As a follow up to tack items to save money, I did show items that are best to save money on or spend money for. People ask where I find used horse tack and clothes, and honestly for the last year, if I can’t find a used one in my area, I have been finding everything on the sale pages of Facebook!

  1. Saddles once again! You can find great deals on saddles owned by people who keep them in a case all the time. This goes for both English and western saddles.
  2. Chaps will hold up well, and there always seems to be used ones online. If you need a basic color for chaps, especially black, look for used ones first.
  3. Show shirts and hunt coats. A lot of people will keep their show clothes in bags and only wear them for short periods of time. Depending on what you’re looking for, there are some great lightly used show outfits for decent prices.
  4. Show pads. Most people put their show pads over a work pad so they stay very clean. Especially if they get put back in a bag each time. People tend to hang onto their show pads, so they are a little harder to find, but if you can find the right color for a good price, I would jump on a used show pad.
  5. Show halters. If you’re not too picky on an exact style of a show halter, many good deals pop up for show halters. But you have to be fast, used show halters sell fast.

Items to spend on

  1. Show Bridles, both English and Western. You want to make sure your show bridle matches your show saddle and fits your horse well. It’s tough to find these used. Sometimes you’ll get lucky, but you’re more likely to find the right fit in a new bridle.
  2. The boots you wear need to be comfortable and match your outfit. It’s no fun to have uncomfortable feet on a show day so you want to make sure they fit your feet great. If you buy a good brand of boot it will always be worth the money.
  3. A hat. Judges always say that a hat is the first thing they see when an exhibitor comes into the arena. An ill-fitting hat can make a bad first impression. Make sure you have a hat that matches your outfit that is in the correct shape for what you’re showing in.
  4. Fake tails. If your horse needs a fake tail it’s best to get one that is the perfect matching color and that can be hard to do when buying a used one. Fake tails don’t tend to last forever either. Not sure what it is, but fake tails do get a little dingy after a few years.
  5. English saddle pads. These go directly on the horse, and they are white and fluffy. These really only last a few years, best to buy new.