So what products have you bought over the years that you have found to be a waste of your money?
Mine? Those wrist wraps that supposedly keep water from running down your arm (a whim, several years ago); fancy saddle pads (I’ve become quite happy with a simple quilted cotton/flannel pad); and expensive leather cleaner.
Of course, we all may disagree, but I’d be interested to know if any products make multiple users’ lists.
The first thing off the top of my head are special socks for riding. I’m not impressed with a $20+ pair of knee-high socks with a horsey logo. I don’t get it. Also- I ride in cheapo gardening gloves for everyday riding and don’t get spending $40 for riding gloves that I’ll wear a hole in. I guess my “wastes” are all in the accessory category!
The best thing to keep water running down you arm is a cheapo rubber bell boot 
A huge horse massager. It’s too heavy to hold up and my horses respond better to me just massaging them by hand anyways.
The fancy $30 fly spray that is supposedly great for horses is the same ingredients as the stuff in the aerosol can at tractor supply co for $12
I have more polo wraps than I should admit to and haven’t used a single pair in years….
White lightning is Oxine. You can buy a gallon size of oxine for way less $$ and it will last you years.
I have a plethora of soaking boots; none of which I use, because I use gallon size baggies and this one giant boot that I swear was made in 1812.
The fancy ‘pony soap’ that’s $25 doesn’t clean any better than the $6 garnier fructis shampoo
Betadine or no tear shampoo is easier to use than the stuff designed for sheath cleaning and less likely to cause irritation if you don’t get it all out for some reason.
I hated that trend where they all had to be made out of a material that was super thin and felt like silk? What was that? They ripped so easily and didn’t provide any protection from heel rubs. Also why do half of them only come up to mid calf? I’m not super tall or anything.
The “worming bit” --used once and horse was on to the game. Won’t let it (or wormer) near his mouth again. (We have a method of tricking him into opening his mouth, so he does get wormer).
Low rise riding breeches —hate them.
Helmet sun visor – wouldn’t stay on.
I have found that cheap saddle pads are a waste of money. Many aren’t contoured or keep their shape. Now that I own a single Le Mieux pad it’s all I’ll use.
Coats and jackets made for riding annoy me. I don’t like the longer back that I’m constantly sitting on and choking myself from posting. Or the stand up collars.
I think I’m on the other end of this.
I’m cheap and a DIYer, so I avoid a lot of things that are pricey from the get-go. Some things I already know are pointless or have non-equestrian versions =cheaper.
But there are some things I start out being cheap over and eventually realize that it would of been best to buy the best/expensive stuff from the start. One I can think of is rabbit related, unfortunately. DIY cages, just buy the dang $$$ heavy duty cages! Don’t try to make them and shave pennies…it worked until I slowly started replacing DIY items with better and better versions.
Horse related things that have far cheaper options.
The saddle pillow…Use a human pillow. Memory foam is cheap these days.
Cushion fly mask for hauling. Use an oversized fly mask and foam cut n glued into place.
Horse massage gun. Husband bought a human version for 1/4 the price. It’s literally the exact same thing! Only difference is that there’s no horse logo painted on it!
The horse socks…I don’t understand why they need to go up past the ankle at all. How do you guys not sweat to death?
I wear ankle socks, they come up under the ankle, mesh types. I wear them out quick, but I don’t sweat as much and don’t rub my ankles.
Fancy horse boots. Lol, no, never. I don’t show, so I can get away with my awesome Target brand boots! I tried horse boots years ago and they have no arch room at the top or they aren’t as tough as my cheap Target boots. Weird. Same with muck boots. They will develop the same split, in the same amount of time, so why pay more because it’s horse related?
A really nice biothane (or maybe betathane) harness. I was really looking forward to using it but it was so stiff I couldn’t do the buckles ( and neither can my hubby). Can’t sell it cause it was custom to the mini and does not fit others. At least I can use the bridle as the material is thinner and more pliable. That harness was a big mistake.
I have to say I love the boot socks but I won’t pay $20 for a pair. I buy them at Coastal Farm and Ranch for $8. Also, I can’t get behind paying $200 for some name brand (PSOS) fancy schmancy saddle pad, I’ll stick with the ones I buy at the consignment store for cheap.
Fly bonnets - Have never liked them and think they look stupid (sorry).
Garbage tack - I bought a bridle from a FB seller that was advertised as a PSOS high jump. Paid $150 for it. It was a cheap knock off and when I mean cheap the “leather” felt like it was just compressed paper, wouldn’t take oil, nothing would soften up this piece of crap. Ended up selling it for $15.00. Seller wouldn’t take it back and then I find out I’m not the only one she scammed.
Half Chaps - Bought a pair of Dublin half chaps and they slide down. It’s the correct size but by the time I’m done riding, they’re at mid-calf.
Every unkinkable, unbreakable hose ever sold.
BOT blanket, BOT boots… The former caused soreness in my horse’s shoulders, the latter didn’t hold up for much more than a few weeks.
The Thinline Trifecta Sheepskin Half-pad – which is so thick it might as well be a mattress between my horse and saddle… But it’s not all a waste… I use it on my work chair… 
Royal Rider stirrups. I bought some on eBay when composite cheese grater stirrups were the new thing. That week, I tried out a Voltaire (they were the new thing at the time as well) and the cheese grater met the calfskin and scratched the Voltaire. My friend the groom let me use the Voltaire saddle goop and that took care of the scratches, but I listed those suckers on eBay as soon as I got home and they sold in like two days.
One funny eBay listing that made the rounds on here was for some MDC fancy stirrups the girl begged her parents for one Christmas. The next year, mom was cleaning out daughter’s closet and found the stirrups still in the box. The ad was a hilarious narrative of the whole drama. So funny.
So, the moral of the story is thank goodness for eBay or there would be even more money down the drain.
I spent a pretty penny on a brand new, professionally fitted saddle that never fit my horse (or me) right. That was mostly bad luck on my part for trusting an incompetent person.
Back in my H/J days, I spent money on some trendy shirts and jackets that went out of style before I could wear them twice.
To go over your socks to slip in and out of the boot easier.
That happened to a friend of mine. Had a custom Stubben jump saddle (supposedly the fitter was licensed) ordered, waited months for it to arrive and when it did, it was a horrible fit. The fitter tried to intimidate her into accepting the saddle saying it fit fine, you don’t know what you’re talking about, etc. Then it escalated into the fitter fat shaming her and that was pretty much the end. Friend even had her trainer there who got into it with the fitter about how this Stubben wasn’t made to spec. The fitter finally took it back and then held up the refund for a while but it all worked out in the end and my friend bought a Prestige.
Oh, and mini halters. I’ve been through dozens. Only one brand fits and I should stick with it but I want pretty!!! Most of the others are just oddly proportioned or tiny, or huge. I bought one a couple of weeks ago and it was clearly marked “mini” with a tag sewn in but right now my 12.2 welsh is wearing it with room to spare.
gumbits!!! Literally $40 for a little thing of treats that horses hate the taste of or they just like swallow all of them immediately… although I guess that’s a cheaper fix to teeth grinding than say… ulcer meds or a new saddle… lmao
This. When I first saw them, I was like, “Chewing gum for horses? Who on earth thought of such a stupid damned thing!”
If anyone here has actually used them without their horse swallowing them immediately, please let us know. I can’t imagine my own guy thinking, “Oh, fun! I’m gonna chew these, maybe blow a few bubbles!”
Love this so much:rofl:
The Equi-ping breakaway ties. Maybe I was using them incorrectly, but they seemed to just pop open if you looked at them wrong. I went back to baling twine.
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