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 Am I really the Weirdo?
Posts: 11181
   
Location: Kansas | I've qualified for a rodeo finals this year that is doing a barrel racer gift exchange, so each of the top 15 have to bring 15 items to put one in each contestant's bag or bucket. I have done this a couple other times but I always struggle with what to take without breaking the bank or taking something worthless. In past years I've taken flashlights and horse treats. There is no price range suggested and I have exactly one week to come up with what I'm taking. How I missed the Facebook post about the exchange is beyond me, but now I'm scrambling. Any ideas? |
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 Bulls Eye
Posts: 6443
Location: Oklahoma | you could do brushes, treats, bottle of asprin, vet wrap, candy, candle, etc... |
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Red Hot Cardinal Fan
Posts: 4122
| Are there any products that you use regularly that you could get a sample size of? Hoof pick, brush, lead rope, dewormer, zip ties, pocket knife, gloves.... |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 682
Location: Texas | buy something out of the box... Something that you know they could/use down the road. Go somewhere that may want to donate some stuff too. If your going to be at a finals you can always make something.
go to restaurants and see if you can get some gift cards. |
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Location: Keeping up with the numbers! | Leather punch...we have several, but I can never find one when I need it. Also, I am really digging the duct tape with patterns...you can't go wrong with duct tape. Bath and Body Works has 2 for $22 large candles (think fall scents), 5 for $5 hand sanitzers and 3 for $12 travel size body care and there is an additional 20% off coupon. |
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 Porta Potty Pants
Posts: 2600
| vet wrap, hand sanitizer, wipes, lotion, hoof picks, leather punch, small first aid kits, nail kits with a nail clipper, packages of Chicago screws.
Edited by azsun 2014-09-18 2:19 PM
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 Expert
Posts: 1268
Location: North of Tulsa, Oklahoma | Rain ponchos?
Hand warmers for pockets? |
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 Money Eating Baggage Owner
Posts: 9586
Location: Phoenix | Ditto everyone else....those nifty things are great.
what about some leather reins? I like the Ed Wroght ones or the ones from Equibeand ~$20.
Maybe a cute makeup bag from running roan? -$60
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 927
Location: Iowa | Bath and body, keychains, beauty shop sample packs, tail brush, bucket straps, saddle rain cover, horse socks, fuzzy slipper socks, hot chocolate mixes, homemade cookie assortment, candy, koozie, snaps, treats, magnet, brushes, small mirror. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 794
| Rubber bands for feet and manes, Go to Sonic and ask for discount card they give them to you for free. You could do the fancier hair bands from Dollar Tree or Dollar Store. Makeup bag to keep rubber bands in, Scissors I always need those, electric tape, zip ties, trailer ties, small mirror that can be mounted in tack room (with magnets)for hat adjustment. All the above can be purchased at Dollar Tree or Dollar Store and not be cheap looking. These are all things I feel I can not leave home with out knowing they are in my trailer. |
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Member
Posts: 41
Location: Texas | Painted horseshoe with something on it...make where you can hang, air freshener that is made in different designs and smells...Like the ones made by lindascandles.com...in Edna,Texas...Hope it is ok to post the website. |
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 Horsezips Number One Fan
Posts: 3519
Location: on a horse | Had a friend in your position last year and I had head bands made with the assoc/year embroidered on them. I know, you only have a week, but.....they loved them! |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 448
Location: lone star state | You can never go wrong with gift cards. Food and fuel are things everyone need especially when traveling. |
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10D Crack Champion
| Is this a standard thing at all rodeo association finals?
I guess I don't get the contestants having to bring other contestants gifts. Like me having to cook the meal and bake the cake at my own birthday party. LOL
Hoofpicks, brushes, rubber bands, saddle soap, bit guards, etc........ a nice picture frame....
Edited by sodapop 2014-09-18 9:35 PM
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 Total Germophobe
Posts: 6437
Location: Montana | Hoof picks! I have a hoof pick holder on my saddle, and I haven't lost one since (knock on wood) but never have too many. Maybe brushes, curries, other grooming supplies, halters (not expensive ones, just useable!), things that break, wear out, get lost, or grow legs and walk away I bet would be most appreciated! :) |
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Am I really the Weirdo?
Posts: 11181
Location: Kansas | sodapop - 2014-09-18 9:33 PM Is this a standard thing at all rodeo association finals?
I guess I don't get the contestants having to bring other contestants gifts. Like me having to cook the meal and bake the cake at my own birthday party. LOL
Hoofpicks, brushes, rubber bands, saddle soap, bit guards, etc........ a nice picture frame....
I've had to do it several times but it drives me nuts because it's one more thing I have to think of and then remember to pack. It is nice that even if you don't win any money, you still come home with some stuff, but I don't like the pressure of spending another $100 on gifts that someone else might not use. I guess I'd rather the director just get a few things donated or get some sponsorships to buy a few welcome gifts if they want to send everyone home with something. |
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Hungarian Midget Woman
Location: Midwest | They sell little bottles of absorbine liniment, too.
