally.
Guide/Tip: Use dark body paint for the horse and carry a hollowed-out pumpkin. Consider black gloves and boots for the rider to blend with the horse.
Purchase Options: Capes and pumpkin props available on Amazon or costume stores like Spirit Halloween.
Photo Credit: Harvest View Stables
3. Little Bo Peep may have lost her sheep, but she knows exactly where to find them! Or, at least this one sheep anyway. We loved this fantastic fluffy horse costume.
Guide/Tip: Use cotton balls or fluffy fabric to create the sheep costume, attaching them to a white blanket.
Purchase Options: Fluffy fabric available at fabric stores.
Photo Credit: Blogspot
TV and Movie-Inspired Horse Costumes
4. If you’re looking for your horse Halloween costume ideas on TV, you can check out this awesome Pink Panther duo. They look like they are ready to solve a mystery of who stole all of the barn’s candy!
Guide/Tip: Use a pink bodysuit or pink horse blanket, and craft felt ears to attach to the bridle. The rider can wear a trench coat and carry a magnifying glass.
Purchase Options: Pink fabric or blankets can be found at local fabric stores or online. Inspector Clouseau props are available at costume shops
Photo Credit: The Horse Tailor
5. Turn your horse into SpongeBob, with square cardboard boxes painted yellow and decorated with iconic features, while the rider dresses as SpongeBob’s sidekick, Gary.
Guide/Tip: Paint cardboard boxes with yellow paint, cut holes for the horse’s legs, and add SpongeBob’s face and outfit. The rider can wear a snail shell backpack.
Purchase Options: Yellow body paint and cardboard supplies from craft stores. SpongeBob face decals are available on Etsy.
Photo Credit: Midwest Stallion Directory
6. Star Wars lovers unite! Dress your horse as R2D2, with the rider as Princess Leia or a Stormtrooper. Use a white sheet and blue paint for R2D2 details.
Guide/Tip: Use white fabric to cover the horse, and paint R2D2’s signature blue and silver details. The rider can wear Princess Leia buns or a Stormtrooper helmet.
Purchase Options: R2D2 decals and Leia headpieces can be found online at Star Wars merchandise stores.
Photo Credit: Chestnut Hill CA
7. Dress your horse as Popeye, complete with bulging muscles made from cloth or foam, while the rider takes on Olive Oyl’s iconic look.
Guide/Tip: Use blue and white fabric to cover the horse and create foam muscle “arms.” The rider can wear Olive Oyl’s black dress and red shoes.
Purchase Options: Popeye muscle costumes available on Amazon.
Photo Credit: The Very Best Top 10
Classic Halloween Horse Costumes
8. Turn out the lights and all you see are… BONES! Create a spooky skeleton look by painting horse-safe white bones on your horse's body. The rider can dress as the Grim Reaper for an extra eerie touch.
Guide/Tip: Use horse-safe paint (non-toxic) like Shapley’s Show Touch Up in white. A hooded Grim Reaper robe can be bought online.
Purchase Options: Skeleton stencils are available on Etsy, or you can freehand the bones.
Photo Credit: Earth Porm
9. Recreate a knight in shining armor! Drape your horse in a medieval-style blanket and add faux armor pieces. The rider can wear a knight’s helmet and a sword.
Guide/Tip: Use shiny silver or metallic fabric for the horse’s costume, and make a faux armor chest plate from cardboard covered in aluminum foil.
Purchase Options: Knight costume sets are available at Party City or costume shops.
Photo Credit: Suitability.com
Unique DIY Horse Costumes
10. Who says you need to pick a character from fiction? Here’s a fantastic costume idea just taking advantage of a Paint horse’s natural coloring. Brilliant!
Guide/Tip: For those with naturally colored paint horses, simply highlight their natural patterns.
Purchase Options: No specific items needed beyond a clean grooming job to enhance the horse’s natural beauty.
