THE HIGH COST OF RIDING CLOTHES

THE HIGH COST of RIDING CLOTHING

The cost of living is high in every category and, let’s be honest, add hobbies – or horses – to the budget and it’s easy to see the end of the money before the end of the month. Kathleen Iles of Calgary is the owner and operator of The Tack Collector, a thrift and consignment centre for horse equipment and riding clothing. Here are some of her best tips for stretching your equestrian dollars.

BY JENN WEBSTER

The Tack Collector in Calgary, Alta, has been in operation since 2006 and this unique business offers a perfect solution for equestrians looking to make their riding costs more affordable. Considering themselves specialists in tack consignment, the store features an inventory comprised strictly of second-hand equipment. With over 2,500 square feet of space, there are many bargains to be found here on everything from blankets, to bits, to riding clothing.

“It’s easy to justify the amount of money we spend on our horses,” says Kathleen Iles, owner and proprietor of The Tack Collector. “Yet, the number of people who buy new – at very high prices – still blows me away, as there are many alternatives these days.”

In this Q & A, Iles gives us some of her best tips for stretching our equestrian dollars.

Q. Can you buy helmets second hand?

A. Helmets should always be purchased new, with tags attached, and should be checked for soundness. Even in new condition there are occurrences (fortunately very infrequently) where the helmet may have been dropped or damaged from a variety of situations between manufacture to customer. A visual inspection should be performed to check for any deep scratches, small dings, and rubs on the outside (and inside, if it has a removable lining). You should also do a “light squeeze/pressure test” with both hands on the helmet – just enough to feel some movement from the brow and back, and on both sides to help determine if it’s still sound, or just looks good. If there is a weakness from a crack you cannot see, you may feel a slight difference on one side or the other.

Also the lining should have the new “from-the-box-smell,” to avoid it being a second-hand helmet that has been well cleaned up. Used helmets are not recommended to purchase or use, particularly older ones that do not follow current safety standards. That being said, if a used helmet is the only option for a current situation, it is better to wear that used helmet over riding with no helmet at all. An extra diligent review of the overall helmet condition is recommended before use, with regular soundness checks and the intention of replacing it with a new helmet as soon as possible.

Q. When does a purchase become more about “fashion,” as opposed to “function?”

A. Fashion is a part of riding, whether you are in fashion or make your own fashion. Based on the importance of wearing safety equipment, fashion and functionality are completely intertwined and there are many opposing opinions. Manufacturers have done a good job of maintaining enjoyable fashions within the lower price ranges, without lowering safety standards, so you can safely ride without breaking the bank. Wearing a helmet that follows current safety standards, that fits well and is enjoyable to wear for long periods, should be key. The helmet warranty program some higher-priced helmets have is a nice program to take advantage of, in the event a helmet is damaged. In this case, it can potentially justify the higher purchase price.

The Tack Collector offers 2,500 square feet of equestrian bargains.

Q. What do you think about the old saying, “Good products will be worth their weight in the long run?”

A. I definitely agree with that saying. When it comes to riding tack and equipment, it’s the polar opposite of safety standards (as compared to those for helmets). There appears to be zero safety standards with riding tack and equipment. I find this amazing, considering most riders take it for granted that all pieces of equipment are created the same and automatically keep us safe.

I spend a lot of time detailing the very minor, negative conditions of tack and equipment for safety reasons, to make people aware of weak areas. Not every new piece of tack is equal and the quality of the materials and the craftsmanship is reflected in the prices for most. The cheaper items tend to use stiffer/sharper nylon, stiff/rigid leather hides, and all tend to either break sooner or wear very poorly. Understandably, you may not want to spend a bunch of money on a horse you only have for the summer, or a pony being brought along to sell, etc. However, many times a good quality piece of used tack will be the same price as the new, poorer quality item and when you’re done with it, it will be easier to resell. Quality usually wears better and keeps its value if it’s taken care of – even marginally. It is easy to get into expensive tack and equipment, based on brand and the materials they use. Their biggest difference is the preparation (oiling/softening) they do on an already nice piece of leather. A lot of mid-range tack can achieve the same condition these more expensive brands come with at purchase, by doing regular maintenance yourself (including oiling). Unfortunately, we find a lot of the very low-end leather cannot be maintained and oiled into a softer/stronger product, as the initial hides used were so poorly prepared to start with.

Although they are neither clothing nor equipment, blankets are also a very good example of this concept. There is a big difference between materials (fabric strength, fill, and hardware strength) in the lower priced blankets. Higher quality blankets tend to hold a higher resale value much longer, as long as they aren’t overly abused. They will take more of a beating than the others, but obviously they are not completely immune to barbed wire, or being in with a bunch of playful/ destructive two-year-olds. You might not want to spend a bunch of money on blankets in situations like that.

