Bridles and Bits and Blankets! Oh My!

I'm addicted to looking at, dreaming about and, more often than not, buying Horse Stuff!!!!

If you don't already own a horse you may not know that all horse owners have about three of every item they could ever need for every POSSIBLE occasion. I'm not alone in my addiction. (Do they have 12 steps for this?)

With the addition (addiction?) of the internet, it makes it so easy to find and buy what you want. Did you know that you can even buy saddles, bridles and bits on Amazon.com now-a-days?

$134.74 - Not a bad price! Click Here for Details

Well there are a few places I love to shop. Even if it's just browser-window shopping. Whether it's show clothes, new/used saddles, healthcare items or just frivolous horse "have-to-have-its" I know where to go to get the best deals!

Tip #1: Wait for sales and search for the best price online. There are many places to purchase what you want and/or need. So choose the best one for you. Accumulate your tack room filler slowly. If you buy when it's on sale or from the right places...you don't have to spend a bunch all-at-once.

Tip #2: Take into account the shipping cost along with the item's listed price. I.e. I found a great deal on Omegafields Horseshine (ground stabilized flax seed) but the shipping put me way over what a decent price would normally be. It was better to spend more on the product and less on the shipping.

Tip #3: Do a Google Search for coupon codes. Sometimes you can find one that will work for you when buying online.

Tip #4: Ask your horsey friends before buying. With all the extra stuff we accumulate...someone might actually GIVE you what you need so you don't have to buy it.

Here are my favorite places to search for much NEEDED equine essentials:

Local Tack Store: I'd like to give a shout out to my local tack store, Storybook Farm. Owned by Chris Hagen, it's one of the most wonderful places to drool over great tack and supplies. PLEASE SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL TACK STORE! If you find something you like online, stop in to ask if they can get if for you at the same price. Sometimes they can...sometimes they can't. But at least you gave them the opportunity to do a little business.

In this same line of thinking, find out when the local 4-H, Pony Club or area Barns are having used tack sales. You'd be surprised at the deals you can find!


Horse Lovers.com: This Place = Every Horse Owners Dream & Pocketbook Nightmare. I'm pretty sure I own stock in this small company. I first found them on eBay (which I'll talk about later) and saw they had an online store. They have great prices and pretty decent stuff. I've bought everything from winter blankets to bridles there.

eBay - Yeah, I dig looking at the weird horse tack you can find on eBay! I bought the craziest saddle once. It was a dressage saddle but was tooled on the flaps like a western saddle. Too bad it didn't fit me or my horse.

And while I'm on this point...I would generally not buy a saddle online without knowing exactly what size you and your horse need. I recommend trying saddles on your horse, finding out which brand and style fits best. Then find a deal online.

For those of you who are horseless but just SOOOO excited about buying a horse. I know you're out there buying horse stuff. I know you are, don't lie! DON'T JUMP THE GUN AND BUY A SADDLE JUST BECAUSE YOU THINK YOU'LL USE IT ON YOUR "SOME-DAY" HORSE! Horse first, then saddle fitting, then buying of said saddle...in that order. God Bless the horseless, I know you're just dying to get that horse!



Ok, back to the actual topic of this blog...

Cafe Press: Oh Cafe Press, how I love thee! You can find so many awesome shirts and mugs and horsey stuff that NO ONE ELSE HAS!!! Like this totally awesome...and absolutely true hoodie.

http://www.cafepress.com/friesiangrin

Valley Vet Supply: Here's where I find great deals on medical supplies, supplements and vaccines. Yes vaccines! Have your vet show you how to give your own shots. It will save you tons of money! Valley Vet sends the vaccinations to your home in a box that has ice packs to keep the shots cold. Neat huh? I save the ice packs to reuse when I fall off my horse and need to reduce swelling. Recycling!

Equestrian Collections: Ok, I'll admit, I'm not the tiniest, daintiest or waffish-est (???!) wanna-be Dressage Diva in the world. I need to find some breeches that will fit, without cutting off my circulation or making me look like a Polish Sausage. Tough, when breeches are supposed to be skin tight! I'm pretty sure Dressage was invented by tiny little European girls.

You can find the 1824 line of equestrian clothing on Equestrian Collections. No that's not "circa 1824." They mean sizes 18-24.


Fuller Fillies is another place to find cloths that will actually fit you. Heaven forbid you have calves instead of toothpick legs. The Fillies gals actually have English Riding Boots that will fit a person who indulges in a bowl of pasta every so often. (Hold on...I just got sauce on the keyboard...) You can find them on Facebook too! They're sassy as you can see. And I love them.

Now that I've given you some gems please share your own! I'll post your ideas and favorite shopping spots online. You know, the more we spread the word about good stores, the lower they can make their prices!