I've never heard of the gifts either. To me it would just be another expense, but it is also a nice idea.
Congrats on making your finals! |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 754
Location: Arkansas | sodapop - 2014-09-18 9:33 PM Is this a standard thing at all rodeo association finals?
I guess I don't get the contestants having to bring other contestants gifts. Like me having to cook the meal and bake the cake at my own birthday party. LOL
Hoofpicks, brushes, rubber bands, saddle soap, bit guards, etc........ a nice picture frame....
At the Arkanas Rodeo Association finals (AFR), our director asks for help getting donations, but no one is REQUIRED to do anything. We are lucky that we have had a great director these past few years that has worked hard to make sure all the barrel racers go home with a nice "goody bucket". I usually am able to get local places to donate things.
A western store one year gave me 15 pair of Justin boot socks--those were awesome! If you go to several different places, you can usually get 15 halters rounded up too. My husband and I dabble with leatherwork, so I've put nosebands on donated halter before that said "AFR Finalist", etc.
I know the girls that make the IFR do a gift exchange. It's usually pretty nice stuff there, but most get it donated.
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 Undercover Amish Mafia Member
Posts: 9991
Location: Kansas | Id do a cute makeup bag from running roan tack!!! |
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 Off the Wall Wacky
Posts: 2981
Location: Louisiana | hoofs_in_motion - 2014-09-19 7:59 AM Id do a cute makeup bag from running roan tack!!!
That would be $900.  |
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The Resident Destroyer of Liberal Logic
Location: PNW | I'd do bags of rubberbands. You can get bags of like 150 at any office supply store for $2 or so. And really, what are rubberbands NOT useful for?
Congrats on making your finals! |
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 Ones with the Hotties
Posts: 1451
Location: Centerburg, OH | do you have any extra polos made up? A pair each would be very nice. I would be thrilled. Congrats on qualifying you earned it!   |
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Expert
Posts: 2531
Location: WI | $10 Starbucks cards, who doesn't need coffee? Or even a $5 one would get you at least 1 drink. |
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 Veteran
Posts: 253
Location: SoCal | Not sure if this is any use, but if you happen to have a business who sponsors you, see if they'll donate something. A lot of feed stores tends to sponsor if you're going out and winning, and if you're making finals, I'm sure you could find someone to sponsor you or possibly donate something as well for you to take. We'd get buckets of goods sponsored for our shows here and the business would put their business card in there, and ta-da advertisement.
I like the idea of the horse treats. Little something for the equine athletes who took you to the finals. I like the idea of buying small things of liniment or poultice. If there is a certain brand you prefer, perhaps see if it comes in small "travel" sizes and set them up with that. I always seem to lose bobby pins and hair ties, so those are great ideas, buy a pack of bobby pins and ties and then maybe get a cute little bag to put them in. Traveling mugs can always come in handy, as well as gift cards of course. Lots of good ideas here for ya.
Best of luck at the finals! |
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Am I really the Weirdo?
Posts: 11181
Location: Kansas | Thanks for all the ideas. With when I have to leave for finals (Thursday evening), I think I am going to bake cookies because nothing could get shipped here in time. I've looked at some sites for some small horse items - the sort of things we always need/can use - but didn't find anything that I just loved. I bought a big bag of horse treats today and may wind up dividing those up into ziploc bags and having a food theme for what I take. |
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Veteran
Posts: 253
Location: SoCal | I'm a terrible cook so I'd have to buy the cookies! Like the idea of a food theme though. Not sure if you have a "dollar store" or something similar close to you, but they always have hair bands and bobby pins for pretty cheap. You can just throw those into bags. I'm not sure if they even sell them, or how much they'd cost, but the little bags that you pull closed for sunglasses and such would be a really good way to put things like hair bands and pins into. It's something that could be put into a purse, truck or hung up in the trailer for quick use. |
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Am I really the Weirdo?
Posts: 11181
Location: Kansas | Last Catt - 2014-09-21 9:14 PM
I'm a terrible cook so I'd have to buy the cookies! Like the idea of a food theme though. Not sure if you have a "dollar store" or something similar close to you, but they always have hair bands and bobby pins for pretty cheap. You can just throw those into bags. I'm not sure if they even sell them, or how much they'd cost, but the little bags that you pull closed for sunglasses and such would be a really good way to put things like hair bands and pins into. It's something that could be put into a purse, truck or hung up in the trailer for quick use.
I live 55 miles from the nearest Dollar Tree or $1 Shop LOL. I'll have to check the local Dollar General for ziploc bags tomorrow so I can bag up the cookies I'm going to make Wednesday afternoon. At this point I just hope I can get everything packed and get gone in time.....my schedule this week is insane! lol. |
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10D Crack Champion
| A digital picture frame?...... everyone has tons of pictures and no great way to show them all at once.
Edited by sodapop 2014-09-21 10:01 PM
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gift exchange at rodeo finals - need ideas of what to take