I can recall the tentative beginnings of the now flourishing Cavan Equestrian Centre (CEC) in the early 1980s.

From one small, indoor building, created by Mervyn and Pauline Clarke as a riding school, it now boasts eight arenas and caters for a huge variety of fixtures; from horse sales to horse and pony shows, foal championships, stallion inspections, plus a vast array of exhibition and musical events.

But also nestled at its very heart is the thriving Cladem Equi Store, which is the brainchild of Mervyn and Pauline’s eldest daughter, Natalie.

The idea to reflect on this extra dimension at CEC hit me during this year’s Dublin Horse Show. While making my way home through the Main Hall, I was hailed by a beautiful, deep Cavan voice. It was none other than Natalie from outside the well-stocked Cladem Equi Store stand.

Recently I asked her how it all began, to which she told me: “About 15 years ago now, while working in the show office, I noted that various riding equipment companies were taking stands at our shows. So I thought ‘why couldn’t I do that?’”

She says this with the same conviction that Mervyn often displayed when setting about creating one more building or arena.

Started small

Like her father, she started small, with a Portacabin in the car park. But after three years she found a space indoors. Then eight years ago, when further extension work was happening at the centre, she found her now permanent spot below the Boomerang Lounge, just opposite the office where she has her day job as secretary/director of shows.

So, how can she manage both responsibilities?

“No bother, the store is only open during events and I have one lady who looks after it. My husband Pauric helps out at weekends. People can also make an appointment and I will open the shop for them. It all works grand,” according to Natalie.

Stocking up

The fact that from the time she could walk Natalie has been surrounded by all things equestrian helped her to almost instinctively know the kind of stock she needed to make the shop a success. Show contacts also helped.

Riding clothing and saddles came from the Norwegian company, Kingsland, for whom she became the sole Irish distributor at the time.

This was followed by items such as Samshield riding hats, Paul Schockemohle’s line of tack, a full range of Horse First’s Irish products and, on the whimsical side, the Depesche range of equine themed books and toys.

“Our turnover has grown every year since I began,” Natalie notes with satisfaction, as she looks forward to Cavan Equestrian Centre’s 25th International next week.