Quite simply, this saddlery rocks. I discovered them years before I moved to Columbus, when I used to order from them online. When I moved to Columbus, I was pleased to find that the brick-and-mortar experience is just as good as the online experience!
If you're a hardcore horseperson, you know how shockingly rare this statement is: Equus Now is full of helpful and friendly employees who aren't pushy or intrusive, they stock products that you'd actually need and want in your barn, the prices are very fair/not hugely marked up compared to online vendors, the store is clean and well organized, and there's a big consignment/closeout section in the back. They also have sales all the time, so if you're not on their Facebook Page and their email list, get on it so you find out about the sales! They also have a good price matching policy and a decent saddle trade-in program.
Let me put it this way: If I had a friend who was a noob to horses, and I needed to send them to a tack store to get outfitted for their first riding lesson, I feel like I could send them to Equus Now without being afraid that they'd get ripped off, upsold, or told to buy a bunch of crap they don't actually need. Similarly, as an experienced horseperson, I know I can call Equus Now with some super-specific and esoteric question, and they always humor me without batting an eyelash. You need someone to walk over to the fly spray section and read you the percentages of pyrethrin in three different fly sprays? They'll do it. You need someone to break out a tape measure and measure the sleeve length on that RJ Classics coat that's on sale? They'll do it. You have no idea which of these five breastplates might work best for your horse? They'll have that conversation with you.
Although their inventory is particularly strong in hunter/jumper tack, as someone who mostly does dressage and eventing, I find the inventory works for my disciplines too. They also have a Western section (can't speak to the inventory in that department since I don't ride Western) and a pretty sizeable children's section. They also maintain a pretty decent selection of consignment saddles--not tons and tons of them, but maybe 15 or so used dressage saddles and 15 or so used hunt-seat saddles at any given time.
I also appreciate that Equus Now is engaged with the local horse community. They have discount nights for the local IHSA teams, the Pony Clubs, etc. You see their trailer at many local shows, including shows that double as fundraisers. They keep not just one, but two big bulletin boards at the back of the store for local horsepeople to post flyers and ads. Rose, the owner, has a great memory and seems to know everybody in this area. I think it's a testament to her business that everyone I know, regardless of what discipline they ride, is a fan of Equus Now. read more
