American Horse Products is one of the country’s largest retailers of tack and supplies for horses and other animals. The company has been in business since 1999 and is located in San Juan Capistrano, California. Their wide selection of products includes English and Western tack, clothing, accessories and feeds. They serve customers from all over California, including Dana Point, Ladera Ranch and Laguna Hills.
The company was started by a husband and wife team who love horses and the people who love them. They wanted to create a company that offered the highest quality of products at the most affordable prices. They also wanted to create a place where customers could shop in person and get the attention they deserve.
Their goal is to provide top-notch customer service and a vast selection of products that will keep customers coming back time and time again. Their friendly and knowledgeable staff can help you find exactly what you are looking for, whether it’s a saddle or a feeding bucket. They can even help you with tack repair and maintenance.
Founded in 1776, Mission San Juan Capistrano is the seventh of twenty-one Spanish missions to be established in Alta California. The mission was part of a larger system of “missions” and “presidencias” that were intended to expand the borders of Spain and introduce Christianity to Native Americans in the hopes of turning them into self-sustaining Spanish citizens. To become part of the mission, the Acjachemen (Ah-HAWSH-ee-men) had to change virtually everything about their lifestyle – their culture, language, religion, work, food, clothing and daily schedule.
After Mexico won independence from Spain in 1821, the Mission was placed under new governmental direction. This began a process of “secularization,” where land grants that had previously been given to the Mission were now given to individuals, starting the Rancho system. With this, the Mission experienced a steady decline.
In the late 1800s and early 1900s, artists, photographers and visionaries took interest in the missions, and began to campaign for their preservation. Charles Lummis and resident padre Father John O’Sullivan were two of the greatest proponents of restoring the missions, ushering in a new era for them.
In addition to its historic sites, Mission San Juan Capistrano is home to a variety of shops and restaurants, as well as the renowned San Juan Capistrano trail system that offers miles of extraordinary riding opportunities for both leisure and disciplined riders. Shady Maples Farm is conveniently located within the renown trail system and provides access to many different riding disciplines, including western pleasure, reining, working cow horses and hunter/jumper. The facility and its reputable trainers offer training for all ages and experience levels. They can even assist with achieving specific goals such as competition.