What "old school" products do you wish you could still easily find?

[Watermark Farm]

Originally Posted by mrsbradbury

I miss the galloping/ jumping boots that were shiny plastic, with the puffy waffle inside, and the straps slid through the clasp. Who made those? My last pairs passed on several years ago.

Those were Hampa and Ulster boots. I got my first pair in high school and was so proud of them.

I still have them in my tack trunk. They are torn and worn out, but I cannot bear to part with them. They are 25 years old!

What I miss is those petal bell boots, or "clackers" as we called them. I thought they were no more, until I saw them in Bit O Britain catalog. I swear, I can't jump without that sound!

[scpezold]

Originally Posted by KaraAD

I already really really miss Furzone (Furasen) spray - the neon yellow spray stuff. I can't find it at any of the tack stores.

I am almost 100% sure this is still available at my local feed store. Just used it on my guy the other day and I know I bought a can recently. If I find they still carry it I can ship you a few cans. Unless they JUST discontinued it.

I ordered my first Kiwi New Zealand rug out of either the Dover or Millers catalog in the early 90's. Loved it and not sure what happened to it when I moved to another barn.
A couple years ago I tried to look for them but to no avail the company had gone out of business. Then one day two magically appeared on ebay, size 76 and 78. Snagged the 76 but missed the 78. A tack store was going out of business and cleaned out old forgotten stock. I dont care how heavy and smelly they get, I covet that rug. I even ordered an extra the chest closure strap (the one with the sheepskin) shortly after I got my old rug. Never used it and it is still in the plastic bag in lid of my tack box where it has not moved in the last almost 20 years. I held onto it for reasons unknown and so glad I did as I now have a backup.

New Cavalry bridles. Although still available they were great tough, classic bridles and I cherish mine. I have mentioned them on COTH before and not to many ppl knew what I was talking about.
I have heard the quality is not what it used to be. Can anyone vouch for that as I would love to purchase another.

Brushes with wood handles. All brushes seem to be plastic now and quality wood brushes seem harder to find.

Leather back brushes by Valet. I think they were made by Millers.

Full chaps. No one seems to ride in them any more. I refuse to convert to half chaps. Went back to my old hunter barn to visit and found out both of my trainers had converted several years ago. Traitors

My Blue Ribbon close contact saddle was my first saddle and although I no longer ride in it but it will always be with me. I bought a County Stabilizer in 1995 and although the knee pads took some getting used to that saddle is like you are sitting on many layers of Charmin. So cushy. I think knee pads were just becoming popular in the hunter ring then. Now you would be hard pressed to find a non padded flap in the hunter ring.

TBs (off the track of course) in the hunter ring.

Wilsun products. I have their boot bag and saddle cover. Bought the Equi-Robe years ago and recently had my stupid mare take off with it on. Of course she shredded it in places but I refuse the get rid of it as I know it can be patched.

Triple Crown wool show cooler. Still looks brand new with exception of a few holes where mouse got to it. My Triple Crown stable blanket (around 20yo) is still kicking (piping is worn in places) and I use it as an extra layer under my NZ rug when I turnout.

I bought a plaid blanket (Baker lookalike) in the mid to late 80's (before I knew about Bakers) that still looks new today. I have searched that blanket over and cannot find a brand or tag. That blanket has stood the test of time and I would love another.

Do they still make grooming halters?

Heavy wool bumper cap.

Green Grand Prix coat with rust TS with my light peach shirt. I have 2 of each and probably could not give them away now.

The old bucket heaters (long rod with coil on the end).

Jump cups in the show ring. They look different now and do not have pins.

Hunters AND Jumpers seem to entertwine now where the jumpers used to be a whole other world (at least to me).

What was a groom? I thought that was me?!?

The lollipop pad.

Childrens hunters?? For some reason I heard this class is no longer offered.

Bot comb with keychain looking loop.

Quilted Wilkers saddle pad with thick foam pad in the seat area.

The black neoprene (but not) half pad that went between saddle and pad???



Wow, just realized I wrote a book and got a little off topic. I could probably write more if I thought hard enough.

Oh the sweet memories and it does not seem that long ago.

Great thread!

[Renae]

For those who like a good thick wool cooler you can get them from RaDon in either old fashioned square style or the shaped style, pony to draft horse size, $115-$165 depending on size and square or shaped http://www.radoninc.com/

[Fairview Horse Center]

Originally Posted by scpezold

The old bucket heaters (long rod with coil on the end).

I misplaced mine about 2 years ago, and really want another.

[appychik]

Well, I've only had horses for just coming on 10 years, but I'm glad to know that I should cherish my hard-as-rocks Stubben Woton. It's only 10 years old, but doesn't look it whatsoever (probably cause I use my Kieffer more then anything else). That saddles still isn't really broken in and is still that reddish-havana brown color... my trainer didn't tell me to oil it .

I've seen the crocheted pommel pads, lollipop pads, petal boot, heavy felt head bumpers, etc lately. Just sold a head bumper a year or two back at a tack swap cause I didn't use it nearly enough.

I am going to look for that Murphy's soap though... you all got me so curious.

[amastrike]

For those of you who want short toothed pulling combs, you can get them here or here.

