And just like that we are approaching winter.
It seems like yesterday that I was getting excited about the launch of Marengo subscription box with the spring release. Now here we are unboxing curation #4…the Marengo Winter Box 2023.
I apologize, the photos are less than ideal this time. The weather has been awful and horizontal surfaces indoors are at a premium right now with all of my projects scattered everywhere.
If you are newer and unfamiliar, Marengo is the latest and greatest subscription box. The former founder and owner of Cavali Club, Carly, recently sold Cavali to Corro. Since the separation, Carly is bringing to life her vision for what she ultimately wanted in her offerings.
Marengo is a carefully curated selection of items…for both horse and human…taking into consideration new items, novelty, high-end, and highly useful. For one low price you receive a box loaded with incredible value; choose to get your box one time or get it seasonally. Each seasonal box is $79, which is very fair considering what you get from it…and since it’s only 4x/year it’s less than $320 per year. I don’t think Heart 2 Horse boxes exist anymore but they were monthly and 12 payments of 35/40 were made for over $600 each year (and the contents were much lower in value). Carly partners with small businesses and artists to put together this subscription. Everything is thought out each and every season…even the box is a new design every time.
For this quarter we were given 2 customized options:
Customization #1 (Choose 2 from the following):
- “The Marengo” by Novella Equestrian
- “The Monty” by Novella Equestrian
- “Do What You Love” Equestrian Sunshirt
- Nature Collection Scarf by Espoir Equestrian
- Equestrian Slippers from Dreamers & Schemers
Customization #2 (Choose 1 of the following):
- Essential Helmet Spray by Equestrian Wellness
- Leather Soap from Pony Suds (Assorted shapes!)
- Salve by Medica Equine
- Horse Necklace
- Dr. Hansen’s Equine Apothecary Formula 44 Spray
Customization #3 (Choose 2 of the following):
- Ellsworth Ponytail Hairnet (Pack of 2)
- Good Boy, Eddie. A novel by Rennie Dyball
- Show Strides: School Horses & Show Ponies by Piper Klemm and Rennie Dyball
- With Purpose: The Balmoral Standard by Traci Brooks, Carleton Brooks with Rennie Dyball
- Quick Knot Deluxe Braiding Pins – 35 pcs
- Leather Flower Concho by Punchy Posey
- Equestrian Inspired Nail Wraps by Sporty Nails
Aren’t you excited to see?! Let’s unbox this thing already!
My first choice for customization #1 was “The Marengo” by Novella Equestrian. I got this exact shirt in my last box…but I hate slippers, I don’t wear wraps, and I love this shirt. I know it fits well and I like the look. It won’t hurt to have 2. I mean it when I tell you my riding attire is more expensive than my civilian attire. This shirt retails for more than the box itself.
The Novella shirt is 92% Polyester and 8% Spandex. I’ve found the shirts to be a more comfortable fit. The wrists have an elegant black-white plaid design as well as the back. I love the design!
You can find more info at: https://shopnovella.com/
I also opted for the Do What You Love shirt. I love that I can have great riding clothes that are comfortable, fit well, and are trendy. I wouldn’t normally buy these on my own so it’s a huge treat for me. This also sells for more than $80. So with two items, I’ve doubled the value of the winter Marengo curation.
The black sunshirt is made by The Urban Strides. It is 85% nylon and 15% spandex. I bought a size larger than I thought I needed and it still fits snuggly. I hate feeling lumpy but the black helps mask it (and so do vests). I’ve already ridden in this shirt twice.
For our next customization, I chose to go with the Formula 44 Spray. The spray is made of competition-safe ingredients. The base is chlorhexidine and the spray is made to help with skin conditions like scratches, rain rot, itchy mane and tail, and more. With Nahe having sweet itch and Tiger having had scratches a couple times it’s always handy to have a product on hand to combat these issues before they are large problems. I also like having products in both locations (home and the barn).
Shop from Dr. Hansens at https://drhansensapothecary.com/product/formula-44-spray
For the third customization, I chose the book “With Purpose” The Balmoral Standard by Traci and Carleton Brooks with Rennie Dyball. I have a LONG list of books to read by now but it’s great to have them on hand and ready.
I also received a boss mare mug. I happen to be planning this one as a gift for a friend for Christmas as it matches her perfectly. That’s another great thing about these boxes. Even if YOU don’t use it all there’s a near certainty that you will have someone in your life that will love it. The Boss Mare Mug is designed by Equestrian Creations.
You can find all you need at: https://www.equestriancreations.com/
Carly often works with talented artists, and this season I received an oil print called “Pure Love” from Samvel Kalachyan. The scene is quite adorable. Sam is an Armenian-American artist who grew up with a passion for art. The print is 8×10 and is a giclee print, said to have a higher level of quality, color, and longevity than ordinary prints.
Finally, I came upon The Knotty Laundry Bag. This is a 26″ x 26″ mesh bag made to protect 1 saddle pad or a set of 4 polo wraps in the laundry.
More about these at: https://highpointequestrianequipment.com/products/the-knotty-laundry-bag
If I were to add up the value inside this ONE box that I got for $79 it would come to about $278. I’ve asked Carly how she does it but that’s her secret to keep. She is an absolute MASTER. Carly is dedicated to finding high-quality products created by small businesses, not factories. The items you receive in your boxes are the passion projects of fellow horse people like you and me.
Because of Carly, I have found some of my favorite brands, which is precisely why she does this….for the discovery of products that we all can appreciate and love.
It might not be too late to grab your Winter box so hurry over there before it is. The next box won’t ship until March 1st. Each new box drops in March, June, September, and December. Payments and orders are typically processed on the 15th of the month prior, and in the 2 weeks before shipment Carly has been offering an ADD ON option where you can add additional items at a discounted price to be included in your box. It’s a win-win.
So what are you waiting for? I get nothing for promoting Marengo, I just love it THAT MUCH!
https://marengoequestrian.com/
The Green Horseman 
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