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California Riding Magazine • June, 2009 The Red Mare |
Kimberly Cote named her online equine retail company, www.TheRedMare.com, after an actual red mare, but the horse and human products it carries are designed for customers bound by a common attitude more than a common hair shade or coat color. “Your source for distinctive products for you and your equine with attitude,” is the company’s motto and its offerings range from the purely fun to the highly functional. Whatever end of that spectrum they fall within, the products have been personally vetted by Cote, a longtime horse owner and spoiler and an aficionado of all things equine. “It has to be something that I’d use,” says Cote, who lives in the Central Coast town of Pacific Grove and keeps her two horses in the area. “Most of what I carry is something that I do use.” The Red Mare’s launch last summer came after Cote learned the trade as manager of a tack and feed store. “I took that job at first because it sounded fun and I like getting an employee discount,” she recalls. “It turned out that I really liked it.” She eventually plans to open a brick and mortar store, but in the current economy the online venture is working out very well. Products for the horse range from saddle pads, blankets and sheets to halters and bridles and various accessories. Cote has a soft spot for custom made beaded brow bands made by an Amish leather artisan. “Each time I open one of his shipments, it’s like Christmas,” Cote says. “You never know what’s coming and no two brow bands are the same.” High quality eight-ounce through-dyed leather enables the brow bands to hold up well and the color won’t wear off with use. All beading is on a stainless steel, 97-strand wire for strength and durability, and each bead is then hand-sewn into the leather. No glue is used. The Red Mare’s line for equestrians is packed with casual and show clothes, highlighted by high-quality t-shirts with funny phrases on them. A dressage rider herself, Cote has an equestrian’s eye when picking out clothes for fellow riders. “Even though a lot of my offerings are geared for dressage riders, I find it’s important to have a sense of humor.” An illustration of a rider slipping off the back end of her steed under the “Uncentered Riding” headline is a current favorite and several other light hearted slogans adorn form-flattering tees that are perfect for the summer riding season. Long sleeve and polo style shirts are plentiful in the Red Mare’s line-up. At presstime, the Red Mare was clearing out its winter gear at a 30 percent discount and offering California Riding Magazine readers 20 percent off of their first purchase. Fiery Inspiration Cote’s original Red Mare is the now 20-year-old Kyla. “She typifies the Red Mare in that she is fearless, has a ridiculous sense of humor for a horse and, in general, keeps things interesting at all times.” A typical antic for this red mare, Cote relays, would be to cross a creek willingly three times while out on trail, then refuse to with a sassy buck the fourth time. The Red Mare’s logo is drawn from a photo of Stella, Cote’s second horse. “She typifies the red mare stereotype in all the good ways,” Cote laughs fondly. “She is so unbelievably sweet you can never get mad at her even when she does a bad thing.” As the Red Mare online store grows with business from all over the country, Cote next hopes to establish a mobile tack shop so she can interact with customers face to face. Meantime, she maintains an active online presence and is thrilled with how the Internet enables her to connect with equestrian groups throughout the country. Cote has already sponsored dressage, eventing and rescue organizations across the U.S., and she greatly enjoys the chance to support the industry and promote her business at the same time. True to her red mare roots, keeping things interesting and fun is simply part of the business plan for www.theredmare.com.
For more information visit www.theredmare.com or call Kimberly Cote at 831-250-7356. |
