Popular horse tack shop closes after 36 years in SLO County
Whitehorse Tack in Paso Robles has closed its doors after serving the needs of equestrians in the North County for the past 36 years.
Owner Lisa Moore of Templeton said the tack shop is closing because she is retiring.
“I’m retiring from retail but not from life,” Moore said. The last day of retail operations at Whitehorse was Nov. 30.
One of the activities she is looking forward to in her retirement is travel.
In fall 2022, Moore and her sister will be heading to Italy for the FEI Eventing World Championship. The sport of eventing is an equestrian triathlon with dressage, cross-country and show jumping, according to the United States Equestrian Federation.
A lifelong horse lover and equestrian, Lisa Moore opened Whitehorse Tack in 1985 at a 3,000-square-foot space in Templeton.
The store brimmed with saddles, cowboy boots, Breyer horses and more.
By 2010, it was clear that the business needed more space, Moore said. After 25 years in Templeton, she relocated to a larger building at 2805 Black Oak Drive in Paso Robles.
The Paso Robles tack shop had more than 5,000 square feet of space devoted to the needs of equestrians. The store carried more than 100 saddles and had an entire room devoted to English riding, as well as equestrian apparel, boots and general horse supplies.
“I’ve enjoyed my customers immensely. I’m going to miss them the most,” Moore said. “We have a great group of people in the horse community. It’s been a joy.”
Horse community says Whitehorse Tack will be missed
The store was a fixture in the horse community since it opened in 1985.
When Lisa Moore first announced her retirement and plans to close the tack shop on Facebook in August 2021, more than 70 comments poured in from equestrians who shared their memories, congratulations and sorrow at the news.
“You opened your doors the same year I moved to Paso. Can’t imagine not having you here,” wrote Tammy Phillips of Paso Robles, according to her Facebook profile. “Best to you and your family, thank you for all you’ve done for the horse community! You will be missed.”
“Lisa, enjoy your well-deserved retirement! We horsey people all have such fond memories of shopping at Whitehorse. You created a local institution for us!” wrote Gail Baum of Templeton.
Whitehorse Tack filled a void for equestrians when it opened more than 35 years ago.
Today, there are only a few brick-and-mortar shops where equestrians can try on gear in San Luis Obispo County. Moore mentioned Behind the Barn Consignment in Atascadero and Premiere Ag in Paso Robles as options for equestrians.
Riding Warehouse, and online retailer with a physical space in San Luis Obispo, is another option.
Online retail outlets affect tack shops
Online retail has made it more challenging for small retail businesses, and tack shops are no exception, Moore said.
“Tack stores throughout the nation, they’re closing down,” Moore said. “It’s the small business crunch.”
“The competition is not local. The competition is nationwide,” Moore said.
While online retail has made it more challenging for small tack shops like Whitehorse, Moore said she noticed a resurgence of energy around equestrian sports during the pandemic.
“The pandemic did an interesting thing for the equestrian world — it boosted it tremendously,” she said. “I’ve heard it from all the tack stores. They saw a real boost in sales.”
Part of the reason is that other club, recreational sports for children and teens were shut down during the COVID-19 pandemic and parents were desperate to get their children out of their house.
Moore said that horseback riding teaches young riders responsibility and helps them connect on a deeper level with animals. It can also be therapeutic for children who may be struggling.
“There’s an endless amount you can learn,” she said, and noted the famous quote from Winston Churchill, former prime minister of the United Kingdom.
“There is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man,” is the quote commonly attributed to Churchill.
Although she may be closing the doors to Whitehorse Tack, Moore isn’t hanging up her saddle just yet.
Moore doesn’t currently have any horses, but said she plans to work a bit more on her property, including some of the empty stalls and corrals that need some repairs before she might consider filling them with horses.
“Horses have always been a part of my life, basically,” she said. “It would be logical for me to return back to them.”
This story was originally published November 30, 2021 at 7:12 PM.
