I have been eyeballing SaddleBox for quite some time, a subscription box filled with treats and accessories for you and your horse. There is nothing like getting a present in the mail, but it made me even happier to think of all the fun things I could get for my little pony. I was so very fortunate that SaddleBox offered me a box to review, anticipating its arrival definitely gave me an extra skip in my next walking to the mailbox each day.
First Impressions
The package travelled from Ohio, USA to Northern B.C. Canada and it took about a week. The box is similar to the size of a shoe box and was labelled with their adorable logo. I waited to unbox it until I was at the barn with Elan because after all, it was more her present than mine. The inside was wrapped in tissue paper, and everything was laid out very neatly, fitting just perfectly. They also included a personalized card to myself, which really made the whole experience feel unique and very much like a present, I loved that. Everything in the box was clean and unused, most products still had their tags and original packaging intact.
SaddleBox included their own treats into the box, Feed Bucket Munchers, and I really loved the packaging. You could also see the product inside on the opposite side of the bag, which I just thought was a nice touch aesthetically.
Fit and Feel
Inside the box, I had an assortment of grooming supplies, treats and accessories. My box contained:
Treats (3) – Saddlebox Feed Bucket Munchers (Sweet Dates & Toasted Corn), Saddlebox Feed Bucket Mixers (Molasses “Horse Snaps” Cookies) and Claeys Peppermint Candy.
Grooming (3) – Tough-1 Mane and Tail Brush, Mane ‘n Tail Conditioner, Oster Hoof Pick
Tack (3) – Fieblings Saddle Soap, Round Sponge, Tough-1 Hobble Straps
Accessories (2) – Sticker (Horses Leave Hoofprints On Your Heart), 1 Wyoming Cowgirl Soap
So obviously the first thing I needed to do, was to double check that the baby horse liked the treats. I gave her the Molasses “Horse Snaps” Cookies and she loved them. I took the time to read the ingredients and was really happy to see that they were very natural, limited ingredients. They were easy to break apart and they felt like the homemade gingersnaps my Grandpa used to bake for me.
The next treat I tried was the Sweet Dates and Toasted Corn, I took the Bucket Mixers name seriously and added some into her daily ration of grain. She didn’t swish her little nose around in it, or try and flip the bucket so that’s always a good sign! She ate her grain happily and I would like to think it mixed up the flavour of boring fibre and supplements.
As for the peppermint candies… well, I might just save those for myself 😉
I can honestly say I will use everything in this box for their intended purposes, all except for the hobble straps. I will instead use them as extra straps to hold things on my endurance saddle for trail rides 🙂 While some of these products are common products we all have ie. hoof pick, I considered it a bonus. There are always those types of tools that we don’t buy enough of and those are inevitably the ones that manage to grow legs and walk off. Duplicates of everyday necessities are something I am always grateful for and will never stop using.
As someone who always smells like horses (apparently not everyone likes that smell? Go figure) I really liked the touch of the Wyoming Cowgirl Soap. I really appreciate brands that support and represent smaller companies. I looked into the website and they are just a small soap company who makes really natural soap with very moisturizing ingredients and nice designs on them as well!
Final Thoughts
I took time to read through Saddlebox’s website and was so happy to see that they support horse rescues. You can go to their website to see a list of those that they have helped and if you live in the USA you can contact them directly to make inquiries for your rescue. Saddlebox has supported these rescues by donating “free boxes, monetary donations and promotional support”.
My only concern for SaddleBox is the cost for those in Canada to have an ongoing subscription. Unfortunately, at this time, the Canadian dollar is not at its best, so with USD conversion things can really add up. If you live in Canada, the shipping is an additional $10 USD. I will say this is pretty reasonable compared to some shipping charges I have been offered by other companies, but if you are on a budget it’s just another cost to keep in mind. If you want to have a subscription for yourself, the website quoted at $34.95 USD and free shipping within the USA. If you choose the gift option, there are several choices in cost for how long you choose to keep the subscription going, as well as an indication of savings with every 3-month increments.
I do think that SaddleBox makes a really great gift. It is a great option for equestrians of all ages and all disciplines. There are many different kinds of items you could receive in your box, like books and gloves. Check out their post boxes, and possibilities for your box here. It definitely makes me think of a great present to give someone who just got their first horse or even just a treat for yourself; it is definitely an exciting surprise.
Always get back on,
Love Tess
*The opinions shared in this blog are of my own, and not a reflection of the company or its current and future products
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