Horse People: Have You Been To Equestrian Solutions Unlimited?

This post was written and reported by Senior Regional Editor Elissa Bass.

It’s a tiny little building that has been home to a number of interesting ventures: Cove Ledge liquor store, ZuZu’s Petals gift shop, First Bite Bakery. 

These days, when you walk in 862 Stonington Road you don’t smell beer, or potpourri or fresh-baked scones. You smell leather.

Equestrian Solutions Unlimited opened Feb. 15, and owner Erica Boffi of Pawcatuck says her shop offering new, used and consignment horse tack and supplies hit the ground running.

But it’s more than saddles and bridles that line the walls and fill the cases. There are Avon Brownstone Bakery dog treats, gifts, home decor items, jewelry, clothing, books, and more.

Boffi loves the location. “It’s perfect. There are tons of horses near here,” she says. “Stonington, North Stonington, Westerly, Richmond, Pawcatuck. The word-of-mouth through the horse people has been great.”

Boffi owns two horses and Tonka the dog (you can find him asleep behind the counter). This is her first retail venture after always working for someone else.
“I wanted to do something that would make me happy,” she says.

One of her favorite parts of the shop is the consignment saddles. “All of them have a history,” she says. “There’s a story with every saddle. The person has a strong connection to it and to the horse they rode with it.”

For consignments, it’s an 80-20 split on saddles and 70-30 on anything relse, Boffi said.

She is happy that the shop has been so well-received. She wondered about opening in this economy.

“I was scared,” she admits. “But the community has really embraced me. I am having such a great time, and people have been so kind.”

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