Below are reviews of a few online tack vendors that mainly serve the U.S. (some listed also ship to Canada and worldwide)
***I also advise checking out your local tack shop. It's important to keep local businesses going!***
Overview: A large vendor based out of Maine
Pros-
-Price Match Guarantee ensures low prices
-Gift Wrapping available
-English and Western Products
-Site is easy to Navigate
-Easy acess to Customer Service
-Reviews for each product
-Stock Quality Brands
-Drawings for gift certificates to those who write reviews
-Wishlist Accounts Available
-offers pet supplies
-sells consignment and used saddles
-Has Facebook Page
-exceptions for certain parts of the return policy around Christmas time
Cons-
-Graphics on the site are not the best
-Not a lot of detail in product pictures
-Buyer must pay return shipping unless they pre-order a return label
My Opinion: I have yet to order from Adams, but they seem to have a sound return policy and variety of products
Overview: This vendor not only offers basic english tack, but racing tack (standardbred or thoroughbred) as well.
Pros-
-Site is easy to navigate
-good deals
-offers tack (such as racing tack and driving tack) not typically sold from other vendors
-Free shipping on many items, and all orders over $70. Ground Shipping for all other orders is $6.50
-Live Chat with customer service available
-offers pet supplies as well
-Product reviews displayed below each item
-Offers a Blog and a Facebook Page
Cons-
-If you must return an item, you have to pay return shipping
-Minimum delivery charges on oversize items is $120
My Opinion: I have yet to order from Big Dee's, so I don't know if it is easy to track orders or if the quality of their items is sound. They do seem to offer a lot of great deals and shipping is cheap.
-Fair Prices, free shipping on some items
-Good Customer Service
-Site is easy to Navigate
-Fast shipping
-Sells Consignment items as well-Features reviews and ratings for each item
-Small vendor, not a lot of product variety
-Not the most clear product pictures
Overview: The name of the vendor is accurate- Chick's offers many items for incredibly low prices. Chicks is based out of Delaware
Pros-
-CHEAPLY PRICED products. If you don't want to break your bank, check out Chick's
-Shipping arrives on time
-A lot of quality items are stocked at Chick's for bargain prices
-Chicks offers a lot of brightly colored items such as halters and leads, saddle pads, and blankets
-Site is easy to navigate
-Frequent sales on already cheap prices
-offers Western, Australian, and English tack
-Ships internationally
-Offers a Facebook Page, a Twitter, and Pintrest
Cons-
-For some items, key product details (such as brand names) are left out of the description
-There are no product reviews on the site, so it can be a gamble when trying to order a quality item for their low prices
-Not all items are good quality
-Shipping is not the cheapest (price of shipping increased as the order total increases)
-Returns can be difficult
My Opinion: I always use caution when ordering from them due to the variety in quality, but Chick's offers the lowest prices.
Overview: Dover Saddlery is a tack vendor with A LOT of product variety, and have many stores located across the United States. In my experience, this seems to be the most popular choice for equestrians.
Pros-
-Dover sends catalouges with coupons frequently, offering many good deals and also has a twelve days of Christmas deal around the holidays, where a few items are featured per day for extra low prices
-There is a lot of price variety in their products to fit any budget
-The site is easy to navigate
-Product reviews are listed below each product
-Dover has many popular exclusive brands at good prices (ex. Rider's International, Crown, Suffolk, Circuit...)
-Frequent Tent Sales at Store Locations
-Top Notch Brands sold at Dover
-limited deals available for "almost perfect", slightly blemished, and used saddles
-offers a Test Ride program for Saddles
-Has a Blog to keep Customers Updated, as well as a Facebook Page, Youtube Channel, Twitter, and Pintrest
-Offers an Equestrian Library of resources for you and your horse
-Offers a Dover Visa Card
Cons-
-Shipping is not the best. I have had mostly good experiences, but it is not 100% reliable. The site does not allow you to look through your previous purchaces on your account, and shipping rates go up for expensive orders. Ordering back-ordered items from them can be a gamble. I have also heard complaints from others of recieving items in the mail that were not what they had orders (ex. someone ordered a breastplate but recieved a bridle, another person states they ordered a saddle, and got a different brand than the one they ordered)
-Dover does offer a lot of cheap products, and not all of the items I have purchased from them have been quality
-Product pictures can be innacurate, and coloration can be off
-Some of Dover's high quality items are labeled as "Premier Products" and are excluded from all coupons or discounts
My Opinion: Dover is GREAT for price variety, and it is one of my top choices when ordering. I use their coupons whenever possible. When I have visited their stores, the staff have been helpful and friendly- I much prefer the stores to their online site.
Overview: This site has A TON of products- A TON.
