Buying horse tack....

[MelissaH]

As some of you know, I am in the process of getting my first horse. He may or maynot work out. Either way, I am hellbent on getting one. period. :D

As far as buying tack....should I wait til I know what kind of horse I am getting, or is it okay to buy brushes, lead lines..etc. I am a woman...and not to stereotype myself, but I do wake up at 2:00am sit straight up in bed...zombie glaze in my eyes...and moan the word...SHHHOOOPPPP!

My brother gave me a gift certificate to a tack store up here. I always feel so intimidated going in though. I always tend to do something really lame, like pick up the brush on the check out counter and ask the girl behind it, "What part of the horse is this for?" She stares at me for a moment, then takes the brush from me and runs it through her hair, "It's mine. From Avon." OOOPPS!

So what kind of stuff is okay to buy now?

[Kalypso]

Definitely wait to buy the important stuff, like saddle and bridle, until you know exactly what horse you are getting. i was very lucky, I bought my saddle when I'd planned on buying one mare, she tried to kill me when I went for the second and third veiwing, and so settled on my mare. The saddle didn't fit Kal at all, and I had to bring it back! Luckily, they took it back and exchanged for another one.

I think it should be find to buy everything else, though...you can get lead lines, halters (although sometimes even those may or may not fit depending on the type of horse you get). brushes (you should have a curry, a soft bristled brush, a hard bristled brush, a metal curry if you can find one to help get all the dirt out of the soft and hard brushes). You can buy hoof picks, a lunge line if you think you are going to use one. saddle pads.

But I'd also of course wait to buy rugs or anything like that until you get the horse! And anything like brushing boots or wraps should probably wait until you know the size of your horse! (well, polo wraps would probably be ok to get now, just don't get pony sized ;) )

So pretty much, anything you need to have a size for, I'd wait, but everything else, you can buy to your heart's content! :D

Don't feel dumb asking questions, it's the way you learn. If you see something and don't know exactly what it's used for, ask...or come back here to NR and ask if you don't want to ask in the store! ;)

[MelissaH]

What about shoes? For me, not the horse:D

I don't want english type boots...and I'm not a cowgirl! But I have seen these shoes made by Ariat that have riding sneekers.

These:http://www.ariat.com/products_detail.aspx?cid=2&scid=21&pid=145

Are these good? I can't see wearing cowboy boots!I didn't know they make riding sneekers:)

[MeMe]

If you like them and want them then no probs with buying things like that for yourself.

[MelissaH]

Thanks MeMe...I just can't see wearing cowboy boots:)

[Kalypso]

those are nice shoes, I may have to go for a pair! :) I'd heard of them, but never seen 'em before!

If you don't want to go western boots, and not traditional english style tall boots, you could always buy paddock boots. They are shorter, and mine are lace-up. They are actually not bad once you wear them in, and then if you ever DO decide you want to try riding english, all you need are a pair of half chaps to go with them!

I have my paddock boots, which I always ride in, but I also have two pair of nice western style boots, which are a HUGE pain in the arse until they are broken in. I wear one pair when I'm working on the ranch at home, and the nicer pair I use only when i'm showing :D

[LuckysCharm]

wait to buy pretty much almost everything...You could buy things like:
Whatever YOU want to ride in
brushes
hoof picks
lunge line
lead rope (not the halter)
fly spray
whips (i only use them to just tap nikita with it to let her know i have it and she behaves haha)
Buckets for feeding (dont know if you have to provide your own or if the place your keeping your new horse at provides them but we bought an extra bucket for nikita to keep water in...we do NOT want her to run low on water)


wait to buy things like:
Saddle
Bridal
halter
fly mask
blankets (if you will be blanketing at all its optional)
Bits
pretty much anything that you would need to size a horse for.

[galadriel]

Sneakers properly designed (those Ariat ones look nice) would do fine for you. I usually ride in paddock boots, and find Ariat paddock boots heavenly comfortable.

You could also look into legwear. Whether you're planning to ride English or Western, you probably will be most comfortable riding in pants without an inside seam. I love breeches and jods (find them very comfortable, especially the pull-ons) but you can also buy jeans that have no inside seam. You might also want to consider chaps or half chaps.

Anything that needs to be specifically fitted to the horse should wait until you've got the horse. But much of your gear is either sized to you (like apparel and helmet) or doesn't need a specific size (like grooming equipment, leather care items, buckets, lead ropes, and so on). I have a list of a number of things you may need to have for your horse:
http://lorienstable.com/articles/owning/150-costs-otc/

[Grace O'Malley]

Originally posted by MelissaH
What about shoes? For me, not the horse:D

I don't want english type boots...and I'm not a cowgirl! But I have seen these shoes made by Ariat that have riding sneekers.

These:http://www.ariat.com/products_detail.aspx?cid=2&scid=21&pid=145

Are these good? I can't see wearing cowboy boots!I didn't know they make riding sneekers:)

And I love them :cool: I bought them to take on a trip to Alaska last year--wanted something that could do double duty for riding and light hiking. They're comfortable to walk in as well as ride in. For riding I wear them with suede half-chaps (not necessary, though you may find you eventually want something over your calves). The only drawback is that the toe is not as reinforced as my regular Ariat ropers, so not as much protection if you get stepped on :eek:

Grace

[eventerbabe]

i wouldn't buy any tack/rugs til you get the horse and make sure to get the saddle properly fitted by a qualified master saddler. but theres no reason why you can't treat yourself to some snazzy new riding gear and buy stuff like buckets, haynets etc before you get your horse :)

[pengapenga]

MelissaH, thanks for posting this thread. It has been a great help to me too:D So far I have started on the grooming and stable equipment, I am glad to see I did the right thing. All other tack will wait until Frits arrives home:)

[notpoodle]

@ melissaH: the ariat terrains are super comfy!!! i tried a pair last year, but they didnt have any left in my size so i couldnt get any :mad: they were VERY comfy though - found them much comfier than eg. the mountainrider boots (i have an odd ankle though, so not any old short boot will fit me).

as for buying stuff :)

i got myself a grooming kit, some first aud bits, leadropes, buckets etc. before i got my pony. she came with some bits and bobs from her previous owner (most of which ive replaced by now :) ). its almost impossible to buy rugs etc. without knowing the horse. mine eg. is supposedly a pony, but takes quite big rugs, cob sized bridles, x-wide saddle ... not what i had expected :D

julia
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