Friday, November 26, 2010

TACK Friday!

For me, the idea of waking up at 3am and spending the day at the mall, elbowing and shoving 5 thousand other half-crazed, jacked-up-on-caffeine-and-holiday-discounts shoppers is about as appealing as repeatedly stabbing myself in the eye. But I do love a good deal. Solution? Stay home and shop online -- lots of great deals, but with zero threat of bodily harm.

This weekend is VTO Saddlery's big sale. And since I need a new pair of paddock boots, I figured it was the perfect time to buy them. I found my Ariat paddock boots, selected my color and size..."Add To Cart" *click* "Aaaaaahhhh." It's like internet heroin.

But, of course, you can't just buy one horsey item, especially during a huge sale! My gloves seem to have wandered off into Lost Glove Land a few months ago, so I added a pair of MacWet Gloves to my cart. Then I browsed through the bit section; I've been lusting after the Herm Sprenger Duos and the Nathe mouth bits for the longest time, but I just cannot justify spending over $70 on a bit. And then I stumbled across this. It's a Korsteel Flexi Flavored Eggbutt Mullen Mouth bit and it's only $30 (pre-discount!). Yep, that got added to the cart, too.

By now, I had that blank, glazed-over look that one gets from repeated "Add to Cart" hits. And then I stumbled across the best deal yet -- a Soft Touch girth for only $20 (BEFORE the discount!)!! Eeeeeeeek! They are amazing girths and I've been wanting one for EVER!!  Deal of the century!

So, did any of you get some steals & deals on tack today? Or did you go the more traditional route and get into a knock-down drag-out brawl over a toaster oven?

6 comments:

Alana said...

Nice deals! I actually decided to stumble into the Goodwill by my TSC store on Wednesday and saw.....and BRAND SPANKING NEW tipperary eventing vest in MY SIZE for....$9. They didn't know what it was. I was super excited. Now, since they aren't safety rated, I can't figure out if I want to sell it and put the money towards another vest fund, or keep it. Decisions decisions!

Frizzle said...

WOW, Alana, you win the Best Deal Ever prize! That is one sweet buy!

But, if I were you, I would sell the vest on ebay and put that $$$ towards a Beta-certified vest. The Tipps certainly do look light & comfy; but you have all of those animals who rely on you, and you certainly don't want to be injured because of a sub-par vest!
If you browse through the Eventing section on COTH, you'll find a million threads about safety vests. Seriously, EVERY brand is discussed, praised, trashed, etc. Quite informative!

SprinklerBandit said...

Keep the vest!! They are ok, they just aren't beta rated or something, which means they aren't rated to stand up against puncture wounds. Think about it. How many riders fall off and succumb to puncture wounds?

I can't think of any.

Your call, though. If your size is a medium and you want to get rid of it, CONTACT ME. For serious.

And Frizzle, I totally wish I could have done black friday tack shopping, but between my husband's birthday and my latest western adventures, I've just had to close my eyes. Your haul sounds lovely, though.

baystatebrumby said...

I am very jealous of all the horse shopping you did. Sometimes I go to horse.com and quietly coo over everything I see in there. I am trying to resist the urge to start shopping for a saddle. Why would I buy a saddle when I already have one I like? It makes no sense at all, but there I go on Big Horn.com. I guess I'm crazy!

eventer79 said...

If I wasn't so crappy, I would have SENT Alana the dang vest, but I failed big time. I suck! But hey, for $9, you can't beat that! They aren't Beta rated, both for lack of puncture protection and they don't absorb as much shock as the heavier foams. But it'll get ya started!

Alana said...

haha! it is ok eventer! Since I am not actually, you know, eventing....I am not too worried about it as of yet. At the point the BillyGoat and I start leaping over 3 foot logs, then I will definitely want something Beta rated. Until then, it may be worn under a shirt as undercover paintball protection. Has a Tipp vest ever felt so undignified? lol!