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California Riding Magazine • June, 2009 Bridles With Benefits |
A “five star” designation on the competitive equestrian circuit means only the best will be there. The designation now carries a similar message in the tack world, where Jamie Greene’s Holicong, PA-based Five Star Tack is emerging as a unique source for the best in distinctive, trend-setting bridles and strapgoods. Throughout her youth as an eventing competitor, Greene was always a few steps ahead of her contemporaries when it came to outfitting her horses. This was thanks to her father’s travels to England and the beautiful, top quality leather goods he returned with. With many years of brand and corporate marketing on her professional resume and an interest in fashion and luxury item trends, Greene realized that the equine industry had very few stand-alone brands. Oddly enough, cancer was the catalyst for making a business model out of that epiphany. Greene emerged from her breast cancer diagnosis and 18 months of treatment and surgeries with the unshakable conviction that she needed to do something fun and meaningful and her business plan for Five Star Tack began to take shape. Designed for hunter/jumper, eventer and dressage riders and horses, Five Star Tack is “a celebration of the commitment to luxury and style,” Greene says. All of the company’s bridles and strapgoods, i.e. martingales, etc., are made of Sedgwick english bridle leather and feature Five Star’s distinctive trademark, a stylized Celtic cross within a circle. “The unique stitch design and cross logo symbolizes the blending of tradition and innovation,” Greene explains. “That’s the cornerstone of our design philosophy.” Each Five Star bridle is a work of art. They are hand finished, expertly stitched and all buckles are stainless steel. “No detail is overlooked in our quest to provide our customers with products of the utmost in quality and designed to last through many enjoyable rides,” Greene notes. Most of the bridles are available in cob, full-size and oversize. Six Designs The line currently features six bridle designs. The Piccadilly is a winning style for the hunter ring. It features a softly padded and round raised browband and noseband with a pinch guard on nose buckle. The brow and noseband are finished with the company’s distinctive fancy stitch design and this model comes with matching 5/8” raised and stitched laced reins. The Chelsea bridle is designed to take horse and rider to new heights in style. It features a ring style figure-eight noseband with a soft, leather padded nosedisk where the Five Star cross logo is prominently stitched. The browband is round raised, padded and fancy stitched, while the crownpiece is softly padded to provide the utmost in equine comfort without adding bulk. The half-inch cheek pieces are fancy stitched, fittings are stainless steel and all nose buckles have pinch guards. The Chelsea comes complete with BioThane Super Grip reins. This new style of rubber rein is made from PVC-coated webbing, offering exceptional grip but with a soft, flexible feel. The Chelsea is available in black and dark Havana. These examples of Five Star’s six current bridle designs will be joined soon by dressage bridles, equine leg boots and other leather goods for horse and rider. In building brand recognition for Five Star’s products, Greene envisions fulfilling a niche in the equestrian market rather than competing with major manufacturers. She foresees that equestrians’ taste for beautifully designed and crafted, durable products will keep her busy far into the future. Five Star Tack’s best advertisements are the products themselves. Toward that end, the company recently signed sponsorship deals with four riders making their mark on the international scene. Show jumpers Willie Tynan and Shannon Slyfield and eventers Sara Mittleider and Kristin Schmolze are Five Star’s first team. Greene’s brush with grave health issues inspired her to make corporate giving a part of Five Star’s business model. Via its “Bridles With Benefits” program, customers can designate one of four charities to receive 20 percent of the profits from their Five Star purchase. The charities are The Breast Cancer Research Foundation, the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation, Alex’s Lemonade Stand and the ASPCA. As the company grows, so will its contributions as part of its corporate identity. “I want buyers to know that, through their purchase, they are helping someone facing hardship whether human or animal,” says Greene with characteristic cheer and charm.
For more information on Five Star Tack, visit www.fivestartack.com or call 866-982-8225. |
