As I’ve mentioned several times, I’m on show hiatus for the winter. This time I actually mean it. Mama’s gotta eat and those show bills are starting to interfere with that.
I’ve got some plans for my somewhat-relaxed budget: gonna pay off some bills, build up some savings for a new car next show season (why even lie to myself), and generally improve my financial health.
But all that’s boring! I wanna buy stuff! I’m building my list of what Frankie could use first and then what I could use and I’d love your help. I’ll outline generally what I’m looking for, and I hope that you’ll comment with any suggestions you have for any and all items.
Here goes.
For Francis:
A new bridle. Not looking for any bells and whistles- Frankie goes in a plain snaffle and has a very sweet face so we don’t like to distract from that. Looking for good quality and durability above all else and something that will look good in the show ring.
Saddle pads. I have 3 in rotation which works, but it would be nice to expand my collection. Looking for all-purpose style, don’t need anything fancy, customization would be a plus (makes it easier to sort through the laundry).
Schooling girth. Something cheap, durable, easy to clean.
Show cooler. I have a GORGEOUS wool cooler….that has my old trainer’s name on it. Womp womp. Would love to find something in barn colors (navy and red) that I could potentially get embroidered.
Quarter sheet. Self-explanatory; help keep homeboy’s bum warm in the depths of winter.
Brushes. We use the communal barn brushes with zero issues, but it would be lovely to get some just for my main man.
For me:
Show coat. I am in love with my hunter green one, but am feeling the need for a second- the smell starts to build by the second or third day of the show. Looking for something on the cheaper side that comes in long sizes, flexible on color.
Breeches. I am just obsessed and want all the breeches all the time. Looking for something that fits exactly like TS Trophy Hunters with a smaller price tag. And fun colors.
Belts. I have my two from Hunt Club that I LOVE LOVE LOVE, but always looking to expand the collection.
There you have it! Do you have an opinion or suggestions on any of these? Frankie (and I) thank you for your help in crafting our letter to Santa this year ❤
hellomylivia 
You just told me to tell you to buy all the things, so here goes:
Saddle pads — Ogilvy baby pads. You won’t regret it. They are actually much more substantial than most baby pads, don’t slip, and you can customize them.
Breeches–I think you may already know what I am going to say … Sarafinas really are fantastic, easy to wash & wear breeches that are less than TS 🙂
I like Winner’s Circle and Leistner brushes. My horse mostly likes them, too, and he’s pretty picky about that.
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Definitely buy Leistner brushes! They seem a little expensive (at least to my cheap brain), but for real, the quality is too good not to pass up. I’ll be adding a few more to my collection as a Christmas gift to myself as well!
Also, I totally agree about the Ogilvy baby pads. I love mine, especially since they are easily washed and hold up great. I’ve never gotten one customized but many of my friends have and they vouch for the quality wholeheartedly!
Treat yo self girl!
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I’m going to echo a lot of what’s already been said – buy the Leistner brushes from Teddy’s, you won’t be disappointed. Ditto the Ogilvy baby pads (I suggest adding girth loops), they are great and super customizable. For belts I really love the Duftler spur belts, although they’re expensive. Treat yo’self, they’re ridiculously beautiful. The rest I can’t really help you with off the top of my head because you’re killing me with price range restrictions. The quarter sheet though… I don’t have a particular brand that I’m partial to, but buy a wool one, not fleece. No one likes getting zapped with static.
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Haha the price range restrictions are killing me too
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What Amanda said, say no to fleece quarter sheets! They’re a pain. I’ve used a pretty basic Smartpak girth. I used the dressage one, but they have a jump one too https://www.smartpakequine.com/pt/smartpak-breathable-girth-6115. $35 is about a budget friendly as you can get, plus I literally just sprayed mine with a hose to clean haha. I will say thought I just got Justin a Total Saddle Fit girth, and it’s changed our world! Def more expensive ($129) but for the quality of the girth plus the benefits we got from it made it was very much worth it to me.
