Touring Tack Shops in Virginia and Maryland

On the road again---this time searching for outstanding tack shops in Virginia and Maryland. My tour guide this week is AJ Garofolo.

AJ and I set out this Tuesday, May 18th to visit Champion Saddlery http://www.championsaddlery.com/-- It is located at 15225 Breedens Rd, Doswell, VA. The owners, Bruce & Linda Warner offered us a warm greeting when we arrived. Their shop has a large variety of English and Western tack items.

Champion Saddlery is a family owned and operated business established over 40 years ago. They offer over 500 new and used English, Western, Aussie, and Racing saddles at discounted prices. Trade-ins on saddles are always welcomed. Champion's knowledgeable, friendly and professional staff will assist you with selection, style, sizing, and answer any questions that you may have.

Along with their store the Champion Saddlery road show is present at many of the regional equine events.
AJ & Bruce have teamed up for over 20 years in assisting Circle Y customer in selecting the best saddle for their fit their specific needs.




Champion carries a large selection of Circle Y & Tucker Saddles.









Jackie Oates & Elaine Neal have provided the Champion customers with world class assistance and support for many years.

Owner, Linda Warner and & Carol work together to insure that their loyal customers select the proper equipment to meet their specific equestrian needs.

On our way from Champion we had the awesome privilege of seeing the birthplace of the legendary race horse Secretariat. Wow!!

!!!!NEXT STOP!!!

Crawford Saddlery in Ruckersville, VA,

http://www.crawfordsaddlery.com/.....

Owner Joe Crawford-

At Crawford Saddlery, we found the areas largest selection of English and Western Saddles,a vast inventory of tack supplies, riding apparel, accessories, and a full line of horse care products.

The store is located in Ruckersville, Virginia, just 20 minutes North of Charlottesville and 1-hour from Lexington, Virginia.
Over the past 15 years, Crawford Saddlery has become Central Virginia’s best stocked tack store.

Angie and Lynn assist owner Joe Crawford in providing excellent customer service to all of their customers.

- Maryland here we come!!-- We are soon to see the beautiful Carroll County Tack Shop-

Carroll County Tack & Supply is a family owned and operated store that was opened by Charlie and Denise Duvall in 1981. Carroll County Tack has grown to be one of the areas largest English and Western tack store.

Carroll County is always expanding their product lines to better serve their customer needs.
The owners, Charlie and Denise Duvall are delightful people that are committed to provide superior service to their wonderful customers.

Along with their extensive line of equine products Carroll County offers:
•Tack Restoration - We can clean and condition your tack for you.
•Consignments - We will sell your items for you. We charge a 25% commission for this service.
•Cleaning and Re-shaping Western Hats - We can breathe new life into your beaten-up, dirty western hat. We only charge $8.00 for this service.
•Special Orders - We will special order any item that we do not already stock
•Gift Certificates - The easiest gift to give regardless of the holiday.
•Prompt Tack Repairs - We can repair most everything you need to be fixed. We perform all of our repairs in-house. Generally, repairs take a few days to complete.
•Custom Fabrication - If you need an unusual piece of tack that you can not find in stores, we can build what you need.







Carroll County's Saddle and Tack Selection is one of the best in all of the Northeastern U.S.

This extensive product selection combined with Charlie & Denise's extensive equine knowledge and experience it makes Carroll County a regional favorite of horse enthusiasts.

As you look around the store you'll find a lot of really neat antique collectibles.

AJ has been working with Charlie and Carroll County for many years helping to outfit their customers with the best saddle and tack choices to enhance their riding experience.

AJ & Goerge (the store cat) have been friends since the revolutionary war....

2010 Josey Reunion Round-Up

2010 Josey Reunion Round-Up Press Release
April 30-May 2, 2010

The most beautiful sunny skies, perfect temperatures and 364 contestants and horses from all over the US and Canada, battling it out for over $100,000 in cash and prizes, including a decked-out BIG TEX/CM Trailer, Circle Y & Billy Cook Saddles, Bob Berg Championship Trophy Buckles, Purina Feed, United Vet Products, and more! That is Barrel Racing at its best and that is what happened during the 2010 Josey Reunion Round-Up for former students this year!
“We could not enjoy the freedom that we have this weekend without those men and women in the armed forces that have served our county”, Randy Adams and Coy Huffman announced as the weekend began with a salute to our veterans and the presentation of the colors by the Marshall High School ROTC under the direction of Major Mayfield.

