My friend Micah Fae Thomas has ridden for 30 years, owned horses for 20, and coached professionally for five. She is also the person who marched me, Chloe, and my mother-in-law through the tack shop aisle saying "need it, skip it, get that at CVS." Her rule: if it's for you, save. If it's for the horse, spend.

In this episode, we get into:

• What a brand-new lesson kid actually needs, and when to start buying it
• Why the most expensive helmet isn't automatically the safest
• The horse expenses Micah would never cut (training rides top the list)
• Brown mouthwash, diaper cream, maxi pads, and other swaps hiding at the drugstore
• The golf store hack for riding shirts
• When your kid is actually ready for a rated show (Micah has opinions)

Neither of us is a vet, so run any first aid swap past yours first.

If you've ever stood in a tack shop wondering why a hoof pick costs $70, this one's for you.

Thanks to our sponsors!

Big Dee's Tack & Vet Supply: https://www.bigdweb.com - use code BHM10

Guest Links

• Micah on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/just2junebugs
• Micah on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@just2junebugs

Broke Horse Moms Links

• Website: https://brokehorsemoms.com
• Newsletter: https://brokehorsemoms.com/newsletter
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/brokehorsemoms
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/brokehorsemoms
• Voice notes: https://speakpipe.com/bhm

Resources Mentioned

• Virginia Tech Helmet Lab Equestrian Helmet Ratings: https://www.helmet.beam.vt.edu/equestrian-helmet-ratings.html
• Champion Saddlery, Richmond, VA: https://championsaddlery.com/
• Full show notes: https://brokehorsemoms.com/save-money-horse-supplies/

Chloe forgot her course. Then she fell off in the show ring. Then she got right back on, while I stood at the rail wondering why we weren't packing up the trailer.

This is my horse mom version of the "Let Them" mantra. It isn't the stop-controlling-everything version. It's the one where we let our kids muck stalls, wrap legs badly, clip off part of a horse's tail (sorry, Billy), ride the quirky ones, fall off, cry, and see just how big this horse world is.

I'm also covering how to open these doors (hint: ask) and how to afford them when shows are already eating the budget.

Plus, Broke Horse Moms is officially one year old! If this show has helped you at all, a review on your podcast player would mean the world. Tell me what you want to hear next.

• Big Dee's Tack & Vet Supply: https://www.bigdweb.com (use code BHM10)

• Website: https://brokehorsemoms.com
• Newsletter: https://brokehorsemoms.com/newsletter
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/brokehorsemoms
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/brokehorsemoms
• Voice notes: https://speakpipe.com/bhm

• The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins: https://www.melrobbins.com
• United States Pony Clubs: https://www.ponyclub.org
• Ep 19: Are We Raising Riders or Buying Ribbons: https://brokehorsemoms.com/united-dressage-jumping-club-david-reichert/

Grace Speckman tracked every single dollar she spent leasing a horse and still ended up $14,000 in the hole after four months. She's a certified financial planner. If it can catch her off guard, it can absolutely catch the rest of us. In this one, we get into the costs nobody warns you about (looking at you, saddle fitting), how to budget for a sport that thrives on surprise expenses, and the uncomfortable math Grace does on what it costs us long-term to keep saying yes to horses right now. I walked away from this conversation with an actual plan instead of just crossed fingers, and I think you will too.

Thanks to our sponsors!

• Thanks to Big Dee's Tack & Vet Supply https://www.bigdweb.com/ for their continued support of Broke Horse Moms. Use code BHM10 to receive an additional 10% off your order.

Grace's Links

• The Thoughtful Equestrian's Guide to Protect, Grow, and Pass on Wealth
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dollarsandhorsesense/
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GraceSpeckman
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/grace-speckman/

Broke Horse Moms Links

• Website: https://brokehorsemoms.com/
• Newsletter: https://www.brokehorsemoms.com/newsletter
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brokehorsemoms
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brokehorsemoms
• Leave me a voice note about a question you'd like answered: https://speakpipe.com/bhm

Resources Mentioned

• YNAB (You Need A Budget) budgeting app