May and I have been a team for nearly 4 years at this point, so a lot of stuff we have managed to acquire over the years. However, there are a few things I have thrown into my shopping cart (through multiple retailers) that I have realized I need to pick up before show season starts.
The Must Haves
RWR No Knot Hairnet
The RWR Hairnets are my JAM. They work wonders with my shoulder-length hair, and they were just as good when I grew my hair down to my waist for my wedding. I always get mine in black because the dark brown isn’t quite dark enough for my hair.
Definitely shop around for this one because I have seen prices everywhere from <$10 to MORE THAN $20.
Cowboy Magic Green Spot Remover
Green spot remover. May isn’t gray… but she really likes to poop all over herself. I like the cowboy magic one, but honestly, most of these spot removers do the job I need just fine. As a result, I try to just pickup whatever my local tack shop has.
Either way, it is non negotiable that, as soon as May gets off the trailer, a rag gets sprayed with this stuff and rubbed on her body.
Super Bands – White
May’s mane might be roached, but I keep her forelock. However, I am far too lazy to braid a forelock the legit way… so white rubber bands are a must. Again, pretty brand-agnostic on this one, so whatever my local tack shop has is great.
Shapley’s Show Touch Up – White
Do I feel like a hunter princess when I break out the Shapley’s? Yes. Do I use it anyway? oh yes. Nothing else gets those white socks GLEAMING quite like Shapleys. Since I only do a 6″ x 6″ spot on one of May’s back legs with this stuff, it lasts me forever. However, my bottle is finally running dry and needs to replaced.
The Wants
Epona Tiger’s Tongue Horse Groomer™
Everyone keeps talking about this thing and now I want one. Will May like it? I have no idea, but I hope it will last longer (and is chaper) than the plasticy brushes I use to scrub my horse.
And maybe it will be a super boost for green spot remover? One can only dream.
A New Dressage Pad
I love May in white, but the problem is that, after a while, all white pads start to look dingy. A new pad (maybe with some bling?) would be a welcome addition to the lineup.
The “Not Right Now”
There’s only one thing on this list that I am completely restricting myself from buying.. and that is a new jump bridle. Probably due to two reasons:
- I really don’t want to spend any more money right now
- I can’t find anything I really like (horse size, dark brown, figure 8 noseband)
Maybe I should just get May a regular flash noseband bridle? Idk.
Either way, I plan on making a trip to my local tack shop sometime soon to see how many of these items I can tick off, while supporting my local place. What about you? What items do you need before show season completely takes off again?
what is a show season? HA HA HA HA I seem to have forgotten that stuff. I need (before I can even think about going back out there) my horse back (DUH) and also a new vest (I keep putting this off) and I also would like a new white pad for dressage (all mine have reached the dingy stage fine for schooling not so fine for showing). Would like a new helmet too. Bridle is fine, saddle is fine. Luckily my horse is pretty much dirt or manure colored so he is easy to keep clean. And since he will come back with his mane pulled (YES) that will be done. I don’t do recognized and I dont braid. not going to, not planning on it 🙂
I still haven’t gotten the damn Tiger’s Tongue yet so buy two. Thanks muchly 🙂 HA
your horse is shiny and sleek with just 5 min of curry combing. So jealous!
I love the RWR Hairnets! I wear them every ride. So much better than every other net and I don’t need a rubber band or anything for my hair.
Yes! I cannot go back to normal hair nets now ?
This is basically my list as well! Opie’s white pads were disgusting at the end of last year and no amount of bleach or oxiclean could save them. I’ve heard scotchgard before first use works, so I’m going to give that a go this year because I love the look of white pads more than a colored one for showing.
I have never scotchguarded anything before, so you’ll have to let me know how that works! I am addicted to white pads in Dressage, but I am afraid that the scotchguard will make them slick? Idk if that makes any sense. White Pad All The Way tho!
I really want to try out the Tiger Tongue and the pad you picked up at Dover and posted about is on my list too. While I don’t need it right now, my helmet is turning 4 this year so within the next year I’ll need to go through that again.
Yeah. I was looking at the white Dressage version of the pad I got. But I don’t think I can bleach it and, lets face it, my horse is never that clean.
Sooooo I have a dressage pad that has bling on the edging….. Would you want it? (I am obviously going to be using it so much here soon LOL) But yeah I’ll sell it to you if you’d like it! I’ve used it like 2x I think, so if it’s a bit dirty I’ll wash it. Amber likes her BOT dressage pad better anyway, and I also promised her when she’s sound-ish again that she gets to go back to being a western pony because I think that’s her first love lol. If I ever do ride her in her dressage saddle again, I’d just use the BOT. So let me know! Also, I have no idea how you all ride in hair nets. My scalp itches like crazy if I do that lol.
oh… yeah! Can you send me pics?
Emily.Maher12@gmail.com or on Facebook!
Absolutely! I’ll try to snap some for you today!
I have a shopping problem, and an I haven’t shown in forever problem, so no needs on my list right now… But I recently tried the green spot remover finally (I have brown horses, so rarely is this a need for me) and it’s as wonderful as everyone always says. My lovely, very dark bay horse has taken to sleeping in his pee and poo, but only on one leg. And it is NASTY by the evening when I take him out to groom. Nothing would get through that nastiness, except the cowboy magic. Total convert here. (Takes me awhile to listen to the masses I guess.) Hadn’t thought to use it conjunction with the Tiger Tongue, but now that you mention it, I’ll have to give that a go.
I swore after having a grey that I would get a plain bay next… I guess I got midway through the color spectrum. Maybe next time I’ll get a nice bay 😛
I love going into the tack store with a full on list of things I need/want, it’s SO FUN! I agree that RWR hairnets are the best, and I can pretty much never turn down a deal on a pretty saddle pad.
I’ve mostly stoked up on the consumables (shampoos and sprays) in prep for show season. Could always use those – clothes I have enough of but I want the most!
I still need hair nets and a stock tie… but I *think* that’s it, LOL