jacksmom, that is a great deal for breeches for lessons!
Thank you to everyone for all of these terrific ideas! CoTH never ceases to amaze me!
[QUOTE=GoForAGallop;7825489]
Although they do need “real” breeches for shows/PC stuff, there’s no reason that they can’t ride in $10 cotton yoga pants vs. $45 Kerrits cotton tights at home. 
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I always rode in sweat pants thru the winter (and beaner boots) before they had all this horse clothing products. You’ll have to shop again in the spring anyway!
I am the perennial resale shop queen. I would collect working farm boots b/c my daughters’ friends would show up in flip flops! all sizes on the back porch pick something that fits - I had a friend’s foster child here and I send the boots, a nice pair of kids westerns, back with her I told her they were hers to keep- she was beaming!
I just checked the pants sizes, quite the array –
The smallest is a 7/8 now
Then a 10
The oldest is wearing a child’s l4/16.
Of course, that’s today. They all grow so fast!
By the way, the online resources are best for me – still waiting for approval for the FB page. My work schedule is hectic and stressful, plus we live way far out. My ability to physically go to consignment shops / swaps / garage sales, etc. is virtually nil. I’m doing really well to keep up with getting the horses hauled over to lessons!
Thanks again, I did use that vto saddlery link to get breeches for all three girls!
[QUOTE=King’s Ransom;7826269]
The older girls can probably hand-down to each other and eventually to Lexi, too, (won’t that be fun for Lexi to always wear hand-me-downs? no! note to self: always remember to get her something nice that is brand new now and then!)[/QUOTE]
As the kid in the family that got all the hand-me-downs, bless you. :yes:
Parker sure knows what his real job is, doesn’t he? What a great purchase he’s turned out to be.
(and yeah! for you for caring about the well-being of all three girls.)
Yes, Sophia was wanting to come out and just hang with the horses. I kept thinking to myself that if a girl ever needed to meet someone who would NEVER lie to her, it was Sophia. So, when she came, we just brushed Parker really good and clean. She did not want to stop brushing him and just touching him.
It wasn’t a very good day for a first ride, and we were running out of time, so I asked if she would like to just hop up bareback and walk around for a bit. Her eyes popped and when I boosted her up – I saw the very first non-fake smile. You know the one I mean. You probably felt it the first time you swung a leg over a horse for real, too, right?
It was just a few minutes, but my son says she has not stopped talking about it.
That Parker – he is worth his weight in gold, I tell ya. Just the absolute best!
I wore a lot of hand-me-downs. I also wore regular pants with polo wraps around my calves until I was able to get a schooling pair of jods or some off the rack full chaps. I passed down some of my things to younger kids at the barn. So, perhaps you can get some things from other families at the barn where the kids are taking lessons.
Until they are around 11, it’s actually really easy to find inexpensive paddock boots and breeches - ebay and sales will make you pretty happy. A consignment shop is also a wonderful thing.
If they can pass down to each other, so much the better.
Once my daughter graduated from kid sizes, she had an array of mom-outgrown clothes to choose from. For the 11 year old, ask your friends; they probably have pants, shirts, and heck maybe even jackets that fit.
If you don’t have consignment or friends, I’d post ISO (in search of) messages on facebook and craigslist also.
Once they get older, they do love to have a few things new. The kids’ stuff will go on clearance and at some very attractive prices, so just keep watching your favorite sales sites, especially those with free shipping.
I just joined the FB page for kids/pony stuff and had a few responses immediately!
There seem to be some good bargains on there.
A swap page here would be nice, but I am in Canada which makes the price of shipping to the US high.
I am hopeful the FB page will help get rid of some of my grandaughters’ stuff soon.
Mallard, link to that FB page?
Zulily has Devon-Aire going today! Jods for $22!
You have gotten great advice.
I just wanted to say what a wonderful person you are. We plan to do foster care next year.
What you guys are doing for these girls is so amazing.
eBay and Craigslist will both have something to offer. I was in the Smith Worthington store last week and they are clearing out their paddock boots, which are reasonably priced at $29.95:
http://www.smithworthington.com/index.php?p=product&id=516
They also have suede half chaps for $20, but they’d likely be too tall for all but the oldest.
For everyday riding plain old tights from Target work well.
I agree that a swap page for children’s riding gear would be a great idea.