Over 2000 people came to the Josey Ranch with family, friends, riders and horses to enjoy food, fun and fellowship among the excitement of barrel racing and pole bending. But what really lit up the main arena with electricity was fourteen-year-old Blue Grass Iowan, Mesa Leavitt who began making history in the rodeo world in 2005 with her horse, Junior’s Genuine Doc aka “Junior. She won the prestigious Josey Jr. World title back-to-back and four times overall in 05, 06, 08 and 09. She holds the Triple Crown of barrel racing winning the Josey Jr. World, All American Youth, and NBHA Youth World. Sitting tight in her Martha Josey/Circle Y Ultimate saddle, holding fast to her Josey Beagley Knot Reins attached to the Josey Million Dollar bit, and styling in her Cowgirl Tuff Jeans, the official Jeans of the Josey Ranch, she and Junior ran to win with an outstanding time of 16.112. Mesa’s parents purchased Junior from Suvoy and Cheryl Rosser through the Josey Ranch and what a winning combination that has become. Mesa took home a slew of cash and prizes including a beautiful trailer donated by BIGTEX/CM Trailers, a Circle Y Saddle, Bob Berg Championship Trophy Buckle, a Don Wasson Bit for the fastest time, quality Hy-Flex products by United Vet Equine, Purina Feed, and much, much more.

The champions in each division won saddles along with a beautiful, custom designed Bob Berg Buckle. And standing on the stage was Amy Swan of Olney, Texas, riding, Boons Prescription to win the 2D Championship, with a time of 16.626. The 3D Champion was Gilmer, Texan cowgirl, Kari Arreola Henson riding Pinto with a time of 17.150. And the 4D went to a great friend of Josey Ranch, the one and only Kris Suard of the Black Star Ranch in Houma, Louisiana, riding her horse Phoebes Smokin Cat to claim a time of 18.147. Andrea Whiteside, of Kilgore, Texas, riding The Right To Run won the Senior Division Championship with a 16.574. The Reserve Champions were 1D - Abby Pursifull of Arthur City, Texas, riding Truckstop with a time of 16.217, 2D - Jana Guthrie of Canton, Texas, riding Gee with a time of 16.635, 3D - Cooper Clinton of Carthage, Texas, riding Fortune Five with a time of 17.166, and the 4D Reserve Champion was Sara Funderburk of Bossier City, Louisiana, riding Money with a time of 18.234.
On Thursday night, the Josey Ranch kicked off the Reunion with a ground shaking Pole Bending competition. Keily Abney of Hugo, Oklahoma riding Dallas made a streaking run of 20.719 to win the 1D. The 2D was won by Brittany Ellis riding Troy with a time of 21.721, and Jolie Null of Marshall, Texas riding Doll captured the 3D with a time of 22.721.

Two college scholarships were awarded immediately following the church service. The Thomas Mitchell Scholarship was awarded to Ashton Michelle Wright of Queen City, Texas. And the Green Beret SSG Jamie Alford scholarship winner went to Kelci Kennedy of Linden, Texas delivered tearfully by Jamie’s mother, Gale Alford who spoke of her son’s passing, and loving commitment to barrel racing. Former Green Beret Judge Jim Ammerman presented the award and gave a salute to the fallen soldier.In honor of Martha Josey’s great horse, Sonny Bit O’Both, the only horse to ever win the AQHA and WPRA World Championships in the same year, a very special award was given to the Horse with the Most Heart. This year’s honor went to Kylie Abney’s horse Southern Spunk aka "Dallas". Despite broken withers just five years earlier and a devastating diagnosis that this horse would never run again, 23 year old “Dallas” won the 2010 Reunion Round-Up Pole Bending event with a time 20.719The Oldest Horse Award, as well as the Fastest Veteran Award, went to Elaine Lambino on 32 year old “Peppy” . The Fastest Paint Horse Award went to Royena Clifton on Cooza Crisp with a 16.503. Contestant Hailey Poole’s Grandfather, Roger Dees, won the Martha Josey Ultimate Circle Y Raffle Saddle.