Photo Credit: Harvest View Stables
11. Adorable… what else can you say? This adorable angel-themed costume is perfect for a mini horse. Complete with soft, feathered wings and a glowing halo, your miniature horse will look heavenly at any Halloween event.
Guide/Tip: To recreate this look, you can use adjustable elastic straps to attach a set of feathered wings to the horse’s back. A lightweight, flexible wire halo wrapped in soft fabric or tinsel can be attached to the bridle or a headband. Use white or glitter body paint for extra sparkle.
Purchase Options: You can find feathered wings on Amazon or in costume shops, and custom halo headbands can be crafted using DIY materials from craft stores. Horse-safe glitter paints are available at equestrian supply stores.
Photo Credit: Miniature Horse Talk
12. Rodrigo Pessoa dressed as a NASCAR driver with his horse Palouchin de Ligny at the 2010 Washington International Horse Show in the $20,000 Gambler’s Choice Event. If you want to see some of the top pros in costume, definitely check out this exciting annual Halloween costume event!
Guide/Tip: To recreate this NASCAR-themed costume, the rider can wear a racing jumpsuit and helmet, while the horse can wear a racing-themed blanket or saddle pad. You can even add sponsor decals to make it look more like a real racecar driver and horse duo.
Purchase Options: NASCAR-themed jumpsuits can be found online, while custom saddle pads or racing silks can be ordered from horse tack stores like Dover Saddlery. Decals can be easily printed or ordered from sticker shops on Etsy.
Photo Credit: Chronicle of the Horse
13. Get groovy with this 1950s poodle skirt-inspired costume. The rider can wear a poodle skirt while the horse gets puffed-up leg “poodle” fur.
Guide/Tip: Use cotton stuffing to create the poodle fur effect around the horse’s legs and tail.
Purchase Options: Poodle skirts are available on Amazon and Etsy.
Photo Credit: Imgur
14. If poodles aren’t your thing, consider transforming your horse into another animal closer in shape… like the Zebra! This pair looks ready to take the racing world by storm!
Guide/Tip: Use horse-safe body paint in white and black to create zebra stripes.
Purchase Options: Body paints can be purchased from pet supply stores like Dover Saddlery.
Photo Credit: Sleezybarbhorsewear
15. Transform your horse into Donkey from Shrek, while the rider dresses as either Shrek or Princess Fiona! This fun costume idea brings the beloved animated movie characters to life, with the horse becoming the loveable Donkey and the rider as a larger-than-life Shrek or his ogre bride Fiona. It’s pure Disney magic!
Guide/Tip: To create the horse’s Donkey look, use brown or gray body paint, and attach long ears to the bridle. The rider can wear a green Shrek mask or a red-haired Fiona wig. Adding Shrek’s signature plaid vest or Fiona’s medieval dress completes the look. Donkey’s tail can be fashioned from a stuffed sock or fabric with faux fur.
Purchase Options: Shrek masks, green face paint, and wigs are available from most Halloween costume shops or online. Horse-safe paints can be found at equestrian stores like Statelinetack.
Photo Credit: MyHorseForum
16. Little Miss Muffet sat on her tuffet, eating her curds and whey… then here comes a SERIOUSLY spooky spider that sat down beside her. Yikes! It frightened Miss Muffet away.
Guide/Tip: Create spider legs from foam and attach them with Velcro strips. The rider can wear a bonnet and apron.
Purchase Options: Craft spider legs from foam pipe insulation from hardware stores.
Photo Credit: Facebook
17. Halloween doesn’t deserve all the autumn season glory. Here’s a great costume that honors Thanksgiving. It's sure to gobble up attention!
Guide/Tip: Attach faux feathers made from felt or fabric along the horse’s back and tail. The rider can wear a pilgrim or turkey-themed outfit to complement the look. A turkey “fan” tail can be made from a fan-shaped cardboard cutout covered in feathers or fabric. Don’t forget to add a beak or snood to the horse’s halter using felt or foam.
