Buy Used, Helping to Prepare for Show Season

It's that time of year again where nearly every weekend is consumed with finding and getting everything together for the upcoming show season, and most of that is spent shopping. From going to show vendors to online shopping and also the local tack shop, you're bound to get everything on your list but that does come at a cost. Thankfully there's always other routes to take and one of the more popular choices are tack sales. Now, not every time do I find something worthwhile but I do find some treasures and with horses being an expensive hobby, anywhere you can save a little bit of money is a win.

The nice thing about going to tack sales is that you don't have to depend on word of mouth of when and where the next one is. With the help of social media and other internet sources, you can plan a majority of your weekend going to tack sales in your area looking for the best deals. There's usually a little bit of everything at a tack sale, of course, you'll have tack (equipment for the horse) and there's also clothes, boots, various other show supplies, barn supplies, etc. Now, about 95% of what's at a tack sale is used items, no denying that, but not anything there is falling apart. So, if you can find what you would buy online for 1/3 of the price, that's money you can spend on something else.

When you're going to a tack sale, you do need an idea of what you're looking for. Though going to putz around is fun, but if you're anything like me, you can find yourself spending a lot more than what you planned for. Best way to avoid over spending is by only bringing with you a certain amount or set a budget, and spend cash. They say it's harder to give away that bill then it is to swipe a card, and they're totally right! Another great way is to make a list of what you need. Similar to grocery shopping, if you're shopping with your eyes and not your budget, things can get expensive. When I went to a tack sale this past weekend, I didn't need much, but I did have an idea of what I wanted to get and what I wanted to spend. No more than $40 total and no more than $5 per item, seems easy enough right? Well...not so much, which brings us to another important point, don't be afraid to negotiate price. Most people that bring items to tack sales are individual people bringing things that they've or their kids have outgrown or no longer use and 9 times out of 10, they don't exactly want to be bringing anything home with them. Looking around I found a couple of bits that I'd love to have, both snaffle bits were marked at $8 each. By no means was this a bad deal, but I already set the $5 rule, so I did some 'negotiating' by just asking if she'd take $10 for both bits. She hesitated for a second but took my offer while saying 'I just don't want to take it home later.' See. Simple as that. I did the same on another bit that was marked for $15 and I spent $10. Go me! There is one thing to caution on though...you do need to know the value of a product, don't just start asking $50 for something that's clearly worth over $150. Just use your best judgement and if you're not sure, bring someone who does, preferably your lesson instructor, trainer, or another horse friend. With these tips, you'll be able to save a few bucks.

So, just like any other shopping, have a plan when going to a tack sale, set a budget and don't be afraid to barter a little. You can do the same when you're shopping online or in store. Buy things in bulk, Yes you may be spending a little bit more but you're getting more while making each item cheaper. Use coupon codes or buy from the manufacturer verses a third party. There are ways to save money, you just have to do a little exploring first. Also, I would recommend buying from a tack sale if you are starting to develop a lesson program or if you're just starting to get into horses. As I said earlier, horses are expensive and you don't want to be spending thousands of dollars on things that 1. You have people using items that don't necessarily take care of them, 2. if you don't own your own horse, but lease your horse, and 3. If you're unsure if the horses are going to be your child's 'next big thing.'

I hope this helps some of you guys out there as you get ready to dive into the coming show season!