We are headed to St. Pete on Friday. My husband has meetings the following Monday morning into the early afternoon. Any good tack shops I can check out to pass the time?
GOOD LUCK! I haven’t found any worth my time to drive the 40 minutes from Bradenton. I will follow and see if someone can suggest some for you, so that I too can take advantage!
Dover is over somewhere up between Lakeland and Ocala I hear. Far from Tampa/St Pete though.
This area is seriously lacking in tack shops considering the volume of horses in the area. Get into Ocala and there’s several to choose from.
OH! There is JJ’s Tack Shack in Brandon. Not sure where abouts you’ll be at in Tampa, but Brandon isn’t too far if you’re in the eastern portion of Tampa.
Oh, you live in Bradenton? On Saturday we are going to check out the Panther Ridge area. I found several horse places for sale in that area. I would like to move to Florida in 5 years or so but my husband isn’t convinced yet. Wish we could afford a 2nd place NOW so that I could pack up my horse and head to Florida when I get sick of winter here - LOL (I know people up north think winter here is a walk in the park but it has just been miserable here for weeks at a time.)
Just wondering if you like living in the Bradenton area? And if you have a good hunter/jumper trainer. And are their smaller A shows around or do you have to go to HITS or WEF to show?
My husband went to Eckerd so he will be on campus for meetings Monday. Ocala is a bit for for me to drive but Tampa should be doable.
[QUOTE=inca;8035982]
Oh, you live in Bradenton? On Saturday we are going to check out the Panther Ridge area. I found several horse places for sale in that area. I would like to move to Florida in 5 years or so but my husband isn’t convinced yet. Wish we could afford a 2nd place NOW so that I could pack up my horse and head to Florida when I get sick of winter here - LOL (I know people up north think winter here is a walk in the park but it has just been miserable here for weeks at a time.)
My husband went to Eckerd so he will be on campus for meetings Monday. Ocala is a bit for for me to drive but Tampa should be doable.[/QUOTE]
Yes! Panther Ridge is a great community! As is Sundance (older community) to the north in Wimaumau (nearer to Tampa) and many other subdivisions in the area.
Look up Whip N Spur (Tampa), Foxwood Saddlery (Pinellas Park)… and as I said, JJ’s Tack shack in Brandon, shouldn’t be too far.
JJ’s is the only one I’ve personally been to, but if you find any others/go to these, please let me know! I’ve never been and though the drive isn’t far there isn’t much else up that way I’d want to waste my day doing, so I’ve never taken the journey!!
Enjoy your stay! Hope to welcome you to paradise in the next few years! 
ETA:
If you’re in the Panther Ridge area and want a horse store fix, there is Repeat Riding Gear which is a neat little consignment shop. I have a hard time finding pony/cob sized stuff for my mare, but they tend to have average sized things.
Thanks!
I’m following this as we are considering a move to this area in the next several years.
I live in Tampa and have recently been saddle shopping. Its been fairly frustrating (I have a reasonable budget for a nicer-brand used saddle) and I think I will end up buying on eBay or craigslist… I agree that tack shops are kind of slim pickings around here, given the number of barns.
I have shopped at Whip n’ Spur but I think a lot of their tack inventory is online. They have a lot of gift-type items and some clothing, but its not a big place… I have to admit I was a little disappointed. I have heard good things about Foxwood in St Pete; my dressage instructor shops there. J&J’s in Brandon is kind of a long drive from St Pete - at least 45 minutes, but that is a pretty popular place. I’ve never been… they’re closed on Sunday, which is pretty much the only day that I would have to shop.
The nearest Dover Saddlery is in Orlando.
Happy shopping and welcome to Tampa/St Pete… I love it here.
