PONY'TUDE Approved: Best Non-Equestrian Products

While my PONY'TUDE Approved product reviews usually feature strictly equestrian items, there are a few things that I've been using and loving lately that aren't marketed exclusively to riders. Here are the top non-equestrian purchases that have been invaluable to my horse life!

1. New Balance Running Belt

I bought this running belt (let's face it, it's a glorified fanny pack) on my trip to Florida last winter. Jess and I were going to be walking around theme parks all week, and there was no way I was going to be carrying my big, heavy purse around with me all day. At $20, the belt fit nicely into my budget and was big enough to hold my phone, keys, ID, and cash. It's made of a lightweight, stretchy mesh that can accommodate a big fat iPhone in a bulky case, and the belt is also elastic, making it really comfortable to wear. It performed GREAT on our trip to Universal Studios, and when I got home I started wearing it on runs and trail rides as a way to keep my phone and keys handy when I wasn't wearing a coat with zippered pockets. It's lightweight, comfortable, and fits the essentials without looking stupid. AND, as a bonus safety feature, it lights up! I feel safer and more comfortable running and riding in the evening knowing that drivers can easily see the red flashing lights, and that I have my phone on me at all times in case of emergency. This running belt gets two thumbs up!

they're the color of blue ribbons. 

2. Jamberry Nail Wraps

I did a post on these wraps before, and I still think they are the greatest beauty invention ever for riders. They take the same amount of time to apply as regular nail polish, minus the dry time, and last for 2 weeks even with all of the abuse I put my nails through at the barn. While I haven't quite gotten the knack of getting them on perfectly every time, they still look pretty darn good and I LOVE that I can have fun patterns on my nails without paying out the nose at a salon. 

3. Jergens Natural Glow Lotion

As riders, we are all doomed to have really tan arms and really white legs, unless your day job is laying on a beach. (If this is your day job, please let me know how I can get in on that.) Eventing Nation recently featured my delightful Instagram photo of this phenomenon. Despite generally Not Really Caring about having a perfectly even all-over tan, sometimes it's nice not to blind people when you wear shorts or a bathing suit. I decided to try this lotion on a whim, and boy was I impressed! It's designed to give you a gradual tan, building the color on your skin over several days. This stuff doesn't smell bad, doesn't leave me with creepy orange streaks, moisturizes my skin, and very nicely took my legs several shades darker. I no longer need sunglasses to look at my thighs, and that's awesome. 

4. LifeProof Nuud Phone Case

The barn is a dangerous, dangerous place for phones. They get dirty, they get stepped on, they fall into water buckets and puddles. And in an age when everyone has a $400+ iPhone or similar device, it's just plain stupid not to protect your investment. After drowning my last iPhone in a puddle when it fell out of my pocket while riding (whoops) my husband bought me a LifeProof case. These cases are not cheap, don't get me wrong, but it's WELL worth the price to know that your phone is protected against drops, stomps, water, and dust. I can literally throw my phone on the ground, dunk it in a bucket, and lose it in the arena footing without worrying about it breaking. The LifeProof case is just about the only thing that makes my iPhone completely Barn Proof, and the Nuud model is less bulky than others.