If you have spent ANY amount of time in the equestrian world, you know that “bargain” is a word heard few and far between. Let’s face it: the equestrian world is not a cheap one. But just because our four-legged friends tend to be wallet-drainers, there ARE a few easy ways to save a little money on supplies.
The next time you are looking to load up your horse show bag or horse show survival kit, consider a stop at your local dollar store! YES – THE DOLLAR STORE! Believe it or not, you can pick up a BUNCH of supplies for both human and horse at the dollar store. From first aid supplies to snacks and toiletries, check out our our big list below for some inspiration.
We love using the dollar store to shop for supplies for our horse show day essentials kit!
Horse Show Supplies from the Dollar Store
Check out our list of ideas, organized by category. There are more than 40 supplies below that you can round up at the dollar store for horse shows. Scroll to the bottom for a simple text list that you can copy and paste into your notepad on your phone!
Personal Care
- Sunscreen: Protect skin from long hours outdoors.
- Lip Balm with SPF: Protect from sun and wind exposure.
- First Aid Supplies: Basic essentials for unexpected injuries (bandages, band-aids, triple antibiotic cream, etc).
- Antiseptic Wipes: To clean small wounds or freshen up hands.
- Hand Sanitizer: Keep germs at bay.
- Tissues: For runny noses or quick clean-ups.
- Hand Warmers: For shows on chilly mornings or days.
- Petroleum Jelly: For minor scrapes or as a moisture barrier.
- Disposable Gloves: For dirty jobs or medical needs.
- Cooling Towels: Refreshing during summer heat.
- Mints or Gum: Freshens breath, but also helps to calm nerves (especially peppermint)!
- Basic Medications: Such as Tylenol for headaches or Tums for heartburn.
Hair and Clothing Management
- Hair Nets: Essential for keeping hair tidy and collected under helmets.
- Bobby Pins: To secure hair and hats.
- Rain Ponchos: Stay dry during unexpected showers.
- Safety Pins: Quick fixes for wardrobe malfunctions.
- Elastic Hair Ties: Handy for putting hair up, securing items or makeshift repairs.
Hydration and Nutrition
- Water Bottles: Stay hydrated throughout the day.
- Snacks (granola bars, nuts): Quick energy for long days.
Grooming and Horse Care
- Brushes (hair and cleaning): For brushing human hair, grooming horses or cleaning gear. Toothbrushes work great for polishing small crevices on riding boots and tack. Hair brushes are helpful for combing out a horse’s mane and tail.
- Sponges: For washing horses or tack.
- Buckets: Useful for washing or carrying supplies.
- Comb: To touch up horse manes or human hair.
Tools and Emergency Supplies
- Flashlights: Handy for early mornings or late nights.
- Batteries: For flashlights or other battery-operated gear.
- Duct Tape: Quick fixes for a multitude of issues.
- Ziploc Bags: Great for keeping things dry and organized.
- Portable Fans: Stay cool in the heat.
- Lighters: For sealing the ends of ropes or emergency needs.
- Rope: Various uses, from securing gear to makeshift leads.
- Scissors: For cutting tags, tape, or emergency repairs.
- Tools: Basics like screwdriver, hammer and wrench for basic jobs.
Organization and Cleanliness
- Towels: Handy for drying off horses or equipment.
- Trash Bags: For cleanup and keeping the area tidy.
- Baby Wipes: For quick cleanups of hands, faces, or tack.
- Alcohol Pads: For cleaning or first aid.
- Plastic Tablecloths: For setting up a clean area or picnic.
- Clothespins/Clothesline: Perfect for hanging up wet towels or team back numbers.
- Dish towel or Microfiber cloth: Great for last-minute boot shining.
- Mesh Laundry Bag: Nice to have a place to collect dirty clothes throughout the show day.
Miscellaneous
- Notebooks: For jotting down scores or notes.
- Pens and Markers: For filling out forms or labeling.
- Mirror: Quick checks before entering the ring.
- Insect Repellent: Essential during bug season.
- Dry Erase Board and Dry Erase Markers: Use to list horse/rider assignments, class numbers or practice drawing jump courses.
Printable List – just copy and paste!
- Clothespins/Clothesline
- Dry Erase Board and Dry Erase Markers
- Notebooks
- Pens and Markers
- Mirror
- Tools
- Insect Repellent
- Towels
- Trash Bags
- Baby Wipes
- Alcohol Pads
- Plastic Tablecloths
- Flashlights
- Batteries
- Duct Tape
- Ziploc Bags
- Portable Fans
- Lighters
- Rope
- Scissors
- Brushes (hair and cleaning)
- Basic Medications
- Dish towel or Microfiber cloth
- Sponges
- Buckets
- Comb
- Water Bottles
- Snacks (granola bars, nuts)
- Hair Nets
- Bobby Pins
- Rain Ponchos
- Safety Pins
- Elastic Hair Ties
- Sunscreen
- Lip Balm with SPF
- First Aid Supplies
- Antiseptic Wipes
- Hand Sanitizer
- Tissues
- Hand Warmers
- Petroleum Jelly
- Disposable Gloves
- Cooling Towels
- Mints or Gum
- Mesh Laundry Bag
I hope this list is helpful as you prepare for your next horse show! I love shopping for supplies before the first show of the season and then I restock my bags as needed throughout the year. The following year, I replace anything that has expired with fresh, new items.
Let us know if you can think of anything we forgot! Drop us a comment and tell us about it! Happy showing!
