What Is the Future of Tack Shops?

Equestrians throughout the United States learned recently that Dover was closing its doors of all locations, after weeks of much speculation,as we read of random stores closing. Here in Central Florida, horsemen learned around the same time that we were not only losing Dover in Winter Park, also Stockman’s Harness Shop, who announced that they were closing their doors as well. In addition, several tack stores across the country have decided to throw in the towel, whether due to retirement or due to being unable to compete with online tack shops. This list also includes The Equestrian Shop in Rowley, Massachusetts. Located a few miles from my mother-in-law, I always popped into the store while in town, and was thrilled that Monique carried my book, Common Sense Horse Keeping. Established 72 years ago by her father, while she initially announced the closure of both the brick-and-mortar location and her mobile unit, she has since reconsidered and will be keeping the mobile unit going.

Established 78 years ago in Orlando, Stockman’s Harness Shop was an integral part of the historic Ben White Raceway. When we moved to Winter Park in the 1970’s, Stockman’s was still under the helm of Jimmy Stockman, who eventually passed the reins on to his son, Bob. It was Jimmy who taught me how to clean my tack with Castile soap.

Stockman’s was the place that a horse crazy kid could go and dream of the different tack she would outfit her dream horse in. The smell of liniments and fly spray hit you as soon as you walked in the store, and then your senses were greeted with leather, whether it was permeating from the repair room where Ron performed his magic on piles of broken tack, or from the saddle show room. Combined, the smells were better than any cologne on the market!

I was recently reminiscing about the time that as a young girl, I wanted to buy a horse book. It was, of all places, in the children’s department at Jordan Marsh department store. It was a big book about horse breeds, with beautiful color photos. My mom, recently divorced and raising two kids on a schoolteacher’s salary, told me to save my money. It was only $15, but to a 10 year old, that was a lot of money. It was torture whenever my mom took me to Jordan Marsh and I would see that book and dream of the day that it would sit on my bookshelf. I scrimped and saved and I was so proud when I marched into the store, money in hand and bought the book. It still graces my bookshelves.

Going to Stockman’s was just like fawning over that horse book. Feeling the leather in my hands, dreaming of the saddles I would buy, feeling the soft bridle leather in my fingers, imagining the sleek leather boots I would wear…every visit was magical and I couldn’t wait until the day that I could march in there and buy whatever I wanted! I didn’t have a horse at that time, but I was taking weekly riding lessons, and when my grandparents visited for 2 months every winter, taking a break from the western Pennsylvania cold, a trip to Stockman’s was in order with my grandmother, who would let me buy something. It was at Stockman’s that my grandmother bought me my first pair of Marlborough rubber boots….clunky, heavy and about 2 sizes too big for my calves, and even though the girls at the barn looked down on me for wearing something so tacky, oh, how I loved those boots! Over the years, those boots would be replaced by those sleek leather boots and as an adult, not one, but 2 pairs of custom Vogle field boots, courtesy of Stockman’s!

I would go on to purchase my saddles only from Bob. Three Crosby’s, 2 Stubben’s, 3 used Stubbens for my daughters, and 2 used County saddles for the green and still growing babies. I discovered that my brand-new Crosby had a defect in the leather dye, and Bob took it back with no issue and gave me a loaner while he dealt with Crosby. They didn’t want to exchange it, but he persisted and while it took months to resolve, they finally caved in and sent me a replacement…which also had the same defect, which Bob found upon opening the box. He immediately returned it to Crosby and told them to find me a saddle from a different batch. This was during the time that people were beginning to make more online purchases, and I told my husband that had I purchased the saddle online, I probably would have been stuck with it. I vowed to never buy a saddle from anyone else but Bob, and only Bob would do my saddle fitting.

When I was in my early 20’s, I was managing a tack store on the other side of town. I remember the day that Bob called me and offered me a job. I was so torn! I sat down on the floor in the hallway of my mom’s house, agonizing over loyalty to my current job or going with Bob’s offer…I stayed put, but I always wondered how it would have been to go work for Stockman’s instead!

Just like me, my 2 daughters grew up perusing the racks at Stockman’s, dreaming of fancy tack and blinged out bridles. I probably should have made them save to make some of their purchases, but as a horse mom, it was just as exciting for me when they got their dream tack! My daughter still reminds me how I would refuse to purchase a designer dress or jeans for her, but go to Stockman’s drop a hundred dollars on a show shirt? No problem!

Bob has been very generous with donations to the equine community. Whether it was my girls pony club or my rescue, you could count on Bob to help out.

Sadly, kids today don’t know what it is like to experience a tack shop with all its smells and sights. Unlike this horse crazy kid who had to save for a $15 book, many kids today have instant gratification with Amazon and their parents credit card. While I don’t have those clunky rubber boots anymore, I do still have my daughters first Stubben, which sits in my tack room, purchased at Stockman’s and I have every show bridle that my horses have worn, all purchased at Stockman’s.

Last week, a friend and I made the trek to Orlando for a last visit to Stockman’s. Michelle had worked there for many years and it was the first place I met her. Though Bob has been to my farm for saddle fitting, sadly, I have not been to Stockman’s since purchasing my farm 6 years ago. While it is only 35 miles away, the route there is on I-4, a road I try to avoid. It is much easier to drive to Ocala from my farm…a tad further but less stressful.

Walking through the front door and realizing how it would be the last time I stepped foot in there was very sentimental. And it got me thinking of how we are losing too many tack stores. Why is it so hard to support this industry? The annual U.S. horse industry is worth about $74 BILLION dollars, and the U.S tack and apparel market is valued around $5.7 BILLION. Why then is it so hard to be in this business? Many theories abound and I have my own, having been a rep for several years. I visited dozens of tack stores throughout the U.S. While some were at the top of the game and quite successful, for others, it was a constant struggle to pay their employees, pay their bills and keep the door open. Inventory, location, marketing and business sense are just a few criteria that will make or break a tack store that is in a niche market. Dover’s closing is not going to have a negative effect on the equestrian buyer. They have to shop somewhere. It can be online, at a mobile unit or at a brick-and-mortar. If you are upset at the closing of Dover, ask yourself, when was the last time you visited the local mom and pop tack store? Did you go to your local tack store just to utilize their customer service for fitting boots or a helmet, only to turn around and order it online? Or do you have a relationship with the local tack store, making the bulk of your purchases from them and supporting their efforts to provide a service for you and your horse? If you have a local tack store, pay them a visit. Before you hit that purchase button on Amazon for those bell boots or fly mask, consider hitting up the local tack store instead. Show them some love!

Don’t Forget To Hug Your Horse!

Lori