Let’s face it, almost everything that is branded for equestrians has a crazy mark-up. If you are like me, you love your horse like a member of your family, and you want the very best for them. Thankfully, this does not mean that you have to always splurge on equestrian specific products!!! There are many “hacks”, aka non-equestrian branded products, that save you money and are comparable. I have reached out to equestrian community and have received some amazing feedback. I am so excited to share this list of equestrian product hacks with everyone!
Ear Plugs
The nice rubbery ball type ones (submitted by @Havana_has_my_heart)
Bickmore Mac Wipes
Equestrian specific disposable grooming wipe (submitted by @theecequestrian, socalequestrian, & @juliacskowronek))
- $22 for 63 wipes from SmartPak
- $18 for 1152 baby wipes from Sam’s Club. Fragrence and alcohol free, baby wipes are great for wiping gunk out of eyes and noses, cleaning your tack off in a pinch, wiping sweat off of your own face, cleaning oil off your own hands, etc. Not quite as large or as sturdy as the Bickmore wipes, you still get wayyyyyyyy more for your money’s worth! I always have a stash in my trunk.
Mare Magic
A blend of dried raspberry leaves to support a quiet disposition in mares and geldings (submitted by @remarkablemare)
- $13 for 8z oz from Riding Warehouse
- Hack: Raspberry leaves in bulk from Amazon, $13 for 16 oz (50% cheaper!)
Equiderma Zinc Oxide Paste
A treatment for scratches & rain rot (submitted by @remarkablemare & @caroline.lurie.eq)
- $23.70 for 16 oz at SmartPak
- $8 for 16 oz of generic Desitin maximum strength diaper rash cream (40% zinc oxide) from Walmart
Shampoo
Stop splurging on equestrian specific shampoo & conditioner when the human stuff smells amazing and is much much cheaper!
- $10-25 equestrian branded shampoos
- $2 & up for the human versions
Leg brace & antifungal solution
2 different hacks for this one!
- There are many products that claim to be great as a leg brace under standing wraps and have anti-fungal properties, so I couldn’t choose just one for a direct comparison. Must of them range anywhere from $10-25.
- $5.37 for 1 liter at Walmart: Listerine Mouthwash diluted with water is a great leg brace and to help stop any itching/fungus/hair loss. I used to use Listerine myself when I was a junior on my Arabian’s face & cannon bone crud in the summers and it worked great, so I can vouch for this one! (Submitted by @corleyan)
- $2 for 16 oz at Walgreens (or buy in bulk at Sam’s club like I do, it’s even cheaper) Wintergreen alcohol is also a wonderful leg brace. Make sure the legs are completely dry before wrapping though!! This website actually has tons of great uses for common rubbing alcohol when I comes to our equine friends, I highly recommend checking it out. (submitted by @flying.french.flower, @kbiggsy )
Show Sheen
Coat shine spray
- $11.74 for 15 oz continuous spray Show Sheen at Smartpak
- $5 for 15.9 ox ORS Olive Oil Sheen Spray at Target- submitted by @remarkablemare, she credits this amazing hack product for her mare Juliet’s beautifully shiny coat, and says dust doesn’t stick to it, and it doesn’t like a residue like Show Sheen does. Talk about a win-win!
Sunshirts
As we all know, there are many brands of equestrian specific sunshirts at different price points. These price points tend me to PRICEY though. You are lucky if you find one in your size under $50. Most retail for $75 and up. You do NOT need to buy equestrian specific shirts to protect yourself from the sun though! Many people have suggested checking out sale racks at places like TJ Maxx, Marshall’s, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Athleta etc. Any place that sells gold/tennis gear should have sunshirts, and some even have under arm mesh. Get creative and shop around for the best prices and styles! (submitted by: @pamgoeseventing, @equi.ranch, @theecequestrian, @theplatinumequine)
- People have reported finding these non-equestrian specific sunshirts in the $15-20 range
Quick Knot braiding pins
Equestrian specific metal pins used for button braids.
- 100 for $45 from Saddleword
- 100 for $8 from Walmart: Curved bobby pins are definitely not exactly the same as the specifically horse designed Quick Knot braiding pins, @trou_story_farm swears by these and says they are a great alternative to the pricey equestrian specific ones!
