By Jill Cueni-Cohen

Horse-people may have lives and jobs outside of the barn, but their free time belongs to the huge beasts with hearts of gold. And when they’re not with their horses, they’re talking about them, thinking about them, or buying supplies for them.

Around here, the best place to do all three of these activities may be at The English Horn, Ltd. on East McMurray Road -- where just about the only thing missing is the horses themselves -- and the best service they provide is free.

“Having horses is a hobby that requires a lot of input and takes so much time,” acknowledges customer Sallie Schwotzer. A Peters Township resident, Sallie owns four horses and regularly visits the tack shop for supplies and, more importantly, advice. “When you’re there, you really feel at home. People talk about their horses and problems they’re having, and it’s a wonderful place to share knowledge.”

Sallie points out that the reason horsemanship is such an all-consuming activity is because it involves animals. “You can’t just put a horse away like a set of golf clubs, because like any living, breathing being, they require constant attention and healthcare.”

They also require saddles, saddle pads, bits, bridles, fly spray, blankets, brushes, shampoo, vitamin supplements, and so much more. People who ride horses must also purchase equipment for themselves: A hat, a crop, a good pair of riding boots for starters; and those who show their horses have to purchase an entire wardrobe of show-sanctioned riding habits, in addition to specialty equipment.

Replete with an extensive inventory of everything for the English horse and rider, as well as a small Western selection, The English Horn is the sustenance that feeds their constant needs -- in every facet of horse ownership.

Co-owners Linda O’Brien and Lawrene Neel are always prepared to answer questions and offer guidance, regardless of profit, says customer Dee Tatman of Peters Township. “The ladies who work here are so friendly and helpful,” she says, adding that Lawrene and Linda know many of their customers by name. “They have a lot of experience with the products, and you can trust their advice, because they’re not just trying to make sales, they’re truly concerned with helping you.”

In addition to buying saddles and riding boots at the English Horn, people are cultivating friendships, seeking knowledge, exchanging information about horses for sale and trainers for hire, and reveling in the camaraderie of like-minded individuals.

“All we need is a checkerboard table and a potbelly stove, because that’s what it’s like here,” says Linda, who founded the tack shop with her daughter’s horse trainer in 1991. “You don’t see many businesses where people come in and talk and really get to know each other. In fact, people stop by even when they’re out of riding horses, just to say hello.”

“When a love for an animal and riding brings people together, there’s so much joy that’s involved.” -Lawrene Neel

When Linda’s original partner sold out of the shop in 1993 to have a baby, it didn’t take long before Lawrene went from being a customer to buying half of the business and becoming her
closest friend.

Linda and Lawrene’s knowledge and devotion to all things horse is legendary in these parts, attracting customers from the tri-state area and beyond. “We once sent a saddle to Okinowa,” notes Lawrene. But it’s the regulars who gather in the shop to share their common love of horses who really make the place a hang-out.

“It’s nice to have people come into the store and share their stories,” says Linda. However, both women agree that the most rewarding part of the business is being able to watch a generation of horse-lovers grow up and begin bringing their own children into the herd.

“I started out by drawing horses on every surface I could find when I was a kid, and this love of horses is something that never really goes away,” says Lawrene, who lives in South Park. “I owned a horse when I was younger, but then I had children and gave it up. It wasn’t until my daughter expressed an interest in riding that I realized how much I missed it, and I was back.”

Linda, on the other hand, never had the opportunity to ride as a child. But like Lawrene, it was her young daughter’s desire to ride that piqued her interest and changed her life. “There’s an aura about the horse world that draws you in,” says Linda, who lives in Bethel Park. “It’s an easy job to come to every day.”

In addition to the horsey inventory, The English Horn also carries the much sought-after line of Brighton accessories, including jewelry, belts and leather goods. Other off-beat items can also be found in the tack shop, including greeting cards, china, and a large variety of children’s merchandise, ranging from informative books to Breyer Model Horses.

“Many people think that owning a tack shop would be a great thing to do, and in so many ways it is, but you don’t have as much time to ride,” laments Lawrene, noting that her and Linda’s partner-friendship inspired their two daughters, who are similar in age, to become friends and fellow horse-lovers as well.

“When a love for an animal and riding brings people together, there’s so much joy that’s involved.”

The English Horn is open Mondays and Thursdays, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; closed Sundays.