I have an upcoming visit to Philly for a conference and if I end up with any free time in the early evenings I’d like to explore an area tack shop or two, if there are any fairly close to downtown.
Suggestions?
None near Center City that I am aware of. There’s Rick’s Heritage in Pottstown, Dover Saddlery in Hockessin, DE.
I ordered something from State Line Tack not too long ago and I think the address was Conshohocken, or maybe Plymouth Meeting. Both not TOO far from the city.
There aren’t really any tack shops “close to downtown.” The closest tack shops will be a solid hour or more away, require a car, and many close early most nights.
Since SLT was bought by Horseloverz, it has a “store” in Hazelton but I’d hardly characterize that as at all close to Philadelphia. It’s 2 hours away or more. Also, I highly doubt it’d be worth the drive. I bet it’s all scratch and dent random crippety crap.
Are there cites (other than maybe Wellington and Middleburg) with tack shops DOWNTOWN? 
I want to go to there!
I’m not sure that any of the tack shops are worth a drive unless you come from a really tack-shop-dry area OP and are kind of desperate. Horseman’s Outlet is a mecca but it’s in Lebanon NJ and would be a 2 hour drive. Rick’s Heritage is ok. With traffic it’ll take you a solid 1.5 hours to get there and they close early most night (except maybe Thursday? Check the website). I find Dover to be pretty yawn but there’s one in Bucks Co and the one in Delaware, just about equal distance. Depends what type of gridlock you prefer to sit in. Malvern Saddlery is upscale and kind of fun but there’s not always a lot to BUY there, more to look at.
Well that’s too bad. I was hoping there’d be something within 30 minutes of a major city. We have nothing here except TSC and a small tack shop that is primarily western. There is a better shop a little over an hour from here. I didn’t have anything in particular in mind to buy, just wanted to window shop while I make a brief foray into civilization.
:sigh:
Thanks for the responses.
I currently live in West Philly, and you’re pretty much not going to find anything within 45 minutes of the city. Also beware that traffic is TERRIBLE during early evenings. Rick’s has been mentioned a couple of times- it’s about an hour away.They’ve recently changed their hours so check saddlesource.com for that. They have an awesome stock of used saddles, but otherwise their selection isn’t that great and their prices are higher than elsewhere. Dover is also about an hour and will have better prices and a bigger selection. Close to Dover is Maryland Saddlery Consignment in Hockessin. Bit of Britain is in Oxford, a bit over an hour away, but I’ve never been there. There’s Malvern Saddlery which is about 45 minutes away but very pricey. Bucks County Saddlery, again about an hour.
That’s about all I can think of, but please let me say it twice- traffic is terrible! If you’re going anywhere out of the city between like 3 and 7, check the traffic first and expect to add a significant amount of time to your drive, especially if you’re going to be on 95, 76, or 476.
Alternatively, the Franklin Institute currently has a Body Worlds animal exhibit which looks really cool https://www.fi.edu/exhibit/body-worlds-animal-inside-out
And if you’re at all interested in medical oddities, the Mutter Museum is a cool place to visit.
Nothing is really within 30 minutes of Center City Philadelphia, with traffic. Nothing rural/horsey anyway. People who say they live in Philly who are horsey usually mean they live in Chester County which is 45 minutes away AT BEST. It’s a really big, really built-up city. It’s not terribly rural IN/REALLY NEAR Philadelphia anymore.
To be honest I dunno that any of the “close” tack shops are really worth the drive.
When I lived in center city, I went out to Rick’s.
When Devon-Aire hired me, they sent me to travel with their seasoned rep for a week. One store we visited was Do Trot In. Located near Philly. Not sure exactly where, but if it isn’t too far, I suggest a visit. It is a 3 level house stocked full . One room devoted to saddle pads alone! It was a fun place to visit and of all the stores I visited that week, that one really made an impression on me.
Rick’s would probably be the only one worth anything. If there is something specifically you need that you need to see in person, then go, but don’t take on the hassle of driving just for window shopping. Not worth the hassle of Philly traffic and the attitudes of the girls working there definitely leaves something to be desired…
If you’re coming from a dry area and want to make the trip, Equine Exchange is also really fun. It’s a warehouse stocked with both new and a large consignment section.
http://equineexchangepa.com
Equine Exchange probably has the largest selection and variety of stuff out of all of these, and I have found some really good deals in the consignment there. I can get lost in that place for hours. (But it is not nearly as high-end as Malvern or Rick’s.)
