Description: SmartPak Equine offers prepackaged doses of horse supplements and pharmaceuticals (the latter by prescription). If you're heading out for a horse trail-riding adventure, SmartPaks are a convenience, as well as a way to avoid spillage. If you live in a rural area far from a horse veterinarian or feed store, the service not only is a convenience, but also an opportunity to buy top-quality products at reasonable prices. For one flat fee, your order is delivered to home or barn.
The test: SmartPak's mail-order service was tested by lifelong horsewoman and equine journalist Honi Roberts. "I recently returned to central Washington after a 10-year absence," Roberts explains. "I have a mare with a chronic condition and had difficulty finding a good veterinarian nearby. I asked my new - but distant - vet whether she'd prescribe medications for me to purchase through SmartPak between visits. She agreed.
"When I called SmartPak, the company faxed its prescription form to my vet, who filled it out and faxed it back to the company's pharmacist. It was that simple. All orders received before noon Eastern Time ship the same day. The medications my mare needs are made in the United States, and I got them for about one-third the price I'd paid in the past.
"I was also considering a joint supplement for my teenage mare, so I called SmartPak and peppered customer-service representatives with questions about the wide array of supplements the company offers. I learned that the reps aren't just order-takers - they're horse-savvy college graduates who've had thorough product training; some have taken business-management and equine-studies courses.
"Most supplements and many prescriptions are available either in large containers or individual SmartPaks, the latter at little or no added cost. It's a dandy idea for trail trips, and at home, the packs prevent waste and make it super easy to dispense.
"My order arrived when predicted, with every product individually contained in its own resealable plastic bag. Both the product and the service have exceeded my expectations, and the company's catalogs are an education in themselves. A big 'thumbs up' to SmartPak!"
Cost: Prices are competitive in general, with potential savings particularly for prescriptions. There's a flat $5.95 shipping fee for any size order to one address (UPS Ground).
Contact: SmartPak Equine, (800) 461-8898; www.SmartPakEquine.com.