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I second Ogilvy baby pads, but for a more budget friendly option, I’m pretty happy with my SmartPak pads. Not as nicely contoured as the Ogilvy pads, but just pull it up into the gullet when tacking up and you should be fine unless Frankie is particularly fussy. They’re customizeable to an extent, and they often have sales with free embroidery.
Bridle wise, I have been making do with the cheapy Dover bridles for a while now. I’ve got my eye on a few new brands, but they haven’t even launched their full stores yet so not sure what the quality will look like. I would avoid the Dy’on look alikes just because I thing Frankie would look better in something more plain, and it also seems like every one has one these days.
I’ve heard lots of great things about Leistner brushes, and they’re on our list this year, but for now I’ve got the same brushes I’ve had (and never cleaned…) for years. Not much help there.
Cooler: Just win one! 😉
For a coat, I would honestly figure out a few brands that fit you well, and then just scour the internet for a good deal. I’ve got my 3 really fancy brands that I got super on the cheap. Like less than some of the cheap coats. My guess is that Grand Prix probably would fit you well, and maybe Equiline as well? Keep an eye on Equus tack. They’re clearing out everything they have and there are some good deals.
I have no breech suggestions, because I have yet to find something I like as much as TS that is cheaper. For a cute quilted TS belt look alike, I really like my equine Couture quilted belts.
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You’ve got a sharp eye, my Grand Prix coat fits like it’s custom 😉
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I actually was just coming up with my christmas wish list too… partially because I’m going to a tent sale tomorrow (god help us all…)
ditto amanda’s recommendation to put girth loops on the ogilvy pads. i want some 😀
if anyone has good wool quartersheet suggestions I’m all about hearing that. particularly ones that don’t cover my legs and are easy to take on/off.
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My Ps of Sweden quarter sheet is really the best one ever made, I’m sad they discontinued it.
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I really love my Dy’On jumper bridle. If you take the flash off, it works just like a regular snaffle bridle but it has the snazzy “jumper” feel to it. Not cheap though (buy European and import). However, if nothing else BUY THEIR RUBBER REINS. They are heavenly!!!!
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Romfh Sarafina breeches are my new favorite thing in the WORLD. I have two colors but will probably put more on my own Christmas list. They fit and feel so great.
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Third, fourthing whatever the Ogilvy baby pads. Then, I could totally be outdated and not cool or trendy here, but I’ve had an Edgewood bridle forever and I love love it. They’re actually made right outside my hometown and are more reasonable than the Dy’ons, etc. Mine has oiled up beautifully and held up to regular and show use for years.
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Definitely on the Ogilvy saddle pad vote although I use the profile pad because I have long forward flaps that don’t fit on the baby pad, lol. The profile pad comes with girth loops.
Show coat – I now have two Kerrits coats. They run a whole size big but they look great and I got one from RW for under $50 since it was on sale.
These belts http://www.stampyandthebrain.com/2016/05/08/my-new-belt-obsession/
I also use the Smartpak cheap girth for Phoenix, washes up well.
I’m also a Sarafina convert from trophy hunters. I love them more than trophy hunters now and they are cheaper, what a win!
Bridles I think it makes sense to invest in something nice that will last. I have an HDR for P that I’m always on the verge of replacing because it’s just meh. I have two Aramas bridles otherwise and both are great. I do have my eye on a Lund though, they look beautiful.
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Dare I say it again? Ogilvy baby pads are the shiz, like I never want to use anything else. Ever. Now I’m curious to use a wool quarter sheet, but I do have a magical double layered suede fleece stuff/shearling like fleece from Moxie and I love it!!! So warm and snuggly and much less staticy than my boring single layer fleece one. Also another pump for Teddy’s Tack Trunk brushes. For coats if you want to stay on budget do not try on Pikeur or other high end coats, I repeat do not do it. I have the Horsewear tech show coat that is right around the $99 mark and comes in great colors and it looks fabulous. But I wore a friends Pikeur tech coat in a jumper class last fall and it took me 6 months to not continually want to change that from a fling to a full blown affair. Lets be honest I still think about the Pikeur, but I’ve found contentment with the Horseware again.
