November/December 2026 Issue

November/December 2026 | EAST COAST EQUESTRIAN 40 There was a time when buying a new bridle meant a trip to the tack shop. You could smell the leather, compare workmanship and ask the person behind the counter which brand might survive an- other season of hard use. The mail-order catalog changed that experience, bringing an extraordi- nary selection of equipment to riders miles from the nearest saddlery.The internet changed it again. Today, equestrian retail is experiencing another period of upheaval. Investment firms have moved into the industry, major retailers have changed hands, online shopping has become second nature, and boutique brands have built in- ternational followings through social media. Yet amid the consolidation and technologi- cal change, something familiar is reemerging: an appreciation for businesses that understand horses, know their customers and remain connected to the communities they serve. Few retailers have experi- enced as much of that evolu- tion as State Line Tack. From a New Hampshire Barn to a National Brand State Line Tack began in 1980 in a converted barn in Plaistow, New Hampshire, near the Mas- sachusetts border that gave the company its name. Its enormous selection and competitive prices attracted riders from throughout New England, while its growing catalog business eventually ex- tended its reach nationwide. For horse owners ac- customed to limited local inventories, State Line Tack represented something extraordinary: access to equipment, clothing and supplies across disci- plines and price points. It helped make a notori- ously expensive sport more accessible. The company’s success also attracted corpo- rate attention. PetSmart acquired State Line Tack in 1996, eventually establishing approximately 180 equestrian departments inside its stores. But horses proved different from household pets, and the specializedmarket did not fit comfortably into the company’s broader retail strategy. In 2007, PetSmart announced its withdrawal from the equestrian business. State Line Tack survived, although its next chapter looked considerably different. PetsUnit- ed, subsequently known as TABcom, acquired the brand’s name, inventory and customer assets, shifting the business toward the growing online marketplace. Today, the family-owned operation continues to serve customers nationally, com- bining broad product selection and competitive pricing with customer service provided by people knowledgeable about horses. Its journey mirrors the industry’s larger trans- formation, one that has accelerated dramatically in recent years. BigMoneyMeets the Tack Room Consider Dover Saddlery. Founded in 1975 by accomplished equestrians Jim and David Powers, Dover became one of the coun- try’s most recognizable English riding retailers, building an ex- tensive catalog business and na- tional store network. It went pub- lic in 2005 before being acquired by private equity investors in 2015. Another investment group, Promus Equity Partners, took control in 2022. By May 2026, Dover’s financial difficulties had become an indus- try-wide concern. Gordon Broth- ers had acquired the business, and liquidation sales threatened its remaining stores. Dover has since announced plans to return under the ownership of a multigenerational horse family, promising to restore the products, service and community rela- tionships that established its reputation. The disruption illustrates the sometimes un- comfortable relationship between investment cap- ital and a highly specialized retail business. Scale, margins, and operational efficiencies matter, but equestrian customers also expect knowledgeable What Became of The Great American Tack Shop After decades of corporate takeovers, consolidation, changing economies, and online disruption, equestrian retail is rediscovering its heartbeat. For State Line Tack, more than 45 years of reinvention have brought it full circle—back to the horses, riders and community that started it all.