How do I find a tack shop for sale?

A tack shop sells saddles, bridles, blankets, boots and care products to riders. It may be a storefront, an online store or a trailer that travels to shows. It is not a boarding stable or an equestrian centre, which are different businesses with land and animals.

Search listings under different names

Owners describe the same business in different ways: tack shop, saddlery, horse supply store, equestrian retailer. Search each wording on business-for-sale sites, and ask brokers who handle retail or agricultural businesses to tell you when one comes up. Many of these shops are small, so listings may be few. Save your searches so new ones reach you quickly.

Approach owners through the horse community

Word of mouth can matter in the horse community. Visit shops as a customer, attend shows and clinics, and let farriers, trainers and feed suppliers know what you are looking for. A polite note to an owner saying you would like to speak in confidence is often welcome. Be ready to explain your riding or retail background.

First screening questions

• Does the shop sell from a storefront, online, from a trailer, or a mix?
• Which brands does it carry, and are they authorized dealers?
• Does the owner fit saddles or repair tack, and would you need to?
• How much stock is current and how much is old or on consignment?

Next steps

When a shop fits, move to financial statements and stock lists under a confidentiality agreement. Our page on what to check before buying a tack and saddlery shop covers what to look at after that.