Horse Show Tack and Accesories

As much as I would like to think that a money tree grows in my back yard, I have regrettfully realized, as my age advances, that this is not the case. In the matter of horse showing, nothing is cheap....but there is VALUE (the "it" word of the recession). Such is the case with outfitting your tack and equipment for horse shows. One of the biggest lessons my mother taught me growing up was "money does not buy class" and in the case of horsemanship, silver does not buy first place ribbons. A high quality saddle is part of the foundation of a good ride, so you can avoid all the silver to cut costs, but make sure to purchase from a reputable maker and not get roped into a poorer quality saddle that has more "bling."

Last year, when I committed to showing again, not only did I have the expense of a horse and training, but also all of the equipment necessary. I am going to provide a cohesive list of some of the best resources to purchase show equipment. One point being made- no amount of silver can make up for perspiration and saddle sores towards accomplishing ones goals!

Show Saddles/Headstalls- In my opinion, there are only 2 options:

Blue Ribbon Tack:

I prefer to ride horsemanship in Blue Ribbon saddles. I have had several over the years and the all-around seat sits you properly. Family owned and operated, they fully stand behind the superior quality of their products. Being from the west coast, I also have a little nostalgia as they have been the choice of many professionals and top riders for many years. http://www.blueribbontack.com/ If you do not want to purchase a new saddle, Blue Ribbon often has a nice selection of used saddle in stock.

Harris Leather and Silverworks:

Another great saddlemaker. Harris also makes an exceptional quality saddle and their craftsmanship is of the highest caliber. Choosing your saddle is often a matter of trainer preference, but I do know first hand that the Harris family is wonderful to work with. I have purchased a few key items from them via phone over the years and I have always had the best customer experience. http://www.harrisleather.com/.

Saddle Pads:

An outfit is not complete without a high quality wool saddle pad, with a minimum width of 38 inches. When starting out, stick to a single color, preferably the color of your chaps. For more elaborate outfits, I have found that Woods Western makes a fabulous saddle pad at a great value. They have an excellent website that shows all of their designs to choose from. Details are important so don't forget the role a nice saddle pad makes in your over all presentation. http://www.woodswestern.com/

Used Equiptment:

While it would be nice to purchase everything new and custom to your specifications, buying used equipment is always a great option. Both Blue Ribbon and Harris usually have a good selection of used saddles in stock and I also like http://www.tacktrader.com/ for their selection of these two brands as well as used saddle pads. Your barnmates are also an excellent source for procuring used equipment.

Happy Shopping!