For semi remote Canadian location.
I was asked yesterday for recommendations for a saddlery supply source for a semi remote feed store, for brand recommendations of English tack supply for expansion of their feed store, to offer English tack for sale. They are looking for a source of “decent but not expensive” bridles, girths, stirrup leathers, etc. They are approximately 2 1/2 hours from Greenhawk in one direction, and 5 hours from Greenhawk in the other direction. There are no other English tack sources that I know of, other than these. This is “cowboy country” and “barrel race” country, and sources of western tack options are available.
They wish to carry some h/j/e type tack, and some dressage tack. Since this area does not have a lot of high level competitive riders, more beginners and kids, and recreational riders, they have no interest in offering $800 bridles. I think they are looking for brands similar to the quality and price of the Greenhawk Connemera brand. Not Indian leather junk, not plastic or biothane, but not high end stuff either. Affordable, and adequate.
My input is limited, as mostly what I own and use is old, and I do not follow fashion at the shows, a mix matched collection of old racing tack and old h/j stuff, and not colour co ordinated, not up to date, with no “bling”. And my tastes are not necessarily what will sell for them My input was “stay with classics” plain bridles, no bling. Separate flashy browbands. Safety stirrups (which can be hard to find, and great for beginners), and stirrups that I use and like, offset ones and flexible ones. No purple or pink or lime green stuff. A few sets of reins, rubber reins are my favourate, but some basic braided hunter reins too. Basic white shaped saddle pads that are adequate for low level showing, not bulky or wild colours. They need to select girths too, they liked the gel ones. I know nothing about these, I use leather ones with elastic, and like the shaped shoulder relief ones (but they are probably too expensive for this situation). They need dressage stuff too, there are a few low level dressage riders around, and I know very little about what they need, other than dressage specific stuff like girths for dressage saddles.
Does anyone have any input on sourcing out what brands they should try carrying in this situation? The store clerk who quizzed me had never heard of COTH, so it became my job to make this request. I will report any input YOU have to the store clerk.
