manefaire-a tack shop with style.

What! You didn't buy anything for me!

When I was a pony obsessed young 'un, being taken on a trip to the local tack shop was my idea of heaven. This Aladdin's cave filled with a heady aroma of leather and the enticing steely gleam of bits was the doorway into a new and exciting world with it's own special uniform and language.

The fact that I only had the money for a plastic currycomb or if I was really cracking open the piggy bank, a coloured velvet browband (for the pony I'd been asked to ride) didn't make it less of a treat. I did however dream that Mr Ben might appear any moment and usher me into a new life as Julia from the White Horses TV series.

Of course now it takes a bit more to pimp this particular pony and the tack shop has lost it's show sheen, especially if I'm after some new equestrian clothing. Despite the fact I live not far from an equestrian superstore, where pink clad pony girls seem to skip around with glee, dragging harried parents behind them, it usually takes me less than 60 seconds to walk through the clothing section to see it's the same old, same old, and I leave with a sigh and a supplement tucked under my arm, paid for of course. I'm afraid this same scenario has played out in most tack shops I've visited...until......

....I went to check out Manefaire in Bishops Stortford, late last year.  Situated in the High Street, it offers equestrian products with STYLE.  Trotting up the stairs, I slowed to look at a display of equestrian products in an eye catching pop of orange-so I wasn't the only one to have been inspired by the Dutch Olympic team kit! The light and airy shop on the first floor didn't disappoint either, this was more like entering a fashion boutique for all things equestrian.

Manefaire also provides a friendly, more personal shopping experience. Chatting to the owner it was obvious that she is someone with a genuine passion for quality equestrian products and good design.
Many tack shops are just crammed with the usual names, with no thought for presentation, so meeting someone who sells well chosen items, isn't afraid to take a risk and gives them the space to look their best, is absolutely fabulous!

This is the place to find something a little bit different, from the Asmar jacket that I bought (see photo)-which has attracted a lot of compliments-to a very funky take on those velvet browbands, this time patterned with African beads.

Horsey people can be a bit stuck in the mud when it comes to trying something new however I really hope times are a changing. We need more tack shops in the UK like Manefaire-it may not be big but there's a lot to like about it!


Have you visited or own a tack shop with a difference that you'd like to tell me about?