Tack Shop Opens in the Landings

Karen Callaghan grew up riding horses. And now she’s making a go at it helping others who ride horses.

“I’ve been riding horses since I was 6,” she said.

Despite her love of horses, including owning a horse named "Legs" who died just before his 27th birthday, her career path led her to the insurance industry, where she worked as an insurance broker for 25 years.

For the Rocky River resident, horses were a hobby, but now they are her second career.

Callaghan said she used to shop at a small tack shop in western Cuyahoga county.

“She always had what you needed,” Callaghan said. "That shop closed 20 years ago. “For 20 years ago, I thought, ‘someone need to open a tack shop.” 

Earlier this month, Callaghan decided to fill that need and opened a tack shop, Equine Essentials, in The Landings shopping center in Avon Lake. The store's  grand opening was March 12.

The store, located at 32730 Walker (near Marco's Pizza), caters to two sides related to horses: the horse owner and riders/lessons. She said horses and riders in the Cleveland area area plentiful.

“My original plan was to cater to the horse," Callaghan said. "It’s gone 180 to the rider and horse. It’s more on the rider and less emphasis on the horse.”

That means plenty of clothing for the rider, from pants, shirts and jackets to high-quality boots and footwear. She carries the higher end Ariat line that are popular not just for riders, but non-riders as well.

Many other items, including supply boxes and handmade, hand-painted fences by Jumps by Jill, are made locally.

The store also stocks items specific to horses including blankets, cooler and fly sheets, feed, halters, saddles, and cleaning supplies.

Callahan maintains a Facebook site where items will be featured. She said she will not ship items; purchased items need to be bought at the store.

“You want to see them, touch them,” she said.