[QUOTE=Lori T;7890114]
When Devon-Aire hired me, they sent me to travel with their seasoned rep for a week. One store we visited was Do Trot In. Located near Philly. Not sure exactly where, but if it isn’t too far, I suggest a visit. It is a 3 level house stocked full . One room devoted to saddle pads alone! It was a fun place to visit and of all the stores I visited that week, that one really made an impression on me.[/QUOTE]
WHATTTT? There’s a tack shop within 2 hours of me that I didn’t know about?! :lol:
[QUOTE=vxf111;7889323]
Are there cites (other than maybe Wellington and Middleburg) with tack shops DOWNTOWN? I want to go to there![/QUOTE]
https://manhattansaddlery.com/
I believe this is the old Miller’s Harness Company. I used to take a taxi to get there when it was Miller’s :winkgrin: (but mostly I ordered by mail)
I agree Rick’s in Chester County and Dover’s in Delaware are your best bets, OP, but it’s going to be an ugly drive in the evenings.
If you want a heart-warming horse experience, you might want to visit Work to Ride in Fairmount Park - http://www.worktoride.net/stage/
It’s in a surprisingly pretty area, and the work they do with inner city kids is amazing.
[QUOTE=AffirmedHope;7890131]
Rick’s would probably be the only one worth anything. If there is something specifically you need that you need to see in person, then go, but don’t take on the hassle of driving just for window shopping. Not worth the hassle of Philly traffic and the attitudes of the girls working there definitely leaves something to be desired…[/QUOTE]
You are SO right about that!
Ah, how I miss the days of yore with the White Horse Store which was near Radnor Hunt.
I just remembered another one that is more high end and not a chain -
That’s the only one worth the ugly drive IMO.
If you want a different type of horse experience, you might want to visit Work to Ride in Fairmount Park - http://www.worktoride.net/stage/
It’s in a surprisingly pretty area, and the work they do with inner city kids is heartwarming.
Oxford is 45 min-1 hr from center city to reach Bit of Britain, even for me it takes 20 min. up Rt. 1 by pass from the DE state line near Dover Saddlery. Rick’s Heritage in West Chester might be the closest or Malvern even closer. Is Broad Axe still around? There’s one in Buck’s County isn’t there? Dover in Hockessin is tax free shopping.
A stop at the Dansko outlet is a very popular place to go and a local eatery for horse people in Unionville Rt 841 is The Whip. If you love chocolate Neuchatel Chocolates on Rt. 10 in Oxford is awesome but even this outlet is expensive. If you are already in Oxford you might as well pick up Rt 896 towards Lancaster to go to Bartville Harness Shop another 20 minutes up the road.
[QUOTE=furlong47;7890498]
WHATTTT? There’s a tack shop within 2 hours of me that I didn’t know about?! :lol:[/QUOTE]
Me neither… and it sounds cool. Jameson, PA is not particularly close/easy for me to get to but I am surprised I haven’t heard of this tack shop before!
You mention Horseman’s Outlet, there’s on by that or a similar name on Rt. 41 around Cochranville and I’ve heard it’s great. Never been. But if you’re in Oxford it’s worth visiting, very close. But it’s only open certain days like Fridays and Saturdays I think, not daily. Rt. 10 runs through Oxford and across 896 (Bartville Harness) to Rt. 41 where the Horseman’s Outlet is located. Not a destination store but there is one call Gap Tack on Rt. 30 at the end of 41. New Holland Auction is just another short hop from Gap. You could make a day out this way visiting horsey places. Neuchatel Chocolates has some neat horse shaped chocolates too, great for gifts.
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I’m not sure that any of the tack shops are worth a drive unless you come from a really tack-shop-dry area OP and are kind of desperate. Horseman’s Outlet is a mecca but it’s in Lebanon NJ and would be a 2 hour drive. Rick’s Heritage is ok. With traffic it’ll take you a solid 1.5 hours to get there and they close early most night (except maybe Thursday? Check the website). I find Dover to be pretty yawn but there’s one in Bucks Co and the one in Delaware, just about equal distance. Depends what type of gridlock you prefer to sit in. Malvern Saddlery is upscale and kind of fun but there’s not always a lot to BUY there, more to look at.[/QUOTE]
