10 Ways to Save Money as an Equestrian

Hi everyone! Today I have a very special treat for you, this is a guest post from Christie Behot. She also has an incredible passion for horses, and she even has a YouTube Channel, thoroughbredhunter610. After reading her post, you should go check out her channel!

10 Ways to Save Money as an Equestrian by Christie Behot

1. Shop Around

Whenever an item catches my eye whether it be a new pair of breeches for me or a new saddle pad or boots for my horse, I always check multiple stores to see who has what I am looking for at the best price.  I typically will check anywhere from 3-8 websites or stores to determine where I will be buying from.

There’s nothing worse than purchasing an item at one store for full price and then realizing that a different store has it on sale!  My current favorite online websites are Riding Warehouse, Stateline Tack, SmartPak, and Dover Saddlery.  I’m very lucky to have a Dover very close to where I live so I typically don’t have to worry about ordering things and paying shipping, which is a big money saver!

Riding Warehouse is my absolute favorite right now as they have a huge selection of items and they are almost always running a sale of some kind!  Not to mention their customer service and return policies are fantastic!

2. Wait for Sales

It seems like every other day equestrian trends and styles are changing completely.  This of course means that many of us are tempted to be continually updating our wardrobes with all the newest breeches and riding shirts while they are still full price.  If the item you are considering buying is something that you WANT and do not NEED then be patient and wait to see if it will go on sale.

When new items are first released they will typically be offered at retail price or just below and will stay that way for a while.  But patience is a virtue my friends! If you are patient long enough the item you are dying to have will go on sale eventually, potentially saving you a boatload of money in the long run!  However if the item you need is something that you must have immediately, shop around! Don’t just buy it at the first place you check out!

 

3. Shop Consignment Stores

If you had asked me this five years ago I would have never suggested shopping consignment!  Then I went to college and realized what it means to be a broke equestrian who could barely afford weekly lessons.

Consignment shops for equestrians quickly became my best friend!  Horseman’s Outlet continues to be one of my favorite consignment stores to shop at.  They sell new items as well as used which means that they have a very large selection for you to choose from.  I have found many high end items there ranging from Ogilvy half pads to Herm Sprenger stirrup irons.

Some items I keep for myself and others I buy to sell for a little bit of profit!  While consignment can be very hit or miss I always try to check Horsemen’s every few weeks because you never know what goodies you might find!

 

4. Check out Facebook groups

Similar to consignment shops but without the hassle of getting in the car and driving to a store, Facebook groups have become my #1 place for shopping for horsey items.  There are all kinds of different groups that you can join whether you ride English, Western or any discipline.  I have been buying and selling off of Facebook for at least four years now and have found some really nice items!

The best part about Facebook groups is that if you have stuff that you no longer need or want you can sell your items there (which could figuratively be bad as it may lead you to buy even more horse stuff!)  Facebook sellers are often willing to negotiate as well which means you get the most bang for your buck!  Sometimes sellers are even looking to trade their items for something you may have.  Do be wary of handing out your personal information over the internet!  All of my transactions go through PayPal which provides quit a bit of security to both buyer and seller.

Creating an account is free and the company only takes a small percentage of each sale (but this provides protection in case items are damaged or lost in transit).

5. DIY

Have a horse show or clinic coming up soon and want your horse to look his best but don’t have the money to spare on expensive shampoos and coat conditioners?  Worry no more!  There are several different ways you can DIY various products that are much more expensive when produced for the equine industry.  You can make your own coat conditioners and shine sprays without breaking the bank.  You can even use certain human products on horses as well (always check with your veterinarian first!)

In the past I have used VO5 shampoo on horses that I have ridden, which always makes them smell so good and works just as well as any of the horse specific brands.  The best part is that it can be bought at dollar stores for just $1! You can also make your own coat conditioner using a mix of water, conditioner (be it human or horse) and baby oil!  For brightening white socks you can rub baby powder directly onto the leg, leaving you with bright white socks sure to stand out in the show ring!

6. Shop Off-Brands

If you are just starting out in the sport or are working on a pretty tight budget, don’t be afraid to shop off brands!  I know of so many high end brands that are well known names in the industry but that doesn’t mean you have to buy them, especially when there are much cheaper alternatives!  For example, when I was saddle shopping 3 years ago the ladies at Dover where trying to convince me to spend $2500 on a new Pessoa saddle.  I have nothing against Pessoa saddles but quite frankly I didn’t have $2500 just laying around to spend on a saddle, especially since I would just be using this saddle for lessons.

I went to a different tack shop where I found out that Ovation is owned by Pessoa and the saddles from both companies are made in the same factory using a lot of the same materials.  I ended up purchasing an Ovation San Telmo which I still have today.  It retailed for just over $1k but I managed to catch it on sale and only paid $800!

 

7. Don’t Impulse Buy!

Impulse buying can be very harmful to your wallet.  Just ask mine as I’m a repeat offender.  It can be so hard sometimes to walk through a tack shop and see an item that you have been dying to have but you are waiting to see if you can get it on sale.  A majority of the time I am able to resist my impulses but occasionally they do get the better of me.

I was recently at a local tack shop that has a clearance section in the back of the store.  As I was leaving this part of the store to go check out (as I was impulsively buying a fleece show pad) I happened to notice some sports bras hanging on a rack.  Upon closer inspection I realized they were Cheata Equestrian bras which have been touted as being the best bras EVER.  When I checked out the price tag and saw that they were 50% off I decided to go ahead and buy one…In the wrong size.  Now I am stuck with this bra that I paid $35 for and cannot even wear as its too small! I can’t even return or exchange it!  Learn from my mistakes!

8. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!

If the item you are looking to purchase is something you already own that is in perfectly good working condition, don’t be compelled to go out and spend tons of money on things that you don’t really need.  (Boy, I should really take my own advice *stares at the multiple sets of horse boots and polo wraps that I own when I don’t even have a horse*).

You really don’t need 5 or more sets of jump boots for one horse.  If you find something on deep discount or for super cheap on consignment, then that’s a different story.  But don’t go paying full price for unnecessary items!

9. Buy in the off season

This tip doesn’t apply to all equine products, mainly seasonal items like fly protection and winter blankets.  The best time to buy these items is during the off season when they are most likely to be marked down or put on clearance.  During the summer stores are going through their inventory and discounting blankets to make room for that season’s blankets that will be arriving from their suppliers.  In winter, they will do the same for fly sheets and masks.  It’s even better if a particular style is being discontinued as that means its more likely to be discounted more as sellers are just trying to get rid of their inventory.

10. Ask for things for Christmas or Birthdays

Don’t be afraid to ask your friends and family for horsey items as gifts, whether it be Christmas or for your birthday.  If your family members are not horsey have no fear! Just create a list of exactly what you want (right down to the product #!), the price and where they can buy it to assure that you get what you want.

If you feel uncomfortable asking your family members to buy more expensive items like saddles and other tack items, ask them if they can buy you a gift card to your favorite tack shop or if they can simply give you cash.  When I was younger I used to supply my distant relatives with an exact list of what I wanted them to gift me for Christmas, but these days they mostly send me cash which is perfectly fine.

I will however ask my parents to buy me certain things that never really go on sale for holidays as a little treat.  Do not take advantage of people’s generosity though!  Always be thankful for the gifts you receive!

This Post was a guest post written by Christie Behot.

Find Christie on Social Media!! My photography website is currently in the works so stay tuned for that coming soon!

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