Grooming Supplies that Won’t Break the Bank

By Liv Gude of Professional Equine Grooms, special contributor to Heels Down Mag

When it comes to your horse, only the best will do.  And when you can score some crazy budget deals, you’ll have more money in the bank for what you really need.  So hit the dollar store and stock up on some cheap horse grooming supplies.

Double-sided sponges 

Yes, you can wash dishes with these, but you can also clean your tack with them. Use the scrubby side for bits, stirrup pads, irons, buckles and feed buckets. Use the soft side for leather cleaning and conditioning. Price: $1-3 per pack

Microfiber cloths

These are good for your dusty car dashboard, or nabbing the last bits of dirt and dust that your dandy brush left behind. Also good for wiping down your riding boots. Can be easily washed! Price: $7-10 per pack

Baby wipes

For your horse, last minute touch ups. For you, last minute touch ups. Do your fellow grocery shoppers a solid and clean up a smidge. Price: $3-11 

Sea sponges

They come in loads of sizes, so you can have some small ones for tack, medium ones for cleaning horse faces, and larger ones for bath time. Price: $7-20

Olive oil

Some folks use olive oil to shine up hooves and clean tack. Also convenient for salads. Price: $5-15  

Stack of washcloth photo

Stack of washcloths

For tack cleaning, hand wiping, horse-nose cleaning, boot cleaning, you name it. Price $1-4 a stack.

Diaper rash cream

Not just for baby butts. Use on your horse’s body where he might get a tack rub or in between his butt cheeks if the skin is irritated. Also for scrapes, cuts, and the corners of his mouth to prevent the bit from rubbing a sore. A zinc-based diaper cream is an excellent sunscreen for pink-nosed horses. Price: $5-20

Vertical shelving

All sizes. Perfect for organizing small things like braiding kits, or use larger sizes for a grooming stall at a show for saddle pads, boots, etc. This is the best way to avoid the bottomless pit of tack trunk. Easy to pack and move for shows. And, label fans out there, rejoice! Lots of drawers you can label! Price: $9-15

Small buckets

For sorting tools and bottles in the wash rack, grooming area, tack room and feed room. You can pick up some buckets, or you can reuse supplement tubs. Go super fancy and label these buckets with address stickers from hardware store so you don’t end up mixing meals in the shampoo mixing bucket. Price: $6-12

Super stiff brush

For heavy feed tub and trough cleaning, removing stall cleaning evidence from your pants, and scrubbing mud from hooves. Price: $8-17

Look around for inexpensive alternatives that can help you save some money and keep your expensive investments clean and cared for. Happy bargain shopping!