Discuss: Your favorite *cheap* tack. What exceeded your expectations?

[fordtraktor]

If people are looking for a show/leather girth, I bought one of these: http://worldequestrianbrands.shptron.com/p/calfskin-lined-leather-girth-oakbark?pp=12

The calfskin is the real deal, it is soft as butter inside like the high priced saddles. I don’t think there is anything comparable out there for the price. It is darkening up well with Hydrophane to match my Havana saddle. I like the double elastic too. I wanted at least one girth that isn’t my “bargain” girth, which is everything else I own. I needed something super soft because my TBs are picky princesses about girths. Anything remotely stiff was not going to do it – I had a Dover Circuit and my one horse thinks it is the devil come to smother him. But the bargains:

the $20 (or $15 for black!) Soft Touch girths from VTO. They are wonderful for schooling and my girthy horse likes them. Just hose off and you are good to go! And they don’t irritate my sensitive horse like neoprene. Not sure what they are made of but it isn’t neoprene because that stuff scalds one of my horses and he is fine in these girths. I would show in them too in the jumpers but would use leather for hunters if my horse could deal.

So that’s both the high-dollar bargain and the good cheap item in one post!

[beowulf]

[QUOTE=fordtraktor;8101986]
If people are looking for a show/leather girth, I bought one of these: http://worldequestrianbrands.shptron.com/p/calfskin-lined-leather-girth-oakbark?pp=12

The calfskin is the real deal, it is soft as butter inside like the high priced saddles. I don’t think there is anything comparable out there for the price. It is darkening up well with Hydrophane to match my Havana saddle. I like the double elastic too. I wanted at least one girth that isn’t my “bargain” girth, which is everything else I own. I needed something super soft because my TBs are picky princesses about girths. Anything remotely stiff was not going to do it – I had a Dover Circuit and my one horse thinks it is the devil come to smother him. But the bargains:

the $20 (or $15 for black!) Soft Touch girths from VTO. They are wonderful for schooling and my girthy horse likes them. Just hose off and you are good to go! And they don’t irritate my sensitive horse like neoprene. Not sure what they are made of but it isn’t neoprene because that stuff scalds one of my horses and he is fine in these girths. I would show in them too in the jumpers but would use leather for hunters if my horse could deal.

So that’s both the high-dollar bargain and the good cheap item in one post! :)[/QUOTE]

ohhh that WEB girth sure is pretty… my pony really needs an upgrade, his girth was saved from a dumpster two years ago…

[beowulf]

P.S for those that you that facebook, this group is super active and there are many deals to be had:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/EnglishTackTrader/

[GoneAway]

I have a Harmon Kraft bridle that’s 14 years old now, still looks new when cleaned up. Pretty good return on an $80+ bridle! Also have some random figure 8 noseband I got from STL probably 16 years ago…that thing probably is my single favorite piece of tack. Still looks great.

[One_Two_Three]

Oh happy day, so so glad to see so many responses! Has given me a lot of ‘brands’ and ‘stuff’ to look up today!!! I just oiled the bridle I had spoken about that I got on trade when I got my guy…It turned nearly black. clearly it was thirsty. But now it also doesn’t remotely match my super not black saddle.

anyone got suggestions on what brands have something in a color that matches MY SADDLE ?!

[anmoro]

When my parents bought me my first horse 20 years ago, the agreement was that I buy my own tack. My trainer was wonderful and let me use schooling tack until I could afford my own items. I was working in a tack shop but we only got a 10% discount so it did not help much. Plus we were paid minimum wage.

One day we received our new shipment from Millers (that was when they were still good). I pulled out the most gorgeous saddle. Put it on the display, sat in it, it fit like a glove. I was in love and at the same time deathly afraid to see the cost. Low and behold, it was Lancers. That was the year they released that product. I saved my pennies and was given a bigger discount since the saddle was new and no one knew if it was good or not.

I brought it to the barn, sat it outside on a saddle rack, oiled top and underside with a bottle of neatsfoot and rolled the leather as I did it. That saddle was like sitting on s couch made of buttery soft leather. In fact, my trainer started recommending them to other students. (The commission helped me afford a bridle)! Anyway, that saddle was good for 10 years until it was stolen. Several friends rode in theirs for 15+ years until the new trend became obnoxiously padded knee flaps and rolls.

I also bought an Exselle bridle and martingale for my horse 2.5 years ago. I found out Exselle is the same group that made Crosby before they were sold (and ruined). I oiled the bridle snd martingale, rolled the leather and it’s by far the nicest bridle I’ve had.

Ohhhhhh, let’s not forget my stirrup leathers. I purchased the economy leathers from Chick’s Saddlery 17 years ago for $12.99. I’m still using them and loving them. While my friends are replacing their $150 leathers every few years, I just sit back, smile and say “I still have mine” and chuckle.

The snobbiness of the hunter world was one reason I quit showing. I couldn’t afford the newest items each season and was tired of being ridiculed. Half the time you can’t tell the difference!

