I find that I feel my absolute best on my horse when I have the right outfit – the right fit, comfort level, and of course style. What makes me feel even better is knowing that I found all of that stuff at the right price. I feel like shopping second hand for horse riding gear is under-appreciated – so here’s how to start buying your very own used horseback riding apparel online!
Everyone loves to have their own style, but you shouldn’t have to pay through the nose for it.
I don’t know about you, but I can get really envious seeing a pair of sleek dressage boots, a really nice pair of black breeches, or cowboy boots that look like they would fit me juuuust right.
And don’t even get me started about what the horse is wearing!
Most horseback riders like to find the right riding apparel that defines their riding style. English riders will prefer sleeker, shinier gear just as Western riders tend to prefer more casual, laid-back type of wear.
Of course this is very general and what you like to wear when you’re riding totally depends on you! I just say this based on the general styles of the competitive sports involved in each style of riding.
But of course, you already know this stuff…
And so if you’re anything like me, your heart sinks the second you see the prices on all the new, dazzling pieces of clothing you set your eyes on. They’re usually sky high and you already have to pay for your horses, the food, the land, people to help out and a million other things you can’t even keep track of.
Used Horseback Riding Apparel is a Great Way to Save Money!
Many people avoid buying more recent trends in horseback riding apparel because of the costs of updating every season. That’s a turn off for me, at least. But fear not! There are used, affordable clothes that are still high quality. And I find that trends tend to rotate – so you might be able to find something that’s on trend now super cheap!
All you need to know is where to find em’ and you need to know how to choose em’.
Purchasing used horseback riding apparel could save you hundreds of bucks, and as long as you go to the right places and do the right things, you won’t have to worry about things not matching pictures or the seams falling apart.
While some people might have reservations about purchasing used clothes, I can assure you that if you purchase them from a reliable source, you’ll be glad you did.
I like to say that it’s often better to purchase good quality used horseback riding apparel than new, poor quality clothing.
Especially if you’re competing! ‘Cuz you know how much those clothes cost!
Ditto if you’re buying horseback riding gear for kids – they grow so quickly that sometimes paying full retail for apparel that won’t fit for long isn’t a good idea.
Be on the Look-Out for Good Return and Exchange Policies
It’s important to look for online stores with good exchange and return policies. Make sure you read the terms and conditions of the stores’ return policies. The terms and conditions vary for different online stores.
I often advise people to carry out some research on prospective online sellers prior to carrying out any monetary transaction. Thanks to the advent of technology, you are only a click away from accessing almost any information.
Important cues I look out for include the rating and number of transactions completed by my prospective seller, and the number of positive feedbacks and responses from previous buyers. I particularly scrutinize the buyers’ feedback; this helps me build a certain level of confidence in the seller.
Consider shopping from online stores that offer buyers protection. Additionally, you can also check for insurance policies of the online store.
Make Sure You See Pictures of the Item you’re buying
Don’t be in a hurry to place an order, take your time to carefully assess every used equestrian item on the stores’ listings. Ensure to the best of your abilities that the items are in good condition before placing an order.
I also like talking to the seller first. If they happen to be in your area then you can always arrange for a meet up to try on clothes before you buy them. This works the best with seller apps on your phone that can track your location but you can set your filters on online commonplaces to do the same sometimes.
Top Recommended Resources
- EquusNow
- Amazon.com
- LetItGo (SmartPhone App)
One of the perks of shopping from EquusNow.com and Amazon.com is the protection they offer to their buyers. With EquusNow, they vet all of their items so you don’t have to worry that you’re getting something subpar. And they’ve laid out everything really well for you.
With Amazon you gotta do a little bit of digging to find used stuff but if there’s any problems with your order, you can just ship it back.
Similarly with LetItGo, there’s a little more work involved, and if you’re in a less populated area then it can be more annoying to meet up with people. But the advantage to this one is that you can meet up and try things on and see them in person before you pay for them!
If you need any help finding horseback riding apparel, don’t hesitate to contact me by commenting below the post! I’ll be more than willing to help.
Happy shopping! 🙂
WANT TO SEE MORE HORSEBACK RIDING OUTFITS?
See our whole collection of cute ideas for horseback riding outfits:
Hi there!
You have some great information here! I also run a website about horse tack and supplements. I have found that for myself I have been able to find some really good deals on facebook pages made for tack swapping, such as used Back on Track products. As long as you use paypal it is safe for the buyer and seller. I will be saving your page; I’m looking forward to reading more of your posts.
Hey Shelby!
Thank you for the support 🙂 Feel free to comment your website on here – I’d love to take a look
And really? That’s a good call actually, thanks for adding that! I haven’t used Facebook myself for tack or riding clothes yet, although I have used it for furniture haha
Martina,
I am just starting out riding and am trying to get the gear for my first HJ show. I was curious if you knew any websites that have cheap show clothes and boots. I already have paddock boots & half chaps, but need a good reliable pair of show boots that are inexpensive. Thanks!!