Q, English riding boots seem like something you can’t really get around, especially if you want a safe product… but they are costly. Would you agree? Any tips for beating their high cost?

A. I completely agree that both craftsmanship and leather quality affect prices and comfort. When kids are growing and their interest in the sport is just beginning, it is tempting to get them lower priced boots. Unfortunately, a lot of these boots do not fit most kids well in the foot, inner heel, and ankle. As we spend more time walking than riding, foot pain can make them not want to ride for too long. Finding a better quality boot (which can cost about the same or more than the newer, stiff boot) tends to make the entire experience more enjoyable. Quality brands also tend to keep their resale value with some regular cleaning and polishing, whereas the lower quality boots see a steep, declined resale value based on the extreme cracking and rubbing they can receive. In the end, the lower priced boots tend to suffer a significant drop in resale value by comparison. Q. What do you think about buying riding clothing off Kijiji? Or Craigslist?

A. And Facebook Marketplace. All good sources. Buyer beware though.

Q. Do you think judges notice the difference between high priced clothing and bargain buys?

A. When it comes to splitting between ribbon choices – especially when many rounds are the same – judges look at rider presentation. Bargain buys, as far as used/pre-loved clothing goes, have a huge variety of prices based on brand, age, condition, current colors, etc. A lot of higher priced brands will, again, be about the same as the new store price. Unfortunately, a lot of bargain priced jackets do not have the same quality materials, cut, or sewing. This means a lot of the bargain jackets, shirts, and breeches tend to have one shape – which does not flatter most riders. It is tempting to purchase show jackets (especially for growing kids) on the bigger side, however, the down side is that the material can hang quite heavily, with a looser fit. This results in a sloppy look, versus the fitted, tidy presentation the judges are looking for.

Q. Now let’s talk about western show outfits… With all the rhinestones and bling, many are custom made pieces. Do you carry these items?

A. We do carry these in the shop, but generally just shirts and full outfits for kids. These tend to be the harder ensembles to sell, compared to English outfits. There are so many more fashion criteria that the western judges look for with current colors, styles, and bling in western disciplines. Chaps will hold their value well, and the clothing tends to keep a decent resale value based on brand. The biggest price issue is the age of the items, as that can devalue them fairly quickly. The American eBay website has some of the best selection and there are several convenient shipping center companies now that can facilitate using US shipping addresses, for sellers who will not sell to Canada.

The Tack Collector has thousands of items available at discounted prices, for almost every discipline.

Q. What do you think of the bargain-priced riding products that come from some specific equestrian stores?

A. There aren’t really a lot of positive things to say about generic brands. Kid’s clothes tend to be outgrown before they become an issue, however, the bigger sizes for older kids/adults do have fabrics and fits that don’t last and we see a lot of seat-seam holes.

Q. In the end – if you’re on a budget – how would you advise people to spend their hard-earned money these days, on top of the high price of groceries (and the cost of living)? Especially when lessons, training, farrier and veterinary care, and show fees and board, etc. are all important too…

A. Look for quality, used items over purchasing new, cheaper items. The used may cost more initially than the new, but in the end it will maintain its value if cared for, and therefore, retain a decent resale value. It will also last longer based on the initial, good quality.

Q. Any other tips for really stretching your dollars when it comes to buying riding clothes?

A. Check out the clearance racks, online and in-store. Check out consignment shops. Look for the mid to high-end brands in good, clean condition. Like grocery shopping, be aware of current regular prices in store and online. When online shopping (especially in the UK and the US), be sure to calculate shipping and evaluate return policies and potential duty and taxes (which are sometimes applied) before committing to the sale. There are a lot of online shops in the Europe and the US where the items are initially quite a bit cheaper to purchase – and may not even be something you can purchase in Canada. The shipping costs, once converted, can be high. Duty and taxes may be decent as retailers usually have a company/bulk rate with the big shippers, but if the item doesn’t fit, you need to be confident you can sell it locally. Usually it’s very expensive, or not worth your while to ship it back. Combine orders with others in your barn family to split those extra costs. To help realize better resale prices and appeal to most judges, purchase the mid to high quality materials and craftsmanship. Keep the clothing patterns simple and basic. Keep items clean and in good repair. Keep active in your barn community. As kids outgrow clothes, purchase them from other parents, or purchase items from other riders. Consign items no longer needed and use the funds towards updating and upgrading. AB