What gear lasted way longer than you hoped?

[Scribbler]

Well, I’m still using 45 year old strap goods I got as a teen.

But from my Rerider Phase I just realized that my collection of discount store cotton polo shirts are mostly at the ten year mark. And the Ralph Lauren and Tommy Hilfiger ones especially are neither faded, pilled, or noticeably shrunk. They get worn in full sunshine 6 months of the year. I’ve never had that lifespan from general fashion or work tops.

My 5 year old Cavallo breeches are however fading on the thigh and starting to get that puckered thinning thing spandex does. But they have been in much more frequent rotation than the tops (4 breeches, 15+ tops).

[Ghazzu]

I have a muck bucket that dates back to the early 1980’s.

[EmilyM]

I have a county profit that is more than 30 years old in excellent shape. I rode my junior hunter in it. It sadly doesn’t fit any of my existing horses but I’ve circled back to county saddles after having fit issues with the fancy French ones

[beowulf]

My Ainsley XC. Made in the 90s, for a “cheap” saddle it looks butter soft and still so functional. It’s seen a lot of grueling mileage and still looks beautiful.

A pair of hand me down plaid Pikeur breeches given to me in 2001, that were that person’s hand-me-down breeches… I still bring them out for clinics.

@Scribbler funny you mention RL shirts. I have two men’s cotton shirt (non-polo) nearing their 10 year mark and still are great for general chores or wearing around the house.

[Texarkana]

I still regularly wear some On Course cotton breeches purchased circa 1999.

I have some other pairs from that same time period that are still useable, but they aren’t stretchy enough to fit me at the moment.

I still show in a pair of Devon Aire tall boots that are about the same age.

I still use a bridle purchased for $18 from State Line Tack back in the mid 90s. It doesn’t get as much use these days, but I pull it out when needed (usually if I’m trying a new bit).

I have a number of ancient tack pieces that still get used, but I didn’t purchase them myself. They were either hand-me-downs or bought second hand.

[atr]

Kerrit short sleeved sun shirts are completely indestructible, apparently, and because they have wild patterns, they don’t show stains, either! My oldest have got to be at least 10 years old.

And I have a Musto polartec top that I bought at the Royal Windsor Horse Show 30 years ago that is still in use. Getting a bit thin round the elbows, but wearable.

I suppose that’s the good and bad thing about technical clothing. It lasts forever.

[Janet]

I am still using a dropped noseband that came with a horse we bought in 1966. It was already well used at that point.

I also have a mid 60’s pitchfork that is still in good shape, but I don’t use it very often because it is rather heavy.

[four2farm]

A hunt bridle made in England in the 50’s, a Courbette made in in the 80’s, a two pair of Harry Hall breeches that I got from my parents 35 years ago. I have tons of old stuff like that…

[Garythesquirrel]

I have two Fortiflex rubber buckets I got back in the mid/late 70’s, they look the same now as they did then. A Miller’s saddle pad from the early 80s, it’s one of my favorites, and a pair of cross ties from the early 90’s that are still in perfect shape and are currently hanging in my barn.

A couple of years ago my niece (who isn’t a horse person) commented on my Aigle rubber tall dress boots that I bought back in 1982. They were in perfect shape and I no longer wore them so I gave them to her. She loves them and wears them all the time in the winter.

[Luseride]

I have a pair of field boots that are at least 23 years old. They have been restitched a couple of times and I mostly have jsut worn them for showing but for the $100 I spent on them at the time they have been well worth it. They are not a top quality pair by any means but I love them.

[Jarpur]

All my daily use strap goods are 30 years old or so. Three of my saddles are older than that – the newest one is 20. My bits go way back, some to mid 80s. My surcingle and ground driving lines are from the late 80s, recently replaced my lunge line of the same vintage. My saddle pads, sheets, and blankets are all older, too. Blankets are worn seldom here, and I’ve got enough saddle pads to rotate through them.

