30 Day Blog Challenge Day 8- My Favorite Tack Store

30 Day Blog Challenge Day 8- My Favorite Tack Store

Well here we are at day number 8 in my 30-day blogging challenge! This is 8 days down, 22 more to go! By the time I am done with this challenge, you will all know so much more about me and my horses as well as my strengths, and my weaknesses. I wanted to offer a little more to you about myself, and thanks to me reading the incredible blog She Moved To Texas, I found her 30-day blogging challenge and decided to emulate what she had done. It’s interesting to note, she just recently changed the layout of her blog, and it is really nice! I loved the way she shared 30 days of looking into her life, so I wanted to do the same, with a few twists in some of the topics.

Shopping Online vs. In A Store

One of the most important things I have learned since owning horses is that just about everything you need to buy related to horses can be found cheaper online. Maybe it is just because I live where there are not a lot of places to buy horse supplies. However by having the internet, and a little bit of patience I can find everything I need(want) for my horses online.

Just as an example, if I want to buy a bottle of cheapo fly spray, and I go to my local horse supply store it will cost me $9.00. But I can usually find the same bottle of flu spray online for around $4.00. And an even bigger example of savings is buying tack. I can usually find bridles, saddles, etc for less than half the cost of what I would pay locally. The one exception to this is Dover Saddlery. I am extremely lucky to live only 20 minutes away from a Dover store. I remember when they were opening this location, I felt like I just got the biggest and best candy store in my neighborhood! I was so excited!

I Love The Dover Saddlery Store

I am a bargain shopper, especially when it comes to buying the more expensive items horses seem to need. So I do most of my shopping online. But when I need something and I need it now, I know I can go into Dover’s and find the item I want for the same price I would pay online. And honestly, being in a physical store with so much horse stuff is just awesome. As soon as you open the doors and the leather aroma fills my nose, and I am in my happy place.

They have a great selection of everything I need for my horses. It doesn’t matter if it is for grooming, feeding, showing, or even the barn. I can usually find what I want at Dover. I am pretty sure if you ride hunter jumper, or dressage, or eventing you have shopped at Dover’s or circled every item you want in their catalogs. Or maybe that’s just me.

I Don’t Love Dover Saddlery Online

The one thing I haven’t been overly impressed with from Dover’s is the service when I order from them online. Maybe I have become accustom to receiving a confirmation that my order has shipped, or a tracking number from practically every other place in the world I have ordered from. But Dover doesn’t offer that, and their shipping is S-L-O-W. So if I want something from Dover’s, I will usually go to the actual store instead of ordering from them online. Another problem I had when I placed an order online was when I had a $65.00 order, and the gift card I was using to pay for it only had like $63.00 on it. The shipping pushed it over the limit on the gift card. I got an email from Dover’s telling me my credit card was declined, and if I wanted to keep my order, I needed to call their customer service number. Not a big deal really. So I called and the guy I talked to was so rude. He was so condescending, and talked to me like I was this horrible person who had maxed out my credit card. He made me feel like I was the scum of the earth. But I wanted my ‘stuff’ so, I dealt with it, and hung up as soon as I could. That was 3 years ago, and yes, I am still bitter about it. So Dover’s is not my favorite for online shopping.

However, I have found an incredible replacement for Dover’s online.

My Online Happy Place

Riding Warehouse is my new favorite place to shop for almost everything horse related. I am not sure why I had not found them sooner, but when I did, I was so happy! They have the best prices on everything! I even tried to find a cheaper price by comparing their prices with Amazon, and Riding Warehouse was less expensive.

Best Shipping Ever

And they ship FAST, as well as giving you a shipping confirmation to let you know your item has shipped.  They also offer free shipping on orders over $50.00, and a $5.00 shipping option (on orders over $50.00) for 2 day shipping. If I would have known about them 3 years ago when the snot from Dover’s saddlery gave me an attitude, I would have gladly cancelled my order, and went to Riding Warehouse. I have placed 4 or 5 orders with them recently, and their prices have been the lowest, and their service the best.

At the time of me sitting down to write this I just got a package in the mail from them, and again, everything was perfect. And it was a day earlier than promised. If you would like to see one package I got from Riding Warehouse, I made a tack haul video on my YouTube channel, The Budget Equestrian.

One of the reasons they have become my favorite place to shop online is because of the products they offer. Yes, they have all the regular horse items we are always looking for. But they also have items I have never been able to find from other online retailers. I had heard wonderful things about a brush called the Magic brush, but I couldn’t find it in the United States, until I checked Riding Warehouse. I also found a product I am really excited to try on Frisby called Bit Butter, it smells incredible! I promise to do a review on it for you.

Something else that sets Riding Warehouse apart from other online tack stores is their blog. Yes, they have a blog with many different articles, all relating to horses and horse care. These people are like us!

They also have lots of bargains and savings deals, which I love to get a great deal, which is why I choose to spend my money at Riding Warehouse before I will look at any other online tack store.

I know we all have our favorite places to shop, and I would love to hear about yours. Where do you enjoy shopping for your horse gear? Leave a comment down below!