The Gift Horse Saddlery: Riding to Success

One of the things I most like about living in Woodinville is the fact that I can occasionally look out my kitchen window and see a horse and rider going by on the street, just a block away. You see, I moved here seven years ago from a very urban Los Angeles neighborhood, where the closest thing to a horse was the big German Shepard that lived a few houses away. I still get kind of excited every time I see a one.

“There’s a real ‘horsey’ community (here) and we like to feel we’re part of that,” says Chris Tann, one of four owners of . The store has been serving Woodinville’s equestrian community for nearly 16 years, she adds, selling “everything for the horse and rider.” They specialize in English riding equipment and supplies.

A quick look around confirms Tann’s statement. The store, which smells of saddle leather, is packed with horse-related merchandise – from tack and riding apparel, to horse treats, to books, DVDs and gift items. The store has a huge selection of Breyer toy horses and accessories (kind of like Barbie dolls, but horses, explains Tann).

The store’s owners all have horse backgrounds, says Tann. Employees are encouraged to participate in equestrian events and given the flexibility to do so, as well. “I think that contributes to our success,” says Tann. Not only does the staff have a range of expertise, she explains, “we all use a lot of the products.”

Tann’s experience is as a breeder and hunter jumper. “I always loved horses, from the time I knew what they were,” she says. Tann had her first riding lessons when she was in elementary school, and also rode at a Girl Scout camp. She didn’t own a horse until she was 23 years old, however.

“My mother kept thinking I was going to outgrow it,” she laughs. She currently owns four horses, one of which is the great-great granddaughter of the first one she owned.

According to Tann, it is “extremely unusual” for a partnership of unrelated people to own and operate a store like The Gift Horse. She and three other women own the store; Tann and two of the others are original owners. She says they chose to locate their store in Woodinville because, at the time, it had greater per capita horse ownership than any other city in Washington.

Their customers – 95 percent of who are women – include young learners as well as returning riders and middle-aged women who have never ridden but want to give it a try. They come from as far away as Canada, Idaho, Oregon, California…and even Ireland.

The Irish customer came through the store’s web site, striking up an e-mail friendship with one of the owners, who has since gone to visit her. “It all started because we had something she wanted” and were willing to ship it, says Tann. The store carries a large inventory, she adds, but can also special order items for customers.

As a part of the local equestrian community, The Gift Horse tries to help riders and horse owners whenever possible. When an Arlington barn suffered a devastating fire last summer, the store held a fundraiser to help the owners. They also sell saddles on consignment and maintain a bulletin board where owners can post notices of horses for sale.

Like many local merchants, Tann and her co-owners have had to make adjustments over the last few years. “The economy has really changed the business,” she says. In response to their customers’ needs, the store has begun to stock a broader price range in everything. “Things are feeling more comfortable,” says Tann, noting that 2009 was the low point.

She likes to point out that the Gift Horse sells a wide range of merchandise. “You don’t have to be a rider to shop here.” I can attest to that. There are many gift items for horse lovers (and don’t we all know at least one little girl who falls into that category) as well products for admirers of the equestrian look.

It was the wide selection of Dansko clogs that caught my eye – according to Tann, “they are a favorite with English riders” after they take off their boots.

They are a favorite of mine, too … and I think I know where I will go to get my next pair.