[Preposterous_Ponies]

I have a St. Lourdes Arwen saddle that I absolutely LOVE. It retails for about 1200 new, so not SUPER cheap but certainly not an expensive saddle by any means. It’s super comfortable, fits the horse like a dream and when cleaned up it looks like a $$$$ saddle! Everyone who rides in it loves it.

I also just went and bought the HDR monocrown figure eight - it was 99.99, but feels much nicer than some $300+ bridles. I also picked up an HDR girth, leathers and a running martingale, all of which look and feel nicer than their price tag. I have more expensive stuff, but the HDR will be our show tack - it looks stunning!

[Cabaret_SK]

The washing halfpad thread reminded me…

This halfpad:
http://www.tackdepot.ca/index.php/english-tack/saddle-pads/pad-eng-sheepskin.html
(I think it was $80 when I bought mine…but still on the cheaper end).

It’s real sheepskin, not fleece, and is thick and cushy. As nice as my barnmate’s Mattes, and washes very well.

[hntrjmprpro45]

As an owner of 12 horses, I am an experienced bargain shopper! For schooling bridles I love the smartpak Plymouth bridles. They are inexpensive, hardworking and look nice enough for small shows (or even rated). The Smartpak Wellfleet bridles are terrific choices for a nice show bridle and seem like they go on sale several times per year. The Dover in-house saddle pads are an awesome value at $10 each. We have a local embroidery shop put our barn logo on them and they look really $$$.

While I love the eskadrons or equifit boots for my own show horses, I buy the cheaper Roma boots for our school horses. I buy nearly all of our stirrups used on eBay since fillis irons will last forever. I usually go with smartpak leathers- not
The fanciest but a good value for nylon lined stirrups (and I don’t like spending a ton anyways for our riding academy saddles as we end up punching lots of extra holes in them anyways). For personal saddles, I prefer the beval leathers. They are nice and are only about $90ish (if I remember correctly).

For saddles for our school horses, I like HdR (especially the older models), Pessoa, Toulouse and Dover circuit. All of these are midrange saddles that I buy used for less than $500-600. I also like the older beval saddles too.

Lastly, I think the Dover in-house brand turnout blankets are great. I have a lot of horses to clothe and none of them are easy on their blankets. I like that I can get a heavy weight, high denier blanket for about $100.

[lindsay.anne]

On one forum, someone suggested a Lexington brand bridle. I can no longer really find them, but they’re the best bridle I’ve ever bought for >$100. I believe I paid maybe $60 for it new (from a Tack Shop on Ebay) and it is hands down one of my favorite bridles in my collection.

The Plymouth line by Smartpak is good for its price category. Wait until a sale, and take full advantage of it if you can!

ETA: Where is this Vespucci outlet you speak of?!

[Inclined]

[QUOTE=hntrjmprpro45;8102827]
Lastly, I think the Dover in-house brand turnout blankets are great. I have a lot of horses to clothe and none of them are easy on their blankets. I like that I can get a heavy weight, high denier blanket for about $100.[/QUOTE
Is this Riders International, or a different line? TIA!!

[Inclined]

hntrjmprpro, are the Dover blankets you mentioned the Riders International or another line?

[hntrjmprpro45]

[QUOTE=Inclined;8103138]
hntrjmprpro, are the Dover blankets you mentioned the Riders International or another line?[/QUOTE]

Yes, Rider’s International!

[LoriW]

Gary Mundy leathers - amaazing!
Dover’s lightweight saddle pads (thicker than a baby pad but not as thick as a regular pad, just perfect)
Bartville Harness bridles - gorgeous and so reasonable!

[Inclined]

[QUOTE=hntrjmprpro45;8103147]
Yes, Rider’s International![/QUOTE]

Thank you!!!

[abrant]

Oh man perfect timing. I’ve been craving a particular HKM cooler and I was browsing eBay since it seems to be the best place to find small businesses that distribute their stuff in the states. In browsing I found a HKM saddle. I read some roughly google translated German Horse Forums and decided to give a try. I bought it for $92…and it came shipped free with a pair of Sprenger Bow Balance irons attached

I’m impressed with the saddle. Sadly its an 18" not a 17" as it was listed but it fits my really tricky to fit gelding super well. It has a changeable gullet system, great quality leather, really neat sliding billets, and adjustable knee and thigh blocks. I’m keeping it as a trophy of my eBay prowess even though its huge for me

[fordtraktor]

[QUOTE=lindsay.anne;8102875]

ETA: Where is this Vespucci outlet you speak of?![/QUOTE]

I’m sorry I didn’t see this before! here is the link: http://worldequestrianbrands.shptron.com/c/outlet_vespucci

They also have outlet sales for Equilibrium and Mattes and Amerigo on the site and have some great bargains. Some cool stuff in the “like new” section too. Happy shopping!

[One_Two_Three]

OHBOY fordtraktor, I’m finding some attractive bridles in the $120 range. OH OH OH!!!

[roamingnome]

@LoriW;8103214

Gary Mundy leathers - amaazing!

Yes! I can already tell my Gary leathers will last much longer than the pricey nylon-lined ones, and they have my initials on them! Squee!

[fordtraktor]

The offerings change regularly too, especially in the bridles/reins sections. If you don’t see what you want now, wait a few weeks and try again.