[Puddin Pie]

I am having fun looking at this thread. I remember flipping thru the old Libertyville and Miller's catalogs when I first got my horse in 1986 (I still have him-and some of the original brushes we bought from Miller's). I still have the triple crown closed front sheet that I bought used in about 1987 and loved that thing so much I found a black one about 5 years ago that became his new show sheet-it is still going strong.

I still have most of my original bridle work and every bit that I have ever owned! Ah, memories.

[ExJumper]

Does any one know where I can find some hammerhead spurs? I haven't seen those in years -- and I love them! I think they've been replaced by those roller ball spurs.

[STABLESWOT]

three words English string gloves

[Vandy]

Thanks for this thread - just read through the whole thing, and it's been a nice trip down memory lane

When I was a kid, the ultimate in cool at the barn was:
A TB junior jumper with Hampas, petal bell boots, a Navajo pad/cashel/flat Steinkraus Hermes saddle; helmet with a detachable clear harness that we'd snap off when the trainer wasn't around; walking around cooling out with a Triple Crown wool cooler; and finally putting on a net cooler in the aisle while we wrapped legs with flannel bandages secured with pins For shows we'd use the pommel pads in our barn colors.

The unabashedly old-school feed store near me has about 20 different Navajo pads. I am always tempted to buy one, but haven't yet. Oh and the same ones have been sitting on the same shelf there for, oh, at least five years (since I moved here...who knows, maybe they were there for 20 years before that! ) If anyone needs one, drop me a line. I think they are about $20.

Oh and I still use cashel pads I have a lift-back, a lift-front, and a straight one.

I have a friend who randomly decided that all of his (20+) horses needed NZ Rugs a few years ago. He had a heck of a time finding them, but ordered from somewhere and paid a bloody fortune. Give me the new Rambos or Rhinos any day - never cared for the NZ rugs at all! In fact, I bought a horse from this friend last year and didn't have the heart to tell him I hated the NZ rug the horse came with...ended up donating it (the rug, not the horse) to a rescue.

[Chief2]

Originally Posted by Grataan

Yeah but, uh, a whole 5th? Of JD? and the onion up the well you know is for????

/boggle

I think I've got the answer to that. Onions are supposed to have anti-inflammatory properties, so while he is pouring the JD down to relax the gut ('instead of buying expensive banamine from the vet'--and he's probably pouring it into a bucket and having the horse drink it straight, which is how an old friend of mine does it), he either thinks he is reducing swelling in the rectum by packing it with chopped onions so the manure can then pass through more easily, or he is making the skin more slippery by taking that handful, sticking his hand into the rectum and rubbing the walls with it. Not my kind of medicine.

Please, Grataan, you've just got to ask him about this when you go back out there for one of these! It's a Dr. Herriot moment, for sure! Besides, inquiring minds want to know.

[HuntJumpSC]

I would love to find a pair of fingerless crochet back gloves, with the leather palms. Anyone know where I could snag a pair?

[bdj]

Originally Posted by HuntJumpSC

I would love to find a pair of fingerless crochet back gloves, with the leather palms. Anyone know where I could snag a pair?

Never found those actually made/designed for riding, but I had several pairs that I acquired from bike shops (bicycle, not motorcycle) and also from the exercise equipment aisles of sporting goods shops - they were supposedly designed for weightlifters.
Also had a freaking awesome pair of fingerless gloves that someone told me looked just like the ones that they'd seen on board a racing sailboat, too.

[SmartAlex]

Copper Coil bucket heater... I knew I'd seen one somewhere...

Darn Internet Explorer message won't let me get to the link button, so hope this comes out right.

http://www.fennells.com/store/produc...ters+%26+Pails

[Summer85]

Western bridles that were made with BUCKLES not Chicago SCREWS!!!!!!!!!!

[Mtn trails]

Originally Posted by Ozone

Ahh but creosote IS still around, you can make it yourself. However, it's illegal to use now a days. Worked great on the fences!

I miss bag balm being on the top shelf at the tack store.

Triple Crown!!! Yea, I know they are out there still but I remember that is all we had in way of blankets... and they were better then any Rambo today!

I still have a set of Triple Crown pillow wraps in my trunk that I bought in the '80s and are still in great shape. I got them at the Saddler in Wilton, CT. Is it still there?

[Fairview Horse Center]

Around 1979, I used to have a beautiful blanket for my horse that was called a Cadilllac because it was made of satiny paisley print Cadillac seat covers. I really loved that blanket.

[shawneeAcres]

Eldonian bits
rust breeches (ok a few still exist)
Fulmer full cheek bits
outside courses in every hunter division

And belive it or not I MADE my own New Zealand blanket back in the 70's!

[mojo7777]

The lovely leather-backed body brushes.

And the old Miller's catalog...

[rocky213]

I remember pouring through every item in the Millers catalog when I was a kid. Studying every item, little did I know that eventually, I would become a tackaholic and own practically every item in that catalog !!

I miss those Millers Thinsulate blankets ... this was the first generation of Turn out blankets before there was such a thing (Rambo wasn't invented yet). It was all the rage to own a Triple Crown stable blanket, and I remember doing turn out at a barn, swapping each horse's Triple crown or Baker blanket to a water resistant (waterproof wasnt invented yet either) New Zealand blanket. I really don't miss those New Zealands. They were heavy, and stinky and after swapping like 25 horse's blankets, I hated them even more.

Remember those tub wormers before the invention of paste tube wormers ?