October 2023 Issue

EAST COAST EQUESTRIAN October 2023 Page 41 OCTOBER 12–22, 2023 FARM SHOW COMPLEX HARRISBURG, PA • Dover Saddlery/USEF Hunter Seat Medal Finals • USEF Jr Jumper Championships • USEF/NCEAMedal Finals East • PNHS Children’s & Adult Championships • LifeVac Therapeutic Riding Championships • NEW! Team Night, Friday, Oct. 20 • Family Fun Day, Saturday, Oct. 14 • Hunt Night, Monday, Oct. 16 • USEF Premier Hunters • USEF 6* Jumpers • $100,000 Grand PrixdePenn National P urchase T ickeTs and M ore aT Pa naTional . org PHOTOS:RandolphPR /AndrewRybackPhotography BREAKING NEWS! Guy McLean to perform Sat., Oct. 21 By Amy Worden When The Surrey Saddlery opened its doors in Potomac, Md., the community was a rural crossroads village, and the main thoroughfare was a dirt road. That was 1953 and Potomac, 13 miles from Washington, D.C., was home to working farms and equestrian estates. Social life revolved around fox hunting and horse shows. Today Potomac Village is a bustling shopping center serving luxury housing developments. The horse scene long shifted north toward Frederick and tack shopping has largely moved online. The Surrey followed its customers and a lower rent, operating out of its Darnestown location for almost 20 years, before saying farewell to genera- tions of customers and closing its doors in August. After 70 years in business, The Surrey was likely one of the longest-running tack shop in the country when it closed. “We decided it was time,” said Lyne Morgan, Lynn Carroll’s niece, who ran the store for 30 years until its closing. “No one else in the family was interested in retail.” The Surrey was the cre- ation of Lynn Carroll and Anita Bogley, whose husbands were masters of the Potomac Hunt. They opened The Surrey on the top floor of Carroll’s husband’s real estate office and ran it there until 1958, when they took shopping carts to move mer- chandise down the street to their home for almost 50 years, near the intersection of Falls Rd. and River Rd. in the heart of the village. “There was nothing unless you went to D.C. for gifts or tack,” said Morgan. They stocked the store with everything for the horse and rider and fine gifts - china, glassware, Lily Pulitzer apparel – giving it a memorable aroma of Claire Burke potpourri and leather. “Things to furnish your house, your barn and you,” said Morgan. The store specialized in outfitting young riders and devel- oped an expertise to help custom- ers learn about the community and horses. “We called it ‘Surrey central,’” said Morgan. “So many questions like, what kind of oil to put on the saddle?” Over the years, The Surrey outfitted ordinary equestrians and celebrities. Morgan recalled Arnold Schwarzenegger coming in with his young daughters when they stayed at his wife, Maria Shriver’s home nearby. Marilyn Quayle, the wife of Vice Pres- ident Dan Quayle, was also a horsewoman and regular shopper, Morgan said. Natalie Hollis, who runs Destination Farm, an eventing fa- cility in Dickerson, Md. shopped at The Surrey regularly for 15 years. She said she sent clients to the store too, especially for consignment saddles. The Surrey Saddlery Closes After 70 Years in Business A brick-and-mortar store does what online can’t, she said. “You need to try things on, boots and helmets.” Hollis said her clients appreciated the knowledge of the staff who could guide customers on what type of bit or bridle or breeches to buy. “It was invaluable, es- pecially for people just getting started,” she said. Morgan said that the pandemic, the shift to online shopping and the fact that many suppliers are now selling direct to stables led to the decision to close. “Little independent tack shops are getting slammed,” she said. Longtime customers like Hollis say they will miss having a store to pop into. “It’s defi- nitely harder to find tack shops today,” she said. “If you need something right away, you’re halfway done clipping a horse and you need a new blade, you can’t do it online. It’s sad to see them go. They filled a big niche.” Morgan, who taught riding for many years, said she will miss seeing generations of customers come through her doors. “That was the fun part, seeing my for- mer students bring in their kids to get outfitted.” To advertise or for more information, please contact: Phyllis Hurdleston or Debbie Reid at (717) 509-9800 phyllis@eastcoastequestrian.net or debbie@eastcoastequestrian.net www.eastcoastequestrian.net The news East Coast horse owners need to know (Our next issue will be March 2024) Coming in November – The Winter Issue! Bonus distribution at EquineAffaire (1,000 copies!), the PA Hunt Cup , the world’s largest Standardbred sale , all Swan Lake shows in November and December and the Pennsylvania FarmShow . TWO advertising features: Winter Ready (help our readers get ready for the long winter to come) and Holiday Gift Guide (early this year for maximum holiday exposure!) FREE article in the issue and online with your ¼+ page ad! Reach more than 40,000 print and online readers. Call or email today to reserve your space! Advertising Deadline: Oct. 10