My Favorite Small Businesses

As I’ve been hard at work equipping myself and Frankie, I’ve gotten to do lots of shopping at different stores. And it’s pretty unavoidable- certain things I’ve needed to get at SmartPak/Riding Warehouse/Dover/other bigger stores. There are a lot of benefits to these bigger stores: frequent sales, easy exchanges if something doesn’t fit, good customer service, etc. But when push comes to shove, I really really love shopping at smaller businesses. I’d rather pay a little bit extra for that personal touch and I love the thought of helping to support a fellow equestrian’s business! When the products are totally fantastic and the price is right? Even better. Here are some of my favorite small businesses that I’ve shopped from recently:

Mane Jane

PC: Mane Jane

In case you didn’t see in my recent post, I got some GORGEOUS spur straps here! For looks alone, I would give Mane Jane five stars. But it gets better- these spur straps were fully custom. I picked out the color and pattern of the leather, the metal of the buckles, and the charm. And it gets better again- ordering these felt like picking something out with a friend. Shelby (the genius behind Mane Jane) and I messaged back and forth discussing different options and we had so much fun chatting about all the combinations we could do. She kept me totally updated on the timeline of getting them shipped out, and then they showed up at my door in super cute packaging with lots of peppermints (which Frankie is VERY happy about) and a hot pink hairtie (that is currently holding my ponytail back). From start to finish, this ordering experience was an absolute pleasure and I couldn’t be happier with the product itself. If you’re in the market for some fun spur straps or a new belt, I couldn’t recommend Mane Jane more!

Hunt Club

PC: my iPhone

I think I’ve mentioned Hunt Club in the past, but I can’t say enough good things about them. I personally only have two belts from them- which are superior to any other belt I own and I want them in every color please and thank you- but I’ve gotten lots of gifts for horsey friends here! I could honestly be happy getting one of everything from here- they have a wonderful mix of apparel for riders, as well as cute charms and saddle pads for your pony to match. Their customer service is top notch, they’re super friendly and willing to work with you to customize your order, their packaging is adorable as all get out, and I love interacting with them on social media to boot! This is another company where the ordering process is a pleasure from start to finish, and the quality of everything I’ve received/used/given from here has been fantastic.

The Herbal Horse

PC: The Herbal Horse

I’ll admit, I’ve only just placed my first order here and it hasn’t even arrived yet. So I can’t comment on the quality of the products themselves. But I don’t really need to- in all my research and digging, I’ve yet to find ONE person who isn’t completely satisfied with their purchase! “But Olivia, how can you put this on the list if you haven’t tried the product itself yet?” you ask. Well, Dear Reader, it’s because this is another company that has been so pleasant to work with to get exactly what I need, while feeling like I’m chatting with a friend. I think we can all agree that great customer service is a MUST, and Helen at the Herbal Horse has this covered. This is another company that I love interacting with on social media! This may not be important to some people, but I really love feeling that personal connection.

The common thread with these businesses is that every time I place an order, I feel like I’m getting something that meets my specific needs instead of just being another customer. Add that personalized experience to some top quality products, and you have a winning combination!

What are your favorite small businesses?
I’d love some recommendations for shops that you can’t get enough of!