It's tack sale season: Need pricing pointers?

 

Whoa! It’s tack sale season again already.

 Like lots of horse lovers, I’ve been cleaning out closets. I’ve dug through my garden shed (where I’ve perennially stored lots of horse stuff).

That’s right. I’m vending again. This time it’s a tack sale organized by the local 4-H group. This event tends to be extremely well-attended, year after year.

 My table is reserved. My saddle pads are laundered. The boots are polished. The saddle is clean and sparkling. The show shirts are washed and ironed. You get the picture.

 

Now it’s time to price all that stuff.

 As I pack my jumbo totes for the trip, I am hoping not to have to repack them after the sale. It was hard enough weed through my long-time collection of equestrian-related accumulation. I really don’t want to bring stuff home and try to find places to store it again.

 

So I am pricing my items to move.

 Sure, a couple of things may command higher prices. My faithful big-name dressage saddle, for instance, may draw real money. My quilted saddle pads are (You guessed it!) $5 apiece. So are a handful of halters that suddenly materialized in my shed. (Just when I thought I had sold, donated, or given away all of them.)

 

Deep discounts draw shoppers!

 A few years ago, my table was quite popular at a local tack sale. Folks started calling it “The Five-Dollar Table,” because I offered tons of items for that price. Old bridles, saddle pads, bits, brushes, halters – you name it. Almost everything was $5.

 I went home with two filled totes and three empty ones. And a pocket full of $5 bills. On the way, I stopped for lunch with a friend and lightened my pocket a bit as well. All in all, I counted that day as a win.

 

Boots must be clean to sell.

 

Tack sale vending is largely about pricing things right – as in, small prices.

 For costly items (such as fine condition saddles, fancy leather chaps, sparkly show shirts, and leather full-seat riding breeches), many sellers start pricing at 50% below retail. That stuff has to be pristine, even at half-off.

 Basic items like grooming brushes, bits, halters, buckets, are usually priced much lower. Shoppers can find those on every table at the sale.

 Used boots may go cheap too, unless they are genuine leather, pricey brands, and super condition. I’ve seen Ariats, Dublins, and even Hermes for $10-$20. (I’m selling a lovely pair of Frye cowboy boots for $30.)

 Safety helmets usually don’t sell well. It’s hard to tell if they’ve been compromised by a tumble. So people steer away from them, unless they are practically give-aways. There may be someone gearing up for kiddy rides, pony camps, or birthday parties that’s willing to pick up a few extra helmets for a song.

 

The big question about tack sale pricing is simple.

 Are you willing to haul all that stuff home with you after the sale?

 If you really want to lighten your load, then your prices have to be low enough to draw the bargain-hunting browsers.

 

Negotiations are part of the game.

 Tack sale shoppers expect to haggle over prices. Everyone does it!

 “You’re asking $25 for this turnout blanket? I only have $12. Is that OK?”

 “Your tall field boots are $40. I’ll give you $18.”

 “These riding crops are marked $10 apiece. Can I have three for $20?”

 “If I buy the bridle, will you toss in a bit to go with it?”

 This stuff happens. And most sellers are willing to play along with the give-and-take. Some will make counter-offers, encouraging some back-and-forth with buyers.

 In fact, as the sale progresses, many begin dropping their prices, just to empty their tables. The best bargains can always be found in the final hour of the sale, as the crowd begins to thin. Sure, the pickings may be thinner then, but shoppers can scoop up some super deals from eager sellers. It’s not uncommon for a buyer to return to a seller with a repeated offer (or even a lower one), right before the sale closes.

 

Donations are always an option.

 Last fall, I set up a table at a local tack sale. When it was over, I made two piles: KEEP and DONATE. I packed accordingly.  I drove to my chosen donation site and dropped off that pile. Then I went home and stashed the other pile in preparation for this next sale.

 This time, I have resolved not to bring anything home (except maybe that saddle, if it doesn’t sell). I’ve already inquired, and the hosting 4-H group will accept donations on-site. That will definitely lighten my load for the trip home!

 

 

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Image/s: Public domain photo/s

Buying saddles or tack? What about COVID-19?

Mid-pandemic, tack shops and equestrians alike are still marketing their saddles and bridles and other horse tack. Money is tight for many, as jobless rates soar with pandemic-related layoffs and business closures (both temporary and longer), and the stock market fluctuates more wildly than the greenest colt.

But some horse-people still shop for equestrian equipment.

How does COVID-19 affect your purchase of a saddle or tack?

Safety is definitely a concern, as the coronavirus is extremely contagious. By government decree and/or merchant caution, many brick-and-mortar stores are closed, but still offering their wares online. And individual sellers still advertise used and new items on websites, in blog sidebars, on online bulletin boards, and through social networking.

The buying and selling has not ceased, although folks may have grown more frugal in the current economic climate.

Even remote buying and selling merits some caution.

Is your new stuff coming in with an unexpected add-on, the dreaded virus?

 Some experts believe the virus is able to linger on various surfaces. Here are a few pertinent examples for horsey folks (thanks to WebMD):

• Aluminum – 2-8 hours
• Cardboard – 24 hours
• Ceramics – 5 days
• Copper – 4 hours
• Glass – varies (up to 5 days)
• Miscellaneous metals – 5 days
• Paper – varies (up to 5 days)
• Plastic – 2-3 days
• Silver – 5 days
• Stainless Steel – 2-3 days
• Wood – 4 days

Think about that fancy saddle or bridle, with hand-tooled leather and silver conchos. Consider the shiny new plastic water bucket or grooming tote. Ponder the handy halter, the sweet wooden dandy brush, the fluffy saddle pad, or the metal shedding blade. How about that brand-new new hoof pick?