Newest pair of breeches are 8 years old, and the others range up to 20, with most being 12 to 15. I benefit from having a number of pairs, so I can rotate them (plus save a few pairs for clinic or show use). Love wicking technical shirts - my oldest is almost 25; newest is 4. My tall boots are close to 20, but I normally wear paddock boots and leggings for everyday riding, which has saved them.

Have a couple of muck buckets from the 90s – bucket is fine but rope handles have given up. Just threw out a couple of 20+ year old water buckets (one leaked, one broke at the handle attachment), and replaced them with Equifit silver buckets.

Someone I trail rode with in the 80s told me that the only way to save money with horse stuff was to buy good quality that lasts. He was right!

[Willesdon]

A pair of jodphur boots that my parents gave me for my 6th birthday, with “room to grow into them”. They fit, in good condition, used occasionally, even now I’m 61 years old.

[clanter]

have a pony which we really do not know when it was foaled but is well over forty years ago

We my daughter got him from a freind whose kids had outgrown him around 2000 to use in her summer camp, he was said to be over 25, vet’s inspection confirmed that guess.

Every since when ever we have had a horse die, the vet’s first words have always been Did Charlie finally died?

We know his history back to early 1990s, he was said to have been old then

[sweetsalute]

A $40 bridle I bought when I was 14 and couldn’t afford any better. 12 years on it’s still serviceable…looking tired but perfectly usable. I have since upgraded to nicer stuff but keep that one around for when I need something I don’t want getting damaged.

I also have a number of super cheap ($20 maybe?) saddle pads that have done a good decade of service. A bit faded now but perfectly usable.

My first pair of Dublin country boots lasted me 8 years before they finally gave up, and they were worn to absolute death. Well worth the $300 to buy another pair which will hopefully last another 8 years.

[Puddin_Pie]

Grooming box, tool box for clippers, cross ties: all have my maiden name on them and I got married in 1995! I still have my original stubbed bridle from my first horse which likely dates to the very early 90’s. It is however no longer in active use.

[pony_baloney]

My only bridle is by Bevals bought in 1992. Also have a few pretty Wilkers pads from the same time, as well as my grooming tote and a Grooma rubber curry I still use, three horses later. My “new” to me saddle is a Passier from West Germany (before 1990?).
Always buy the best you can afford and take care of it, or buy quality used stuff.

[beowulf]

@pony_baloney

My only bridle is by Bevals bought in 1992.

I’m sorry, you only have one bridle?! You know how some people have a shoe problem and have 500 pairs of shoes…? Sometimes I think I’m getting that way with my bridles.

I so agree – buy the very best you can afford and take care of it! Good quality lasts! I was thinking of this thread yesterday while I was sitting on the filly. The saddle I broke her in is the Ainsley I mentioned up thread… at least six times her age, seen so many green OTTBs, fresh broke projects, etc. The breastplate is a Tory breastplate I picked up for $5 years ago and has become my favorite “Green Horse Moment” grabstrap. The bit in her bridle is special… it belonged to my first TB.

[Jealoushe]

I have pairs of Boogaloo boots that are over 16 years old! Same with Rambo Wugs!!

[Go_Fish]

Classic Coverups blankets. Made of GorTex and literally indestructible and never need re-waterproofing. I’m sorry they don’t make them any more. Dehner boots - you can’t kill those. I still have a brown pair from when I was a junior showing AQHA shows.

I have a couple of Edgewood that have been regulated to everyday use. One is over 20 years old and the other is about 25 years old. Still going strong.

[Texarkana]

@Go_Fish

Classic Coverups blankets. Made of GorTex and literally indestructible and never need re-waterproofing. I’m sorry they don’t make them any more.

Those were the best! Unfortunately I learned the hard way they ARE destructible: not by a horse, but rather because of a storage error on my part. I stored them outdoors in a plastic deck container that I thought was weatherproof. Not only did water get in, but so did the bugs, rodents, and reptiles. I think I cried when I opened the container up in the fall and found all my blankets moldy, chewed, and rotted. I tried to salvage them, but there was no hope.