Purchase Options: Craft stores like Michael’s or Joann’s offer felt, fabric, and feathers, or you can buy pre-made turkey costume accessories online. Pilgrim or turkey costumes for the rider can be found at most Halloween or party supply stores
Photo Credit: Harvest View Stables
18. When all else fails, this horse and rider combo decided to lean into that Groovy Feeling. Where can we get one of these incredible wigs?
Guide/Tip: Use tie-dye fabric for the horse’s blanket and find a large wig for the rider.
Purchase Options: Tie-dye kits are available at craft stores.
Photo Credit: Harvest View Stables
19. After your horse Halloween class, don’t forget to swing by Starbucks for your pumpkin spice latte! (This horse sure does look incredibly patient.) 😀
Guide/Tip: Create a coffee cup "sleeve" from brown fabric or cardboard and attach it around the horse's midsection. Use a green fabric or ribbon for the "straw" and attach a Starbucks logo printout. The rider can wear a Starbucks apron and hold a "to-go" coffee cup as part of the costume.
Purchase Options: Starbucks-themed aprons are available on Amazon or Etsy. You can print the logo yourself or find pre-made ones online.
Photo Credit: The Very Best Top 10
20. This young rider decided not to think outside the box. In fact, she and her mount decided to stay INSIDE this Breyer Horse Box.
Guide/Tip: Use cardboard to create a box large enough to fit around the horse, cutting holes for the legs. Paint it like a Breyer box with branding and a "window" for your horse to look through. The rider can dress in a horse-related outfit or as a mini figure.
Purchase Options: Cardboard and painting supplies can be found at any local craft store or online.
21. This rider’s Halloween costume is absolutely stuffed with creativity. Check out those amazing pants his horse is wearing. Genius!
Guide/Tip: Attach loose pieces of fabric to resemble an old, patchy shirt or overalls for the horse. Use straw or raffia to stick out from the horse's mane and tail. The rider can wear a straw hat, plaid shirt, and patched-up pants.
Purchase Options: Scarecrow hats, fabric, and straw can be bought at most craft stores or costume shops.
Photo Credit: Pinterest
22. Hope this young Bumblebee doesn’t have allergies because his horse is absolutely covered in beautiful flowers. Achooo!
Guide/Tip: Use artificial flowers to cover your horse’s back and mane, attaching them with ribbons or clips. The rider can wear a bee costume with wings and antennae. Make sure to use vibrant flowers to create a beautiful contrast with the black and yellow of the rider’s bee outfit.
Purchase Options: Artificial flowers and bee costumes are available at most craft stores and costume shops.
Photo Credit: MyHorseForum
23. Bring rock ‘n’ roll to the barn by dressing your horse as a member of KISS. Use black and white paint for the horse’s body, and don matching makeup.
Guide/Tip: Apply star patterns with horse-safe paint, and the rider can dress in all-black leather.
Purchase Options: Horse-safe paints are available at pet stores.
Photo Credit: Costume-Works.com
24. It’s not easy being green… unless you’re part of this adorable jumping duo. Here is the Princess and the Frog in their horse Halloween costume class.
Guide/Tip: Use green fabric and attach a frog crown to your horse's bridle. The rider can wear a princess gown and tiara to match the theme. A green horse blanket or body paint can be used for the frog look.
Purchase Options: Frog-themed horse accessories and princess costumes can be found at Halloween or costume shops.
Photo Credit: Tumblr
25. It’s a bird, it’s a plane… it’s Super horse! This last horse costume is surely out of this world. Super heroes make a great horse costume idea.
Photo Credit: Simone Aumair
Guide/Tip: Use a colorful cape for the horse, and add a matching mask or logo.
Purchase Options: Superhero capes available from costume shops.
We hope you enjoyed our top 25 horse and rider Halloween costume ideas for 2024! Whether you go spooky, cute, or creative, don't forget to share your costume ideas with us. Happy Halloween from all of us at Double D Trailers!
