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Somewhere off a busy Auburn highway, riders walk in planning to grab one item and walk out with six. That happens often enough to be a running joke among the people who shop there.
The racks hold English saddles, Western gear, riding boots, and brand names at prices that feel like a throwback to an older California. Every dollar spent goes to a sanctuary that cares for senior horses, the kind of animals that carried riders for years and now get to rest.
The shop is small, packed, and run by volunteers who know their stuff. It also welcomes riders who sometimes feel out of place at fancier barns.
Keep reading to learn where it is, what to look for on the shelves, how to donate your own spare gear, and one timing tip that can save a long drive.
A Tack Shop on Grass Valley Highway
Some of the best bargains in Placer County sit right along a working highway. Horses’ Honor Tack Store is at 1511 Grass Valley Hwy, Auburn, CA 95603, in the foothill country of Northern California.
The shop is a used tack store, which means saddles, bridles, and riding gear that already have some miles on them. That is the whole charm.
Gear that one rider outgrew becomes another rider’s lucky find.
Auburn has deep horse roots, so a shop like this fits right in. Riders from around the region make the trip, and some drive an hour or more to browse.
What makes the place different is where the money goes. All proceeds support The Horses Honor Sanctuary, a home for senior horses.
So every purchase does two jobs at once. It saves a rider money, and it helps an older horse live out its years in comfort.
The store carries gear for many types of horses and riding styles. English and Western riders both find plenty to look at.
Clothing and boots are part of the mix, too.
For a small building on a busy road, it holds a surprising amount of history in its leather, and the next section explains why that matters.
The Senior Horses Behind Every Sale
Old horses rarely get the spotlight. At this shop, they are the reason the lights stay on.
The store exists to support The Horses Honor Sanctuary, a nonprofit that cares for senior horses. These are animals past their working and show years.
They still need feed, hoof care, and attention every single day.
Running a sanctuary costs real money, and the tack store helps cover it. Regulars like knowing that a bargain bridle turns into care for a beloved old horse.
That connection gives shopping here a different feel. A purchase is not just a deal.
It is a small thank-you to the horses that taught so many people how to ride.
Many longtime California horse owners remember a first pony or a steady trail horse from decades ago. The sanctuary’s mission speaks to that memory.
Shoppers often mention the cause as much as the prices. The two go hand in hand, and nobody seems to mind paying a little toward a good home for a gray-muzzled gelding.
It turns out the most valuable thing in the building might not be on any shelf at all.
Volunteers Who Speak Fluent Horse
Behind the counter, the crew is made up of volunteers. They are horse people through and through.
Shoppers describe the team as knowledgeable, friendly, and quick to help. That matters in a used tack store, where sizes, fits, and brands can be tricky to sort out alone.
One helper, Nina, gets mentioned by name more than once. She has helped riders track down exactly what they needed, including an Aussie saddle that matched one shopper’s wish list.
The owner earns plenty of praise too. She is described as awesome, welcoming, and patient.
In one memorable case, she even helped keep a 16-month-old toddler busy while the parent shopped. That kind of help is hard to find at any store, let alone a tack shop.
The women working here are a big part of why people return. They know the stock, they know the cause, and they seem to enjoy matching the right gear with the right rider.
Good help is half the treasure hunt, and the other half is waiting on the racks.
English Saddles and Western Gear Under One Roof
English or Western? Here, nobody has to choose.
The store keeps a wide variety of both styles. Dressage and jumping riders can browse right next to trail and ranch riders, which makes it a handy stop for mixed-discipline barns.
Shoppers point out that the shop has gear for all types of horses and riding styles. That includes specialty pieces, like the Aussie saddle one rider found with help from the staff.
Brand names show up often. For riders who know how much new name-brand tack costs, finding it secondhand is a big deal.
The selection changes constantly because it depends on what people donate. A rider might find nothing one week and three must-haves the next.
That steady change is part of the appeal. It rewards people who drop by often and keep an open mind.
- English tack
- Western tack
- Specialty saddles
- Brand-name gear
Saddles get attention, but they are far from the only thing worth a look.
Boots, Breeches and Riding Clothes
Tack is only half of a rider’s budget. Clothing can quietly eat up the rest.
Horses’ Honor keeps a good supply of riding clothes and boots alongside the saddles and bridles. Kids grow out of boots fast, and adults change sizes or disciplines, so these racks fill up often.
For families with young riders, that can mean real savings. Buying new boots every season adds up, and secondhand options take some pressure off.
Show clothes and everyday barn wear can both turn up. What is available on any given day depends on donations.
Shoppers like that the store feels like a one-stop shop. A rider can look for a girth, a helmet-day outfit, and a pair of boots in the same visit.
It is also a good place for newer riders who are not ready to spend big on gear. Trying the sport without a huge bill is a gift in today’s California.
Of course, the best part of these racks is the price tag, and that deserves its own spotlight.