Pros-
-Lots of product/price variety
-frequently offers deals on quality products
-Some Detailed Product Photos
-offers lots of clearance warehouse items
-Has a Facebook Page, Twitter, Pintrest, YouTube Channel, and Google+
Cons-
-Site can be difficult to Navigate, many of the same item is listed multiple times and very scattered (chaotic)
-Difficult to post ratings/reviews
-There is an issue on the website when looking through products on how to list search results (as in popularity, by price etc.)
My opinion: I have yet to actually order anything from them, but a woman at my barn has had sucess with them before. I consider it whenever looking for items. I sometimes have trouble looking through their site due to the extremely high volume of products.
Pelham Saddlery
Overview: This is a small tack shop based out of New Hampshire, in operation since 1983
Pros-
-Free shipping on all orders (except saddles) over $85
-Offers many new and used saddles
-Seven Day Test Ride Program for saddles (even used saddles)
-Offers Cosignments and Trade-ins
-Offers a YouTube Channel with videos that show every detail of used saddles for sale
-Has a Facebook Page
-Offers items for Pets other than horses
Cons-
-Not too much product variety, as this is a small independent vendor
-Mainly sells saddles, not too many other products for order
My Opinion: I have never ordered from Pelham before, but it seems like an excellent choice for someone shopping for a quality used saddle
Overview: SmartPak is primarily a supplements company, but they offer an expansive selection of tack and apparel. It is now the Largest Online Equine Retailer
Pros-
-Excellent customer service
-Fast and Reliable shipping
-Offer SmartPaks, an easy way to manage your horses supplements, as well as a wide range of their own brand of supplements
-Free Return Shipping on all sized items
-When you recommend SmartPak to a friend, they get 10% their first order and you get a $10 coupon.
-Offer Exclusive brands that are high quality and decently priced
-Easy to track orders through your account. Your account page allows you to view all purchases by date, as well as manage your horse's supplements.
-Website graphics are excellent and updated frequently
-Has a Facebook page, twitter, blog, and forum
-YouTube Account has helpful how-to's, reviews, profiles of some of the "SmartPakers" and more!
-SmartPak is partnered with AQHA, USDF, USEA, USEF, and USHJA. Members of these organizations are eligible for discounts
-SmartPak Blog App is free and helpful
-Frequently offers new items
-Offers the "easiest contest ever". Sign up to receive e-mails, and with every e-mail you'll be entered in a drawing to win a $50 discount on your next order
-SmartPak's Ultimate Turnout Blanket has a 10-year indestructible guarantee
-Happy and fun employee environment
-Send out tip catalogues about four time a year full of tips on taking care of your horse
-offer products for dogs, as well as smartpaks for dogs
Cons-
-SmartPak does not offer dirt cheap items because they put quality before price
-It does not offer many coupons
-SmartPak has a narrow selection of Western Tack, and does not sell western saddles
My Opinion: Smartpak is my favorite. I have never had an issue with shipping, and customer service goes above and beyond. They sell high quality products and I love their exclusive brands.
Overview: offers a selection of tack and some good deals
Pros-
-offers saddle financing, allowing you to "lease" a saddle to fit your budget better
-offers many well made exclusive brands
-Offers a Frequent Buyer Program
-offers English and Western tack
-Free Shipping on orders over $100
-Flat rate shipping is only $7.95
-Site is easy to Navigate
-Offers Arabian equipment and Saddleseat Tack
-easy to track orders
-Reviews listed below each item in which reviewers can write "pros" and "cons" about the product
-Offers a YouTube Channel with tutorials and Reviews, as well as a blog, Twitter, Pintrest, and Facebook Page
Cons-
-Buyer must pay return shipping
-Not a lot of variety in some catgories such as apparel
My Opinion: I have not personally ordered from Schneiders, but I know many people who prefer it to most other online vendors.
Overview: Stateline offers a lot of good deals and cheap shipping rates.
Pros-
-Site is easy to navigate
-Offers low prices and good deals
-Reviews displayed below items
-English and Western Tack, as well as some limited Saddleseat tack
-Offers an Auto Ship Program
-Easy to track orders
-Has a Facebook Page, Twitter, and Pintrest
Cons-
-Product pictures and coloration are not always accurate
-Many poor quality items stocked (a lot of cheap saddles/saddle packages are sold, and the cheap quality can be dangerous)
-There is not a tremendous amount of product variety
-Shipping is not the fastest (Click here for extensive information on Stateline's shipping)
My Opinion: I love the fact shipping is so cheap, but I haven't had the most success with some of my purchases.
Comments/Questions/Suggestions
If you want submit a review of YOUR favorite vendor, please leave a link and review in the Guestbook
You many also comment on the vendors above in the Guestbook.