Equestrian Vacations

TackGuru.com is a new product review website developed for equestrians. The site allows horse owners to read about the experiences (good and bad) that other knowledgeable equestrians have had with the products they want to buy or try. The site includes reviews for tack, horse clothing, equine feeds, stable supplies, supplements, and equestrian clothing and equipment.

“In today’s tight economy every purchase that you make for your horse undergoes extra scrutiny,” explained site developer Liz Goldsmith. “If I want to buy a saddle, or try a supplement or medication, or buy a helmet, I find it very helpful to read about others’ experiences. When I looked for a site that offered this type of information, I couldn’t find anything that was like I envisioned. Either the scope was limited or the reviews were on manufacturers or tack store sites, which might be biased.

“Research shows that user reviews have the greatest influence in a buying decision,” she continued. “People value the opinions of their peers even more than single reviews by ‘experts.’ That makes quite a bit of sense because with items such a saddles, personal preference plays a large role in someone’s satisfaction.”

Goldsmith spent more than a year researching review sites and thinking about how she could make a site that offered a unique perspective. “I looked at review sites across many different industries and cherry picked the features that I thought were most compelling,” she explained. “I also found that people on equine forums would ask for opinions on different products and I thought it would be so much more helpful if this information was organized in a way that was more accessible – easier to find, listed in one place, and with an aggregate rating.”

As a result of her research, TackGuru.com features:

• Rated user reviews that provide both individual comments and an overall ranking. It was important to her that you could see an aggregate “score” that spans multiple reviews.
• A format that combines multiple reviews in a single location. She didn’t want people to have to keep “clicking” to read more reviews.
• A broad scope of products. Rather than just focus on tack, she wanted to create a single source for the full range of products that equestrians use and need. The site addresses feeds, supplements, stable supplies, blankets, tack, equestrian clothing and even provides a place to rank on-line suppliers.

TackGuru.com is free to use but requires registration. “I have found that when people must register, the quality of their reviews is higher because the authors have some accountability,” said Goldsmith. “In addition, when you find a reviewer whose views you agree with, you want to find other products they liked or disliked.” She explained that “The site was in beta testing for several months last year and I was very impressed by the insights offered by reviewers. This is a sport where the users have a lot of knowledge and experience to share.”

TackGuru.com is physically located in Lincoln, Mass.  Site owner and developer Elizabeth Goldsmith is a life-long equestrian who has tried many of the products reviewed in the site. She encourages all equestrians to share their opinions on the products they have tried.

Notice the white star on the forehead

If ever you feel weary, and all alone, look not to the dog but to the horse for comfort. Horses are good listeners, and will stand beside you in perfect harmony if you run your hands gently down their back, and speak with a very gentle tone. 

When I was a little boy I used to climb up to the hay barn above the stables, and perch on one of the beams above my Mother’s favourite mare.  She didn’t seem to mind, as she munched away on the hay I dropped down to her and I spilled out my thoughts, and even made up stories aloud.  This became a ritual whenever I came home from school for the holidays, and my old friend would always be there to greet me with her long black fluttery lashes and open face with a white star fixed squarely on her forehead.

At the start of the Christmas holidays I came home with so much excitement as Christmas was coming, and that meant presents!  We also had recently arranged to catch some rays on a horse riding holiday to the coast of Spain. But that night, as usual, I snuck out to the stables. I remember vividly the large wooden ladder-type staircase up to the hayloft, with slippery mould growing off it.  I treaded carefully and opened up the stiff hatch.  From there I could see the lit stable, and my special beam.  I carefully balanced along the beam and gently lowered myself into a sort of sitting position, only to look down and find the stable bare.  I couldn’t understand it and looked in the paddocks.  She wasn’t there.  In the darkness I could see no white star, and no open face.  Walking slowly back to the house I went to my Mother.  Sadly, the mare had been found lame in the paddock and had had to leave us.  I couldn’t believe it, wouldn’t!  My best friend and listener had gone and left me and Christmas was forgotten. The horse riding holiday to Jerez came and passed and before I knew it the stunning scenery and beautiful landscapes had passed me by.

As most horse lovers will already know, this is both a sad fact of life… and riding, but with riding, more acutely. The average horse lives to between 20-30 years; there are records of up to 51 years old according to many sources. So throughout a life-long riding affair it is most likely that you will suffer a loss more than once.

When Christmas day finally rolled around the corner my mum gave me a massive hug and told me how sorry she was. She knew deep down I wasn’t interested in opening presents this year but still she told me she had something for me to remember our mare by, and it was perched on the beam in the hay loft. I reluctantly walked outside into the cold and made my way over. The cold bit my arms and I hugged my T-shirt for warmth. I walked up the wooden stairs and climbed through the hatch only to see nothing on the beam. It was the first time I had been here since… So I sat down and pondered, staring dead ahead at the opposite wall. I could practically hear Angel Eyes below me. All of the memories came rushing back and as I looked below I could see her with her blotchy coat of brown and white. Except… no star on her forehead? I dropped down gently and put my hand on her cheek as I examined her closely. This wasn’t Angel Eyes! Mum opened the door to the stables and smiled. I wrapped my arms around her and my Christmas was saved.

These four words are absolutely vital to our philosophy here at Equestrian Escapes. When we consider a new package, or putting a new destination onto our list of “To be scouted…” we ask ourselves a few questions to help determine whether it is suitable for our style. Our style of course being linked closely into our desired impact on the customer and the overall quality and delivery of the Equestrian Escapes product range.

Question number one.

Is is fit to be an Equestrian Escapes Horse Riding Holiday? Now by fit I mean does it tick those oh so necessary boxes that we know our customers need. Have we got those vital three C’s? Comfort, Culture and Climate. I heard you laugh! I’ll admit, we let our various England, Wales and Ireland venues slip under the bar with the weather reviews but this is for two very good reasons. One; we know our own land. Two; we have seen living testament over the past few decades to the amount of dedicated riders and horse lovers who are completely willing to brave gale force 27 winds and an icey bout of rain in England. And do you know why they do it? Simple. These people love their animals and these conditions only make you enjoy the good weather more. So needless to say, we launched our domestic range and it still is a smash hit. People love a good UK riding holiday. That’s the kind of holiday they want more often than not, given the current economical climate.

Question two.

When are we getting out to this new possible destination to have a thorough look at the available accommodation, riding centers and restaurants? We refuse to reccommed something to our customers unless we know it’s good. First hand sampling of all you will encounter, bar the unpredictable… for instance, no we did not test the air for possible traces of volcanic ash. Within reason, but with dedicated dilligance. That is how we always aim to operate when considering new destinations for your next horse riding holiday.

Question three. If we have aquired good answers to our first two questions then…

How soon can it be up on the website and available to you? How soon can it be ready? We want it sooner. The way we see this near final stage of the riding holiday process is that you could be going on your single holiday of the year in three weeks time. That’s right you, the customer. So what if you’d like to go to Madrid with your family of four this year on a riding holiday, you have already seen the standard we work at and would rather find yourself a new location than a different tour operator. That is customer loyalty, and that is what we strive to achieve. We want our relationships to strengthen over time with our customers. You should feel both confident and excited about your trip just knowing that Equestrian Escapes are the people who have been with you each step of the way. It is an Equestrian Escapes horse riding holiday and you should expect no less.

In the future, this will be further recognised as a symbol of honesty

Do you suffer from volcano aversion? Then treat youself with our riding holiday offer.