Show Sheen for body clipping
If you body clip then you probably know that a coat shiner will help the blades slide through the coat easier by reducing friction, which also helps keep you clippers from getting hot. I just clipped Rio a few weeks ago and DOUSED him in Show Sheen for this purpose.
- $18 for 32 oz at SmartPak
- $2.460 for 20 oz from Target: Mix 1/3 baby oil and 2/3 water in a spray bottle, spray all over pre-clipping like you would do with Show Sheen. Get the one pictured from Target and you also get the added moisturizer and soothing of Vit E and aloe- perfect for clipping! (submitted by @corleyan)
Bit Cleaner
- $15 for 32 oz bit cleaner from Schneider’s Tack
- $2.93 for 84 count denture cleaner at Walmart: Denture cleaner is GREAT for cleaning dirty bits. Throw a bit in a tub with some water and one of these tablets and it will be sparkly clean in no time! Don’t believe me? Check out this guest blog post that talks all about it!
Bit Butter
Made with a blend of natural butters and essential oils, this balm moisturizes, revitalizes, and helps heal skin for a smoother, softer feel.
- $19 for 4 oz from FarmVet
- $5.23 for 7.25 oz Coconut Oil from Amazon: Smells great and the ponies love it! (submitted by @Armani_monster)
Saddle rack for your car
- $180 for this Pegasus brand one
- $10 trash can from Target, lay it on the flat side and you are good to go! (submitted by @kaylahaynes_). Want to learn more about this awesome hack? Check out Kayla’s blog! She also lists tons of great uses for everyday products at the barn!
- $16 If you don’t have an SUV, you can use this saddle sling from Etsy. I have one of these, and it works great for the money!
Whitening Shampoo
- $13 for 16 oz Quicksilver at SmartPak
- $7.39 for 8 oz Mrs. Stewarts at Walmart: At first glance, it may seem like you aren’t saving money with the non-equine specific version, but a little of this stuff goes a long way! @hayner.g says she puts 2 capfuls in a bucket of sudsy water to get her 2 large greys bright and shiny. She also recommends following up with a conditioner so as to no dry out their hair.
I received so many wonderful hack suggestions, thank you to everyone who shared your ideas with me! Horses are expensive enough, it’s nice to be able to save a few dollars here and there when possible. Did I miss a great hack? Please leave a comment to share!
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I’ve decided to revive this thread! I’ve updated all the old links and prices to some great hacks, and I’m going to be adding even more. Keep reading for more ways to save money!
Buy from Europe
A lot of equestrians brand originate in Europe, and they cost significantly less to purchase from European retailers. I’ve research a few specific examples for you guys. (Thanks to all of you who reminded me about this great hack!)
- Samshield helmets. Your basic model Samshield now retails for $500 from sites like Smartpak and Dover. You can order the exact helmet from Repost Equestrian out of the UK for $376 which includes shipping. If you are like me and already have a ton of Samshield liners, you can save even more by just buying a new shell, which would bring your order total down to $346. I’ve bought every Samshield I’ve ever owned from Europe. Shipping can take longer, but it’s absolute worth the savings!
- Eskadron, Pikeur, Animo, and Equiline are a few other brands that or often significantly cheaper from UK or EU retailers. Some sites to consider are Amira Equi, My Sellera, Equishop, and Just Riding are a few popular ones.
Gel Bands
If you’ve ever broken in new boots, you will know how much better life is with gel bands. They go around your ankle, and protect you from rubs and abrasions. I have personally used this dupe version from Amazon and LOVE them. They have a thick layer of gel, which is perfect for protecting your gel and achilles area.
2 comments
I loooove this post. So many ideas I didn’t realize for $$$ saving. Thank you!
My farrier suggested mineral oil for dry hooves. $2 at Walmart. Reusing old clipper blades as pulling combs. Take a photo copy of your USEF card when shopping at Dover or Smartpak, they offer discounts. Dry shampoo to get the stink out of a sweaty helmet (versus the CO helmet spray).