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Shop Smart with Smartipony |
When asked about her new online store, Smartipony.com, the first thing founder Sara Braden says is, “I am a rider.” It’s a simple fact, but an important one. As an equestrian, Sara knew how difficult it could be to find high quality tack, equipment and apparel that is also affordable; this can be especially challenging when shopping online, where a consumer only has a company’s descriptions and reputation to go by. “I wanted to start an e-store where equestrians could buy with confidence. No products on Smartipony.com are just randomly added, every product is one that I, as a rider, trust and use. When I decided to start the website I did a lot of research and pulled together a wonderful group of mentors, most of whom have horse experience. It enabled me to draw from more than my own horse and retail experience; they’re hunters, jumpers, eventers, western pleasure riders, reiners, trail riders and even a natural horsemanship trainer. Some of them show at the schooling level, some ride the “A” circuit, while others prefer to enjoy their horse in their own backyard. They all shared their knowledge and made recommendations. ” Branching Out The first brand launched on Smartipony was Kensington. Kensington has been designing and manufacturing custom equine protective wear for almost 50 years. Sara valued the durability and fire resistance of Kensington’s products, as well as the company commitment to designing safe items. “I am a big fan of Kensington. I use their saddle pads and blankets on my horses. I have a fly sheet made by Kensington that seems like it has lasted ‘forever.’ It has survived several seasons, while I just tried one from another company this spring and it is already in shreds.” The next two brands introduced were Cool Medics and Eous. Sara describes Cool Medics’ products as a summertime staple for all riders and horses in hot climates. Their products are constructed from a patented three-layer fabric that, by combining hydrophilic fibers into a fibrous batting core and a thermally conductive lining, provides cooling after allowing the product to soak in water for 30 seconds to one minute. The water activates the cooling process by charging the fibers with moisture and creating an environment for evaporation. When moisture in the batting evaporates, heat is removed and cools the surrounding area, transferring the cooling effect to the wearer. Tests have shown Cool Medics’ vests and other products can maintain a temperature 20 to 25 degrees lower than the environment’s temperature for a period of four and a half hours. Sara had never tried Eous before launching Smartipony, but she is already enthralled with their products. “Eous has been around for years, and we are thrilled to be offering their products on Smartipony. When I was researching products for the site, I was lucky enough to chat with the actual designer of Eous’ products and was extremely impressed. The designer is also a rider, and she understood what other riders would be looking for in good products. She chooses all the fabrics herself, inspecting them carefully for durability One of the Eous products that stood out to Sara was Eous’ technical saddle pad. It has a suede top which reduces saddle slipping and dry-cool lining which pulls moisture away from the back to help keep the horse cool. The pad also has a contoured top line for great wither relief and to prevent uncomfortable creases under the saddle. Smartipony’s most recent additions are Mrs. Pastures’ horse cookies and the Equi-Calc horse weight calculator. Sara is particularly excited about the Equi-Calc horse weight calculator, which allows horse owners to accurately establish the horse’s weight so medications and feeding requirements can be most effective. It uses three measurements (girth, height and length) to allow for a more accurate estimate. Think Smart “We love our horses and want the best for them,” says Sara. “Our items are meant for horse people who value quality and ease of use, but don’t want to sacrifice good looks. Smartipony aims to bring smart, high quality items, to both competitive and pleasure riders, at an affordable price.” Smartipony is continually growing, so Sara encourages equestrians to check back often. In the upcoming months she hopes to add Ariat breeches and products, Pony Pops and Miller Bits to the Smartipony stable.
For more information on Smartipony visit the e-store at www.smartipony.com, call 916-729-1599 or e-mail customerservice@smartipony.com. |