Thanks to the Barrel Horse News, Circle Y Saddlery, HealthyCoat, Thoro’Bred Horseshoes, and Mark Burt MVP Video Productions the 2010 Josey Reunion Round-up was webcast live and viewed all over the World. With comments on the race all the way from China’s NBHA Champion, Dashun Liu, it can truly be said that Martha and R.E. are loved the world over.

If you would like to be a part of the 2011 Josey Reunion Round-Up or for more information on future Josey Clinics and events at the Josey Ranch in Marshall, Texas or in your area, please visit us at http://www.barrelracers.com/ or call us at 903-935-5358.

“We have had over 100,000 students through our clinics and the Reunion is such a great time to see our students again and to see their progress and success. Congratulations to all of the 2010 Josey Reunion Round-up winners!” – R.E. & Martha Josey

New England Tack Shop Tour

Our First Day:
Early Monday morning David Royal and I saddled our ponies and set out on our New England Tack Shop tour. Our purpose was to visit some of the premier Saddle and Tack shops in the area.

Our First stop was Green County Horseshoe Supply located in Greenville, NY.

This shop has an extensive offering of saddles and equipment that would appeal to a broad selection of horse enthusiast. Circle Y and High Horse are Green County's premier saddle and tack brands.

The owner, Butch Colbert, has a broad understanding of the equestrian market and uses that knowledge to provide tremendous service to his customer base.

David and I also enjoyed looking at some of Butch's collectibles.

Along with Butch and Steve we also had the privilege of meeting Alyece Russo and her daughter Bonnie Harvey. They are both seasoned and accomplished barrel racing competitors. (Also Circle Y fans!) Bonnie rides a bay gelding named Duelly.


Time to get back the ponies and head East to Westfield, MA.....








Second Stop:




Our second shop to visit was Sackett Ridge Saddlery in Westfield, MA.









Owner Marci Kramer has a wonderful collection of Saddles and Tack that she sells through her store locally and on the Internet around the world. (She carries wonderful brands such as Circle Y, High Horse and Tucker Trail Saddles!!!!)

Sackett Ridge is known around the country for their large selection of Circle Y Arabian Show Saddles and Tack.















Marci is an expert saddle fitter and works closely with her customers assisting them in the best saddle fit possible for their horse. Along with her show equipment focus Marci also outfits lots of trailriders.

The next stop is Uxbridge, MA

The Mane Place in Uxbridge!

The Mane Place is a family owned an operated tack shop located in Uxbridge, MA. Paul, Linda and their daughter have been serving the region since 1988 with a broad selection of saddles, tack, clothing, feed and equestrian supplies.







The Mane Place is a premier dealer of Tucker Trail Saddles.














The Mane Place is renowned both regionally and across the nation for its excellent customer service and product knowledge.

Before we left we had the privilege of having our picture made with Linda and a special friend.

On the road again----PONY TIME!


"WAIT-UP!!!"
















We were determine to make it to New Hampshire before Dark.

Our ponies were a little spooked with the single lane bridge but with some fast moves we were able to navigate through.

Our next stop was the Cheshire Horse in Swanzey, NH.

The Cheshire Horse has been serving horse people throughout New England since 1997. Doug and Mary Anne Hampshaw have continued to grow the business ever since then and now have two locations!
Their philosophy is to offer the best and largest selection possible backed up by knowledgeable staff and great customer service. Their retail stores stock everything you need to equip you, your horse, and your barn. Along with a tremendous saddle and tack offering Cheshire has a wide variety of Purina Mills, Buckeye Nutrition, and Platform feeds at both our locations.




















David worked to assist Mary Anne determining the best product mix to offer the Cheshire customers.

Doug Hampshaw also owns and manages the Hampshaw lumber company located in the Keene. It was a great pleasure to have the oppertunity to learn obout his business and the region.

Hamshaw Lumber Inc.

Our final stop on the New England tour was the

Double G Ranch in Lebanon, Maine.

Double G Ranch has been growing for 18 years and is currently 11,000 sq. ft. of retail space on two floors. They are proud to have over 650 new and used saddles and an extensive selection of merchandise that their customers have come to expect. They stock tack for training, trail riding and showing. They also have barn supplies, fencing materials, supplements, grooming aids, and clothing for both horse& rider from Mini to Draft and Toddler to Adult. Double G has a one of the most extensive selections of Circle Y, High Horse and Tucker saddles that can be found in the entire north east.

Double G is located in some of the most picturest areas of New England surrounded by stone fences and rollings hills.

