How to Buy SaddleSeat Horse Show Clothes at Bargain Prices
As if showing your horse isn't expensive enough, you have to get a show outfit. This is especially important for saddle seat equitation classes, where a show outfit is part of the rules of the class. This is in keeping with tradition of the Old South, where saddle seat riding developed. But you needn't break the bank with a show outfit. Your horse will have plenty of other uses for the money that you'll save.
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Instructions
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Make sure you know your clothes size, hat size and shoe size. Measure yourself with a tailor's measuring tape to be sure.
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Let everybody know that you are on the lookout for gently used saddle seat show clothes. Inform your friends, people in your barn, your trainer, your church or volunteer group.
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Go to all of your local tack shops and see if there is a billboard where people can leave business cards, "for sale" notices or "items wanted" cards. Usually, a small fee is given to the tack shop owner for you to place a card on the board. While you are at the tack shop, check and see if it sells used clothes.
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Go online and check online classifieds such as Craigslist for used show clothes. You can also check out horse-related online classifieds like Horse Classified and eBay.
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Take the clothes to a tailor for any alterations needed. Many dry cleaning places will also do some minor alterations. If you already know how to sew, alter away.
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Tips & Warnings
It's best to look in the fall and winter, when show season is over.
Always go over the rules of the show classes you plan to enter carefully. They may not have a dress requirement. In that case, perhaps you can get away with buying just a hat and jacket rather than the whole outfit.
When in doubt, go with dark, conventional colors.
During down time at the show, check around and see if other competitors are selling their old outfits.
Don't try to find a show outfit the week before the show. Plan on looking for a couple of months.
Never pay for anything online with a cashier's check or wire the money. This is usually a scam.
Resources
- Photo Credit Image from WikiMedia Commons
