What Do Wednesday: Tack Whoring

I think its a well known fact that some of us bloggers have a problem.

Tack whoring. You know who you are. Its OK. I'm one too. Lets make T-shirts.

But seriously, Graduated Equestrian's post made me realize just how.many.horse.boots. I have. For shame. I even caught myself perusing ETT last nights for more boots without realizing it. WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME.

It doesn't help that I've owned 7 full grown horses, 3 mini's and ridden many others. This means I've collected quite the array of tack, bits, boots and wraps over the last almost 20 years (holy shit). Even saddles...I've accumulated 5, and only use 2. I guess Yankee uses one as well..but still. 3/5 is ridiculous. I wish I could say they're super nice saddles like Voltaire's ( heart eyes) or some other french leather, but they work and they're Okayish....for now.

However, nothing amounts to the glorious collection of orange as fuck leather that I've been using on B for the last year and a half. So ridiculously smashing.

I know, I know, you all want it, but simmer down.

Seriously though, despite being incredibly gaudy, and on the verge of tacky, I got everything (reins, breastplate, girth, running martingale) for a slamming good deal at the Stubben tent at Rolex and I'm broke enough to not give a flying fuck about leather colors when it comes to saving money. Plus it matched my saddle, so.

You know you love giant orange breastplate. Admit it.

I think for the whole ensemble, including the saddle I purchased of ETT, I spent $800.

However, I am quite aware of how fucking ridiculous the collection looks, especially on an orange horse, so I am on the hunt to class up our act a little for when we enter the rated ring. I can't change the color of my saddle without drastic moves, like a dye job, but its fine. I figured I would go for a more "mixed leather" feel for our ensemble. Like, light and darks, contrasting...majestically. lolz.

I thought I was going to have to spend a shitload of more money to find a show bridle, girth and breastplate, but friends (blogging and in real life) have saved me yet again!

Just look at it. Let the orange blind you!!

Somehow, I've pawned most of my spare tack on ETT for bills, and I literally have 7 nosebands, 2 stretched out breastplates, an assortment of girths that don't fit...and no bridles. But 7 nosebands. How does this even happen?

So I reached out to friends, and they delivered. I now have 2 spare, classier breastplates in my arsenal as well as a slightly darker bridle and reins. I will have to dye the hackamore nosepiece...or just save and spring for a PS hack (SO many fucking heart eyes). LOLOL, yeah right.

the unicorn bridle. I NEED it. The model even look like B. Its fate.

A close friend here in OH also tried to convince me to buy her Otto Schumaker dressage bridle at a super discounted price and I *almost* did. Its GORGEOUS, but I have no use for it. I already have a dressage bridle and we aren't serious contenders in dressage. BUT OTTO, omg, grabby hands.

So besides friends, real and internet, I also scrounge English Tack Trader on FB (ETT) and Ebay. I've been using Ebay less and less since ETT has virtually anything you could ever want at the touch of your finger. The ISO (in search of) function is also wonderful, you can trade items if people are willing, and get things on a bargain if people are willing to negotiate price.

ALL boots purchased on ETT. $10 for hinds. $50 for front Majyk Equipe boots and $20 for ME bells. Fucking winning.

Ebay seems to be flooded more with manufactures selling the item at almost retail price, versus ETT that has lightly used items sold by horse owners. As long as you use Paypal for your exchanges, you're covered and I've only had to wait on a item for more than 2 weeks once. Generally I love it, and on a budget, its amazing. I don't have the luxury of buying brand new from stores or private sellers, and while that would be awesome for exchange reasons or malfunctions, I really can't. ETT is a lifesaver! And an actual obsession and problem for my wallet, holy shit.

We will never be the perfectly matched pair, but I think it doesn't really matter much in the long run. Only matters how you ride in the end, and I am a-OK with that. I really just want a little semblance of put togetherness and for people to not remember me by my glaring orange tack. Sometimes its best to not be noticed in those ways, hahaha.

Tried for 5 minutes to get a pic last night where he didn't look like a giant moose-giraffe, but unsuccessful. This is our "new" girth & breastplate; still need to exchange the bridle and reins out

Regardless, that leads me to my question. Where do you all go when you're in need of a tack item? Do you scrounge and save? Splurge? Beg friends? Send out an SOS on the blogosphere? Hunt for a good deal? Slave to Ebay or ETT? Tell me dear readers, what do?