Gary and Ruth along with their tremendous staff offer their customers an unprecidented level of expertese and service.

Mesa Leavitt-My International Finals Rodeo Experience

I.F.R. 40 had an awesome turn out this year. 15 barrel racers from across the U.S. and Canada came to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma for the I.F.R. But there were only 4 who came in search of a world title. Sindy Laliberte, Carie White, Laura Kerley , and me, Mesa Leavitt. I came to the I.F.R. $5,000 behind and had a lot of catching up to do.

This year I kind of had fallen behind because my good horse, Juniors Genuine Doc aka Junior, had to have ankle surgery at the end of July right in the middle of a bunch of really good rodeos. I spent the rest of the season trying new and different horses-some were better than others. Our main concern for Junior was getting him back and ready for the I.F.R.. Junior was off until the end of November and that's when we started legging Junior back up. I had taken Junior to a couple barrel races trying to get him back into his routine of running. Junior has a special way of doing things before he runs and if you don't then you're in trouble.

By the time the I.F.R. rolled around I knew he was gonna be ready to go. I took Junior and my new horse Red to the I.F.R. Red was simply there for Junior if he were to have any problems or for some reason I did not think he needed to run. After 13 long hours of hauling we finally made it to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. When I got Junior in the pen I could tell he knew where he was and he meant business. By the night the first round came around Junior and I were ready. Our first run he didn't fire like he usually does but he still won third in the round. On Saturday there were two rounds, an afternoon performance and an evening performance. The second round was kind of like the first round-it was nice and smooth but still did not fire like he usually does. He placed fourth in the round that night and we were still sitting good in the average. So for the third round I knew we needed to pump up our game and win the round. So Junior and I had a good long talk and stayed by ourselves and I just let Junior do what ever he wanted and be himself. Before we ran I could see that his eyes meant business. He made an awesome run it was smooth and fast and I was so proud of him. Sunday afternoon was the last round and I knew all I had to do was make a smooth clean run. But evidently Junior was thinking the same thing. Cause when he saw that alley way he reared straight up in the air then took off. He won the last round and that put him number 1 in the average.

I was so proud of him, he deserved this title more than any of the other titles he has won. I need to give all the credit to Junior. He is truly a once in a life time horse. I wouldn't trade him for anything in the world. Junior is my baby and always will be. He has brought so much joy to the Leavitt family and I'm sure still more to come. We would really like to go for a 5th world title cause no one has ever accomplished 5 in a row. We have a lot planned for 2010 and can't wait to start going hard again. I need to send a big thanks to Susan, Shiloh, and Richard aka Dad Leavitt for all their help and support at I.F.R. 40. Thank you also Circle Y for all your help and support- you supply me with such marvelous and beautiful tack and saddles I really appreciate it.

Hopefully we will see you down the road.

Mesa Leavitt

Circle Y 2010

This year Circle Y celebrates our 50th Anniversary. Since it's founding in Yoakum Texas in 1960, many changes have taken place. The company has grown, changed ownership, and revamped it's manufacturing process. 2010 also marks another milestone in the history of Circle Y-for the first time the manufacturing, office, and shipping operations are under one roof. Still in Yoakum Texas, the relocation has combined our operations from 4 separate buildings into a single facility. We are loving the new building. It has allowed the manufacturing process to be more streamlined, and has eliminated the unnecessary trucking of materials between buildings. The move took place over Christmas vacation, and as you can imagine, moving 50 years of accumulated stuff is no small feat! When we came back in January we quickly went to work unpacking, organizing and preparing for our first visitor to our new home-Julie Goodnight. Julie was in Texas for a Horsemaster TV shoot, so she came in a day early to visit, accompanied by her Horsemaster associates Heidi and Cheryl. It was great to finally meet her face-to-face, after months of designing and perfecting her saddle line through conference calls, telephone, email, and shipping saddles back and forth! We gave the ladies the grand tour of the saddle making process, start to finish. Technology has brought the company a long way, allowing us to design and create precision parts with computer digitation and computerized leather cutting. But saddles are still handmade one-by-one, and the employees at each phase of saddle making demonstrated their craftmanship. We even came across some of Julie's own Peak Performance saddles along the way. After experiencing the amount of labor and skill required throughout the saddle making process, the ladies vowed they would take better care of their saddles!