Hey guys! So I own a fairly successful growing tack shop. We’ve been open a year and a half and the tack shop that all the hunt people used to shop at is now closed so this will be my first hunt season.
I would love if you could tell me your must have products for hunting. I have pretty much no idea what to stock or what brands and I want to be ready as the season will be upon us very soon. Any other tips much appreciated. Thanks!
can you contact owners of other store and see what help they might offer? Any chance they have some inventory you could pick up?
Look at Horse Country’s website. They are located in Warrenton, VA which would have the client base as your Milbrook crowd. Fox hunting tack & hunt clothes/ accessories would be a good place to start.
Must Haves:
Specialty Items:
@ecileh thanks! A few dumb questions:
What is the difference between hunt whips and crops? What are lashes? And poppers?
Regular flasks or the fancy expensive glass flasks?
I think I’m good on the rest. Thanks so much!
My flask etiquette is minimal, but I believe the crystal bayonet flasks are only suitable for gentlemen, whereas anyone can carry a hip flask.
This is a hunt whip. The whip itself is the handle–including the antler on the left side and the keeper on the right. The lash (also called a thong) is the braided part, and the popper in this case is the blue bit on the end–it’s what makes the cracking sound.
These whips are for the hounds, not the horses, and hunting staff are the only ones who should crack one in the field. Members of the field may carry them and use them to keep hounds away from their horses by dropping the lash and gently waving it around.
They come in many styles and sizes, both the handles and the lashes. I, personally, prefer nylon lashes, but many folks prefer leather and it is the more traditional material. Whips need to fit the rider and the horse, so many hunters have more than one. My antler-handled one is longer and has a 6 foot lash for use on my big mare, but I bought a second, shorter one (natural handle) with a 5 foot lash for my smaller mare.
Ladies and children’s whips tend to be smaller and lighter, traditionally. Men’s heavier and longer…but I doubt most American hunts have someone checking to make sure you are carrying a gender-appropriate whip before the hounds move off. 
Poppers are what take the most beating on a whip–lots of people use things like bailing twine, shoelaces, whatever they can find–but lots also either make them or buy them.
I wouldn’t get a lot of expensive stuff, basics like hair nets, gloves, flat tack, maybe buff breeches and some vests. If you do want some hunting things, see if you can get some sandwich cases, even used, and even western saddle makers have made me some very affordable but correct sandwich cases. Please don’t sell those horrible bow hairnets or pre-tied stock ties. Pique white stocks, long are great ( I cannot have too many) maybe find someone local to make them? Am a sucker for nice ratcatcher jackets.
If possible talk to the masters or secretary for the hunts local to you to get an idea of what is allowed and what is not allowed. This will guide you in what to carry in your shop and what not to carry.
In thinking about this over the weekend, I wonder if you could set up a consignment area for your local hunts. I have no idea what that would work out to profit-wise but a lot of hunting folks have gear and clothing that they no longer want or need and it would save you from having to stock expensive things like whips, etc. Then you could focus on things like tack, stock ties, and the like.
There is a consignment shop about 45 min to an hour north and someone suggested I contact her to see if she’d be interested in having a consignment section in my store for hunt attire. Well she was pissed I suggested such a thing and asked me to send people to her store…but its unlikely they’ll make the trip. I wasn’t even going to profit off it. But oh well.
I currently do have a small consignment section but haven’t had anyone bring in hunt items yet
Does your local hunt have a newsletter? Ours does and has an advertising section. You might gain a few customers if they know you are offering hunt items and also do consignment.
You might also check to see if they have a Facebook page and find out if you might be able to do an advertisement there as well.
Some items that I wish were easily accessible are: horns, conical flasks(and regular), stock ties, ties for the men, stock pins(perhaps fox hunting themed), old school velvet helmets(at least advertize that they can be ordered in on request), red hunt jackets, themed socks hunt vests(canary colored is amazing), old style hunt bridles, hunt coats, Dehner boots, crops/bats, show shirts, while polo wraps. Any type of hunt theme giftware like stuffies, picture frames, art, books, themed socks, home decor.
Being part of a hunt club part of the whole process is to socialize and drink. I don’t think you would have much success coming at your local hunt club pre-hunting and hope to have people come to check out what you have. I think you would be better off perhaps posting adverts through local facebook groups for those clubs in your area or surrounding areas. I would have no problems searching online and ordering from a store to get what I’m looking for even if it’s not in my area. The web is a very powerful place to reach a wide audience.
I stock stock ties, stock pins, velvet helmets, themed socks, canary vests, crops, show shirts, and white polo wraps. Plus hunt shirts for men, brown gloves, and crochet gloves. I feel like this is a good mix of products. Enough people will stop in for the basics but not too much bogging down my inventory
A few things that might add more traffic: Being a drop off/pick spot for a blanket cleaning service. Same for a leather repair person.
By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. You may also receive promotional emails from The Chronicle of the Horse. You can opt out at any time.
For Customers
Company
Terms of Use