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I tried on a Pikeur a while ago and had the same love affair! I need to just stop trying on the expensive stuff, it always fits better….
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Ooooh! Buying stuff is fun!! For bridles, my favorites are Antares and Edgewoods. I have Dyon for Charlie, but I know you’re looking for something simple. If you’re looking for a lower price point, Smartpak’s Wellfleet line is actually pretty nice and so are Aramas bridles. For saddle pads, I use the Smartpak ones and get them embroidered with our logo. For a schooling girth, I use a good old Professional’s Choice neoprene with the ventilation holes. They’re easy to wash and last forever. For a show cooler, my top choice would be one from Clothes Horse, but Smartpak makes a pretty decent wool one. I’ve yet to find a quarter sheet that I love, I just use a cooler. For a show coat, my favorites are Animo or Equiline, but I have a Grand Prix that I really like and it was affordable and fits really well AND is super easy to wash. For beeches, I’ve heard good things about the new RJ classics and they look very similar to Tailored Sportsmans.
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Ooooo shopping!!! I have lots of favorite things to suggest for you!
Bridle: Joseph Sterling
http://www.sstack.com/english_bridles_hunter-jumper/joseph-sterling-comfort-plus-hunter-bridle/
They have a few different ones, that link is for the hunter bridle. I have five of them, and I love them Hold up great, are soft, and I think they’re really pretty.
Girth: equiroyal schooling girth
https://www.horseloverz.com/english-horse-tack/girths/english-girths/equiroyal-shaped-fleece-english-girth
They’re not leather, so you can throw it in the wash with your saddle pads. I actually show in mine too.
If you want a REALLY nice wool cooler, my favorite place to get them is Personalized Products. They’re not cheap at all, but they’re custom so you can get exactly what you want. I’ve had one from them for 16 years that still looks brand new. They also can do quarter sheets.
http://www.pphorse.com
My favorite jackets are RJ Classics because they fit me really well. But I’m your polar opposite (short and curvy) so I’m not sure if they would fit as well for you.
Annie’s Breeches are super fun. They are not the same fit as the TS, but they have really fun colors and are super comfy. Like wearing jammies. And they come in longs.
http://anniesusa.com/
I hope you and Frankie get all the things on your list!
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I remember you mentioning that bridle, definitely intrigued!
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How is the name put on your old cooler? If embroidered…could you use stitch ripper to remove? Then get re-embroidered with something new?
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….you know, I have no idea. I will have to investigate- it’s a great cooler and this would save me some dollars!
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I’ve bought a lot of canvas bags from LLBean over the years for CHEAP because they were returned with someone else’s embroidery. It’s a little tedious to rip out, but totally doable with wine and Netflix! And then you’ve got a like-new thing that you can reembroider or just leave plain. =)
I”m all about saving $$$.
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Random lurker here, but as for a girth that’s easy to care for, I absolutely love the Professional’s Choice SMx Brown English girth. I just hose mine, but the neoprene lining comes off for easy washing too. They aren’t too bad at $60 (give or take a few bucks) and hold up super well. My instructor’s got some older ones that are finally starting to come unstitched a million years later. They come in black or brown. 🙂
http://www.ridingwarehouse.com/Professionals_Choice_SMx_Neoprene_Girth_Brown_56_/descpage-PCSNG.html?gclid=CJWX_LDD088CFUtNfgod7wQCWA
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You have to try the Lund bridles! I believe they have a horse size snaffle on e-bay right now (they are up and coming). Such a great price point that I couldn’t resist buying everything. You can always message the facebook page and they can get you what you want (the owner that runs it is really casual sounding btw)
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I’ve heard good things! Definitely worth investigating
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