If it was us mere mortals how much would we need to pony up for that level of custom gear?
It isn’t like any of those riders just walk in and buy off the rack.
The media wrote that Rafalca wore a thousand dollar saddle. Think they missed a zero on that one.
A thousand dollar bridle - Yes I could see that.
Sponsors give it to them
[QUOTE=Petstorejunkie;6477720]
Sponsors give it to them[/QUOTE]
We know that.
That is why I asked what the average person would expect to pay for the same level.
I think my 10K & 1K guess is close but I don’t buy at that level so I may be off.
Saddle: 3500
Pads: 300
Girth 250
Bridle 800
Bits 300
Boots 200
[QUOTE=Petstorejunkie;6477750]
Saddle: 3500
Pads: 300
Girth 250
Bridle 800
Bits 300
Boots 200[/QUOTE]
Wow, I’m not anywhere close to Olympic level and my saddle was $4500.
The rest of it I got much cheaper than you list, so I guess somehow it evens out.
[QUOTE=Petstorejunkie;6477750]
Saddle: 3500
Pads: 300
Girth 250
Bridle 800
Bits 300
Boots 200[/QUOTE]
Those are non custom, off the rack prices.
I don’t think riders at their level just walk into any old tack store and buy something that is close enough to work and ‘might do’.
[QUOTE=5;6477864]
Those are non custom, off the rack prices.
I don’t think riders at their level just walk into any old tack store and buy something that is close enough to work and ‘might do’.[/QUOTE]
I’m also nowhere near an olympic rider, and I don’t just buy my saddle off the rack. The fitter is out every 6 months. Very few horses are going to go their best “off the rack”. If you are looking for what a regular person would spend - it’s easy enough to find out what Steffen, Jan, et al are riding in, their sponsors are quick to tell you. Then you can see what it would cost you to order the same saddle custom, or off the rack and have your fitter work on it. I think the $3500 to $5000 for the saddle without custom fitting/options is probably pretty reasonable for most of the riders.
Boots - $200.00 !!! :)
While the riders may be sponsored, saddle prices aren’t exactly secret.
$4000-5000 for the fancy French ones…sure you can get a bit higher.
$3000-5000 for the various English made ones.
If they are into the new Stubbens…$3500 for the fancier…$2000 for the lower end ones.
Fancy bridles, $500-800…maybe more for a rolled double.
[QUOTE=Petstorejunkie;6477750]
Saddle: 3500
Pads: 300
Girth 250
Bridle 800
Bits 300
Boots 200[/QUOTE]
No way are boots $200. Antares, for example, goes in the more expensive Equifits on all four so his are probably more like $400. Plus I see a lot of Veredus boots as well and those are pricey.
[QUOTE=Foxtrot’s;6477913]
Boots - $200.00 !!! :):)[/QUOTE]
Maybe these are bell boots for the horse. 
…some of the nosebands being used are at minimum 500.00
I know Steffen’s saddler, and the saddle, pads, and leathers are pretty reasonable! In fact, when he was at the barn a few months ago, I bought the same leathers and was surprised they were cheaper through G than through any catalogue
The browbands come from People on Horses.
For heaven’s sake, they aren’t gold plated! Their tack isn’t so much different from what you and I can buy at a tack store, seriously.
Having been stabled by Rich in the past, and having stood next to his horses, being held by grooms, at shows, I’ve had up close look-sees at what they wear. Nothing unusual. Given what was stolen at WEF (is that the right show??) I do think he buys from the same shops/catalogs as everyone else. If their sponsors don’t supply it, they buy it. And I’m assuming there isn’t a Top Rider Super Secret Store where they get it!
Sure, they buy custom saddles–but so did I. Customs boots? Yup, me too!
Am I a big time rider (or wanna be)? No, off the shelf didn’t work for me and my horse, so I saved some pennies and got what worked for me.
Pads are $300? I didn’t think even ecogold made pads that were that much.
[QUOTE=Foxtrot’s;6477913]
Boots - $200.00 !!! :):)[/QUOTE]
Uh, some dressage boots start at $800.
I would say, the list given above - triple it. And that would be about a ballpark figure.
I might ride in a semi-custom saddle for my lower horses, but when I was riding at the GP level, my saddle was fully custom and you don’t even want to know. 20 years ago it was around $5000. Because my stallion had a particularly wide brow, his bridle was custom and that was about $1500 (20 years ago). And the really good quality bridoon and curb bits were, and still are, very expensive. The quality of leather between full custom and even semi-custom are worlds apart. And that is why I NEVER NEVER NEVER sell any of my tack. EVER. And I take extremely good care of it.
Also, most likely each horse has their own tack, so if you’re lucky enough to have 2 or more horses at that level, chances are you’ve got 2 or more saddles and bridles along for the ride.
[QUOTE=Calvincrowe;6478532]
For heaven’s sake, they aren’t gold plated! Their tack isn’t so much different from what you and I can buy at a tack store, seriously.
Having been stabled by Rich in the past, and having stood next to his horses, being held by grooms, at shows, I’ve had up close look-sees at what they wear. Nothing unusual. Given what was stolen at WEF (is that the right show??) I do think he buys from the same shops/catalogs as everyone else. If their sponsors don’t supply it, they buy it. And I’m assuming there isn’t a Top Rider Super Secret Store where they get it!
Sure, they buy custom saddles–but so did I. Customs boots? Yup, me too!
Am I a big time rider (or wanna be)? No, off the shelf didn’t work for me and my horse, so I saved some pennies and got what worked for me.[/QUOTE]
Agree…Most double bridles average around 6-800.00 before bits. Bits are usually around 300-400 if you use something on the lines of Sprenger. Pads…at the most maybe 200.00 per pad, Girth…probably between 2-300.00 but maybe cheaper. Saddle…anywhere from 2500-10K, depending on the maker and whether or not it was custom fitted (I’m assuming at this level they are).
Really is no secret if you know what brands they are using.
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