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The Tack Shop in Greenville, SC is more than a store - we are
part of your team of experts! Whether going to summer camp or preparing for the
top "A" shows, we can help you select the right equipment and riding attire to
fit your individual needs and budget. |
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Marty has
decided to retire. We wish her a happy and relaxed new chapter
in her life! |
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Glyn, Owner Mary Sandzen founded The Tack Shop in 1967. In 1979, Glyn Sandzen began
operating The Tack Shop. Glyn has competed in and taught both saddleseat and
hunter-jumper disciplines, organized horse shows, and managed an indoor
equestrian facility. She has also completed extensive training in methods of
bitting and saddle fitting.
The Tack Shop staff includes representatives from all disciplines of riding and
competition. In this way, the shop stays current with the latest styles and
information. "Among all of us, someone will either have the answer to your
question or know where to find it…" says Glyn. "Give us a chance to be your
resource. We understand the volume of information can be overwhelming and we
want to help!" |
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Kelly
 Hey everyone! My name is Kelly and I have been
riding horses since I was 6 years old. My high school buddy in Ohio
had a horse farm, and I guess it’s safe to say she was my very first
trainer. After moving to South Carolina , I started to ride at Grove
Station Farms and Frances Steele was my trainer for the next 5
years. I fell in love with an Apploosa/Tenessee Walker cross, and
thought my life was over when I “graduated” from the farm and had to
move on.
After shuffling around from show barn to show
barn in Tryon , NC , I finally found my niche at Stoney Knoll Farms
in Columbus, NC. Betsy and Gerald Pack have got to be the most
wonderful combination of talented trainers that I know. During my
junior years (under 18 years old), I leased numerous horses and was
loaned some pretty cool imported warmbloods by the other girls in
the barn. I heavily competed in the equitation classes as a junior
and was very successful every year I was with the Packs. My last
year as a junior rider I competed in the ASPCA Maclay and rode in
the PSJ Equitation Finals. I finished the year first in points which
end my junior career happily.
Now-a-days, I am still at the Packs helping
them break and train their young prospects. My first project horse,
Dennis (a Trakehener from Michigan ) ended up being unbeatable in
the hunter flat classes, ending his first year of showing in the
Pre-Greens on top. After 16 years of being involved in the horse
world, I have learned that horse people are their own special breed
of humans, and our love for the four-legged beast is unique and
everlasting. |
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Jenny
Hey y’all I’m Jenny! My parents own Berry
Woods Farm, and I’ve been riding since I could walk. With growing
up on a farm, I have been very fortunate to ride with many different
trainers, and try out many different disciplines. From western
pleasure to driving hackney ponies, you name it, I’ve done it!
Currently, I have three horses that I spend
most of my time and money with. Skyler, my grey, is a 2002
off the track thoroughbred, need I say more? I also have a quarter
horse, Coty, who was born on my farm in 2003. I love my dead broke
pony, and it’s a definite change from riding those “high strung”
thoroughbreds. Finally we come to a compromise, the best of both
worlds. This is none other than my 2005 appendix filly, Jessebelle,
also born on my farm. She is my latest prospect for the hunter ring,
and I’m looking forward to our journey together. Although I have
taken a break from showing in the last couple of years, I am excited
to get back in the ring with my new youngster.
Over the years, I’ve learned that despite the
tremendous amount of power that a horse holds, they have a very
delicate mindset, that’s something you just can’t get from a pet
hamster! Their willingness to please sets them apart from any other
creature. You just cant help but love ‘em! |
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Erin
 Hi
everyone! My name is Erin and I’ve been riding since I was 10 years
old. I first started to get into horses when my aunt took me to The
Heritage for her lesson. After that day I was hooked. I started
out as a dressage rider and loved it! My first horse was a quarter
horse from Dillard, GA. After several local competitions, I decided
it was time to advance. I had watched the Rolex 3 Day Event and
knew that was my niche.
When I moved my horse to Stoneridge to compete,
you couldn’t keep me off the cross-country course. I got my first
thoroughbred at the age of 14. Unfortunately he was put down the
next year. After that, I bought a horse named Monkey. Monkey and I
competed heavily in eventing and trained with several CCI****
riders, including my favorite trainer, Amy Barrington. In the fall
of last year we decided it was time to retire him to a pasture full
of broodmares, and he’s in heaven! I started the search for a young
event prospect, and found exactly what I was looking for in
Baltimore, MD. I now own a 2004 thoroughbred mare, and it’s true
what they say, chestnuts do have more fire! I broke her February
2007, and hope to have her competing in the 4 y.o. Young Event Horse
Series this coming spring.
Through the last 10 yrs of riding I have
realized that there is NOTHING you’re going to tell a 1200 lb horse
to do. You have to work with a horse, and do your best to
understand him/her, even when it seems impossible! |
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Jessica
 My name is Jessica
Hubbard and I’ve been a part of the Tack Shop team since June 2005.
I enjoy working at the shop as it provides me the opportunity to
meet and talk with so many different people who share a common love
for the horse.