COVID-19 may last from hours to days on porous items like fabrics and leather. (Check out that beautiful new show coat, those flashy breeches, or that amazing pair of boots.)

Don’t assume something is virus-free, just because it’s brand-new.

Any one of these could still carry coronavirus, if it was handled by someone who was infected. Especially if you picked it up in person or paid extra for express delivery.

Even that sweet pedigree paperwork or breed certificate on the new foal could be contaminated.

And all that second-hand stuff? All bets are off there too.

Have you heard the glitter analogy about COVID-19?

This analogy helps to paint a clear picture of the situation. Let’s assume (for safety’s sake) that anything you obtain these days is tainted with the virus. Pretend it’s shiny like glitter, so you can see it. And it’s all over your new stuff.  Now you have to wash the glitter off before you use your new stuff.

Let's just consider everything contaminated for now, for the sake of safety. If we are over-cautious, we still may come out healthier.

What can you do?

Go ahead, and buy that pretty bridle. Order that sensational saddle. Splurge on that spiffy show shirt.

When your stuff arrives, you can open it outside, and toss all of the outer packaging. Don’t even bring it into the barn till you disinfect it (in a safe spot, like outdoors or in the wash-rack, if you plan to clean that after you’re done). Household disinfectants, laundry detergent, cleaning wipes, and even soap and water can clean your newly acquired items. Saddle soap does the trick for leather goods, if you scrub a lot and rinse and buff well. You may even opt to hire a professional tack cleaner for your new saddle or bridle.

Be sure to toss all of the outer packaging.

Then wash your hands.

Image:

Public domain photo

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10 handy horse-related applications for used toothbrushes

Mushy old toothbrushes can be extremely useful tools at the horse stables. In fact, plenty of equestrians keep cast-off toothbrushes in their horse grooming kits or tack boxes for a host of practical purposes. (No, most of us don’t brush our horses’ teeth.)

Equestrians and horse lovers probably replace personal toothbrushes regularly – just like many dentists instruct us to do. In fact, the American Dental Association recommends individuals toss out old toothbrushes every three months.

Instead of throwing away those soggy old toothbrushes, smart horse lovers hold onto them for use at the barn. Following are ten examples of ways used toothbrushes may come in handy for anyone who cares for horses. Thoroughly cleaned, soft old toothbrushes can be useful barn equipment for many practical purposes.

Adapted by this user from ABSFreePic image.

 

1. Applying hoof polishes and dressings

Hoof dressings (such as hoof blackeners, oils, pine tar, polishes, and other products) can be quite sticky and messy. An old toothbrush makes the ideal application tool.

2. Mixing equine medications

Equine veterinarians often prescribe medicines and nutritional supplements for horses, and these compounds may arrive in powdered or concentrated form. Some may even be produced in caplets, which must be crushed and diluted with water before administering them to horses. An old toothbrush serves as a super stirring tool for whipping up doses of medicines for equines, as it fits neatly into smaller containers.

3. Stirring up bran mash or beet pulp

If a horse owner wants to treat an equine to a bucket of warm, soupy bran mash or beet pulp, an old toothbrush makes a super stirrer.

4. Cleaning tack

Equestrians invest considerable funds in their bridles, reins, martingales, girths, surcingles and other leather training and horse show equipment. Cleaning and polishing this gear helps to keep these items supple and presentable and to preserve them for long-term use. A soft old toothbrush can be a useful tool for scrubbing oils, sweat, mildew, and debris from buckles, loops, and leather straps on horse tack.

This article originally appeared (in an earlier form) on another publisher’s property, which is now closed. All publication rights reside with the author.

5. Scrubbing bits

After use, a horse’s bit can be grimy and tarnished and covered with gunk. A soft toothbrush is ideal for scrubbing the bit clean. A dab of whitening toothbrush makes this task even easier – and adds a horse-friendly minty taste as well.

6. Conditioning a saddle

A quality leather English or Western saddle is a sturdy investment for any equestrian. Horseback riders tend to guard their saddles carefully, cleaning and conditioning them faithfully. A brand-new leather saddle must be conditioned extensively. Leather saddles need to be treated periodically (after cleaning) with an oil or leather conditioning product. A clean, but extra mushy, toothbrush is handy for applying these products into the many nooks and crannies of a well-crafted equestrian saddle.

7. Cleaning stall buckets

Each horse’s feed and water buckets must be cleaned regularly. Old toothbrushes are great for scrubbing out food residue, slimy stains, and other messes from these containers.

8. Polishing equestrian helmets

A horseback rider’s own head protection gear may become grimy with repeated use. A clean used toothbrush is super for scrubbing stains from an equestrian safety helmet.

9. Polishing boots

Equestrian paddock boots, cowboy boots, and tall leather riding boots can quickly become dusty, muddy or worse at the barn. A ratty old toothbrush is perfectly suited to cleaning and shining riding boots. The bristles fit neatly beneath laces and zippers, into tooling, along insole lines, and under heels.

10. Brushing a barn dog’s teeth.

Dogs tend to be part of the scene at the horse barn. Pet owners often find old, soft toothbrushes useful for cleaning their canine companions’ teeth every once in a while.

Here’s the most important tip, when using old toothbrushes.

It’s important to mark them clearly for their specific purposes. Of course, it’s essential to label used toothbrushes (with stickers or permanent markers), so they will be devoted to their exclusive uses. No one would want to stick a pine tar or saddle soap toothbrush into a food or oral medication container or an animal’s mouth.

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