Island Life Magazine Ltd November/December 2005 | Page 28
EQUESTRIAN -
Sponsored by Brickfields and Froghill
Comfort and style
for your horse
When mum and daughter Soo Richardson
and Mandy Steen wanted to set up a tack
shop on the Island 25 years ago, they
were almost laughed out of the bank.
“The bank thought it was too much of a
risk to lend £500 to two silly women
who wanted to set up a business in a
caravan,” recalls Mandy.
But the women ended up having the last
laugh - because their now-thriving
business, Froghill Tack at Sandford,
carries a stock of at least £150,000, and is
a favourite haunt for riders from miles
around.
Soo and Mandy, who started out because
there was only one other tack shop on
the whole Island (which was too far away
for their own convenience) refused to be
put off by the bank’s downbeat attitude
and plunged in regardless, selling tack on
a small scale. To their satisfaction, they
soon outgrew the caravan they set up in,
and their business now fills an old
agricultural building on the farm where
they live.
Mandy and Soo both have homes on the
site, as does Mandy’s sister Genevieve
Sanders, who undertakes a repair and
cleaning service for horse rugs.
In fact, this family concern has proved
its enterprise by constantly looking for
opportunities to diversify the business –
and then going for it.
Five years ago, for instance, after the
clothing chain C&A closed down, Froghill
Tack saw a niche in the skiwear market,
particularly at the budget end, and began
stocking clothing to take customers
stylishly onto the slopes.
“We used to get people coming in asking
if our riding jackets would be suitable for
skiing as well” says Mandy, “and we
realised this might be another opening
for us”.
The ski section now attracts a lot of firsttime skiers who don’t want to blow a
fortune on a sport they are only just
trying out, but want to look fun and
funky for their first foray into the snow.
With the new season’s ranges of
salopettes, jackets and accessories just
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arriving at Froghill, this is the time of
year when trading becomes brisk.
It also coincides with the time of year
that riders start to dig out their old horse
rugs and realise that barbed wire, horses’
teeth and English weather have taken
their toll.
Sometimes, the damage can be put right
by repair expert Genevieve, but Froghill
also has a fantastic stock of new rugs to
choose from.
Mandy’s tips when choosing a new one
are:
Quality
Like anything, if you buy quality, it will
last longer than a cheaper brand. Rugs
have to take heavy punishment from
barbed wire fences, rolling, and most
common of all chewing from the horse so it’s sensible to go for the best quality
you can afford. Seamless rugs are a good
bet because there is less to get caught,
such as seams, etc.
Also look out for thermobonded fibre,
which regains its original structure and
thickness if the horse rolls. Last but not
least are the straps: make sure they are
stitched or bonded, as many rugs fail
because of the stitching on the straps
and round the buckles.
Design
Design is not just about looking pretty,
it’s about fitting correctly and keeping
the elements at bay. There are plenty of
designs on the market, but some basic
rules apply. First, look at the neck area,
and make sure the rug does not cut into
the bottom of the horse’s neck and
chest, as this can become very
uncomfortable and make grazing
difficult. Another important area is
around the stomach and legs. Look for
rugs that wrap snugly round the horse’s
shape, giving it extra protection without
getting caught and gathering behind the
elbow. This in turn gives the horse more
freedom of movement.