My own love affair
with horses began when I was 12, learning to ride at a small farm in
Northern Virginia. I cleaned stalls and took care of horses to help
pay for my lessons and eventually had my first horse to lease, Jesse
– he and I had lots of fun! In 1991 I moved to South Carolina to
attend Clemson. Three years later I took a small sabbatical from
school and moved to the Potomac Horse Center in Maryland where I
lived and worked.....and worked some more! With 120 horses to take
care of, I learned something new everyday! In 1995 I went back to
Clemson to finish my degree and continued riding at the Heritage
with Linda Symborski. After graduation I took my first introductory
course in Equine Massage with a certificate from Equissage, Inc. I
was so excited about the field and wanted to learn more! I found
Mike Scott in Camden, SC and completed his Advanced Muscle Therapy
course. Later I was able to attend an Equine Cadaver Lab held at
Tufts Veterinary School – that was amazing! I’ve attended workshops
held by John Sharkey, international equine neuro-muscular therapist
and Jim Masterson, integrated equine massage therapist. I get a lot
of satisfaction from my massage work with horses. My number one
patient is my own dear chestnut QH gelding, Franklin. After knowing
and admiring him for five years, I recently began an open lease with
him. In the short time since I acquired him we’ve already been
through a lot together and he is worth every single minute and cent
spent! |
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Molly
 Hi my name is Molly Griffin and I’ve been
riding since I was 9 years old. I began riding at Eastside stables
in the 4th grade and stayed there until I was 11. After
leaving Eastside, I moved to Berry Woods Farm where I leased a bay
appendix mare named Annie. Annie and I showed together until
October of that year when I got my Christmas present early, a
chestnut off the track, thoroughbred gelding named Charlie.
When we got Charlie he was only 4 and had been
retired from his racing career for a year, so I think it goes
without saying that he wasn’t really cut out for the racing
business. Charlie is 7 now and loves his new life as a hunter. He
lives on our small hobby farm with my other horse, Levi. Levi is a
large palomino pony whom I show in jumpers. So far I have had 7
years of experience in the horse world where I have learned so much
from all of the wonderful, and not so wonderful, experiences that I
have had. I hope to continue with horses for the rest of my life! |
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Anna
 My
name is Anna McClain and I started riding horses when I was eight
years old. I started riding at Grove Station Farms and I still ride
there because I don’t compete much, just every now and then for fun.
I have two trail horses and one hunter jumper. My Quarter horse,
Sugar, is my only mare and she was my first horse and my birthday
present when I was 12. Sinbad, my Christmas present that same year,
is a Tennessee Walker cross and is a wonderful horse. My newest
addition is Jet a Quarter cross that I bought from Grove because
after riding him for a year, I knew we were meant for each other. I
am thinking about showing him again soon but we’ll have to see. Even
though they can be difficult, my three babies are the best a girl
could ask for.
Over my eight years of riding and four years of owning a horse, I
have lived through some hard times and the best times. Through all
of it I've learned that nobody could ever find a better friend than
a horse. I’ve also learned that every horse is different and special
in their own way. |
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Emily
 Hello,
I’m Emily Hunter and I’m a student at Furman University where I ride
on the Dressage Team and am a member of the Student Activities
Board. Our team competes in the Intercollegiate Dressage
Association (IDA) so when we go to shows we draw horses randomly,
have 10 minutes to warm up the horse, and then ride our tests. I
love being on a team with such great girls because riding is an
individual sport and we have had so much fun traveling together.
The IDA is a great experience because you have the chance to ride
all different horses and it really tests your abilities.
My first horse memories are of going out to the
barn with my dad and bouncing around on a Shetland named Sparkey and
my dad’s sweet natured, very tolerant mare. Later on, I started
riding lessons at the Biltmore Equestrian Center and I have been
riding ever since. Kaylee is my Trakehner/Arab mare and she is the
fourth generation of a line that we have raised. She is an athletic
little thing with a ton of personality and a reputation as an escape
artist. In my 10 or so years of riding the most important lesson
was learning just how fragile horses really are.
A few years ago Kaylee suffered from a terrible
case of Laminitis in which her left coffin bone actually came
through the sole and the right one was close. The complications
that came with it included colic and a case of Cellulitis that
caused her entire hind leg to swell. Her strong will, constant
care, and new technological medical treatments pulled her through so
that we were slowly starting to ride a full year later. Her
miraculous recovery led to an article in Equus magazine, and today
we are riding as if it never happened. |
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Karen
 Hey!
I’m Karen, newly converted customer-to-staff member at The Tack
Shop. My life is pretty much run by horses, so I figured, what
better job? I am the proud mother of two beautiful daughters who
both ride horses, and have a wonderful husband who “enables us” to
support our horse habit! We own our own farm in Woodruff, Windy Hill
Farm.
Our equine family now consists of a total of 8 horses and a
miniature (as well as one goat to keep the mini company! We are
“equal opportunity owners”…we have an off the track Thoroughbred, a
Quarter Horse, two Paints, the chestnut Mini, two Appaloosas, an
Appaloosa pony, and a Tennessee Walking Horse/Appaloosa cross. They
range in size from 8 hands to 16.2 hands, with personality by the
truckload!
I’ve ridden horses for over 35 years, everything from Western
Pleasure to Hunters and am now trying my hand at Dressage. I also
teach beginners Hunt Seat and am a volunteer for the South Carolina
4H Horse Program….so who has time for anything besides horses? |
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Lexi
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