Price Tags That Feel Like the Old Days
Californians know the sting of rising costs. Horse owners feel it in hay, board, and vet bills.
This shop offers some relief. Shoppers call the prices super reasonable, amazing, and in one case the best in California.
Another calls it the best and cheapest tack shop they have ever found.
Specific prices are not listed in the available information, and they vary item by item. Since everything is donated and secondhand, costs can shift from week to week.
Still, the message from regulars is consistent. Good quality gear sells here for far less than new.
Bargains come up again and again. Riders talk about great deals on pretty much anything they could be looking for.
Low prices also mean the money stretches further for the cause. More items sold means more support for the sanctuary.
Saving money while helping horses is a rare double win. Just be warned that cheap prices have a funny way of filling up a shopping bag.
The Just-Browsing Trap
Famous last plan: stopping in just to browse.
That is how one shopper started a visit. She left with about six lovely items.
It is a common story here, and the shop seems to bring out the treasure hunter in everyone.
The store is described as a packed little space. Every corner holds something, so it takes time to see it all.
Some riders come simply to wander. They like hunting through the shelves with no set list, waiting to see what turns up.
Because donations arrive all the time, there is always something new. A shelf that looked picked over last month may be full of surprises today.
That is why people lose track of time. Between the selection, the bargains, and the friendly chatter, an hour can disappear fast.
A tip for first-timers: bring a rough list of sizes for your horse and yourself. It helps when a great find appears out of nowhere.
Then again, some of the best things in the store come from shoppers giving rather than buying.
Your Spare Tack Has a Second Job
Almost every barn has a tack room corner full of things nobody uses. Outgrown saddles, extra bits, and old pads pile up.
Horses’ Honor gives that gear a purpose. The shop accepts tack donations, and regulars call it a great place to drop off things they no longer need.
Donated items go back on the shelves for other riders. The money from those sales then supports the senior horse sanctuary.
It is a neat loop. One rider clears space, another rider saves money, and an old horse benefits.
Steady donations are also why the stock keeps changing. New items come in all the time, keeping the treasure hunt fresh for repeat shoppers.
For anyone cleaning out a barn after a horse retires or a child moves on from riding, this is a meaningful option. Gear with memories attached can keep helping horses.
Details on what the store accepts are best confirmed directly with the shop before hauling a truckload over.
Giving feels good, but so does being welcomed, which brings up the shop’s friendliest quality.
A Welcome Mat for Every Equestrian
Horse spaces are not always easy to walk into. Some riders feel judged by their budget, their style, or their experience.
This shop works hard to be the opposite. Regulars describe it as a safe and welcoming place for all equestrians.
Riders who often feel like they do not fit in at other barns say they are accepted here with open arms. That kind of comment says a lot about the people running the place.
Families are welcome too. Parents with small children have found the staff patient and kind.
The mix of English and Western gear adds to the inclusive feel. Nobody’s riding style is treated as the wrong one.
Beginners, longtime ranch hands, show kids, and retirees can all find something useful. The prices make it even easier for anyone to take part.
On hot Auburn summer days, one more detail earns a shoutout: the air conditioning keeps the shop cool while shoppers browse.
Comfort matters, but so does showing up at the right hour.
Hours, Timing and a Smart Phone Call
Timing is everything with a volunteer-run shop. Listed hours are 11 AM to 4 PM, seven days a week.
That schedule makes it easy to fit a visit into a weekend ride or a weekday errand run. Late morning to mid-afternoon is the window.
There is one honest caution. A shopper once drove an hour and found the store closed on a Sunday afternoon, even though the listed hours said open.
Volunteer schedules can shift, so hours may change without much notice. A quick call to the shop at 530-217-5263 before a long drive is a smart move.
The website, horseshonor.org, is another place to check for updates about the store and the sanctuary.
Arriving earlier in the day also gives more browsing time before the 4 PM close. Given how easy it is to lose track of time inside, that buffer helps.
- Hours: 11 AM to 4 PM daily, subject to change
- Address: Grass Valley Highway in Auburn
With the logistics handled, only one question remains.
Worth the Detour to Auburn
Plenty of stores sell tack. Very few turn a shopping trip into care for old horses.
Horses’ Honor stands out for its mix of bargains, steady selection, and a cause that matters. Its 4.9-star standing across 28 opinions reflects how much riders appreciate it.
The shop is small and packed, so patience pays off. Regulars treat it like a treasure hunt, and many say it is always worth stopping by when nearby.
English riders, Western riders, parents of horse-crazy kids, and anyone clearing out a tack room all have a reason to visit.
It also carries a piece of old California spirit. Neighbors help neighbors, and loyal horses are honored after their working days end.
A quick call ahead keeps the trip smooth. After that, the only risk is leaving with more than planned.
Somewhere in the sanctuary, a senior horse will benefit from that extra saddle pad, and that is a deal worth making.
