Hello!
Thank
you for popping onto this page to find out a little bit more about me
and my Brush Store.
I
am Anita and I am the proud owner of Chic Cheval Brush Store. I am
based in Chester.
I have 3 horses, who you will see in some of my
photos, trialing and demonstrating my products. Foaly and Taska are
both riden Ardenne horses and Douglas is a coloured Breton/Cob cross,
making him a very big lad! I also have a little rescue doggo, called Marli. She is the cutest little Westie you ever did see.
Although
Chic Cheval is quite a new business, I have been in the equestrian
retail trade since 1989. (Yes, I know that's a long time ago and yes,
it makes me feel really old!) I owned a saddlery for many years,
running both the retail side of the business and working as a
qualified bench saddler and saddle fitter, with Society of Master
Saddlers membership.
I
sold the shop in 30th June 2015 and I am very happy to say
that the shop is still going strong with its new owner.
How
did Chic Cheval come about, and why brushes? Read on and find out!
Firstly
my business name. I have always called my old horse, Taska, my 'posh
horse' when he is clipped and looking entirely gorgeous! Every time I
clipped him, I left a love heart of fur on him. Posh Horse translated
to French is Chic Cheval and the little heart next to my name, well
that is a nod to Taska's fluffy love heart. So my business name is very
close to my heart too.
Why specialise in brushes?
I
had sold Haas, Oster, Stubben and Wahl brushes for many years when I
had my shop. I had stocked Haas Brushes before most people had ever
heard of them.
I
was always particularly amazed by Haas, at how well the brushes
worked and the technology and innovation that went in to each brush.
I have used Haas Brushes on my own horses for a long time.
So,
I needed a top up of brushes for my own horses, and actually found it quite difficult, actually impossible, to find somewhere that sold the brushes I wanted, individually. And,
if I could find the brushes individually, I could not find them all
in the same shop, in stock, all at once!
The seed was sown. A store that stocks all yours, and mine, grooming
needs under one roof. A brush super store!
I have never been a fan of using lotions and potions on my horses, preferring to use elbow grease and brush away the dirt. I am quite convinced that some of the skin problems we see in our equine friends are caused by over use of synthetic products, which are just applied layer upon layer as a quick fix. However, every now and then I do like to give 'The Boys' a bit of a spa day. Douglas is a very sensitive horse and has pink skin. Everything brings him out in hives, even synthetic half chaps! Finding a shampoo and a slosh wash for him proved to be a bit of a challenge. By trial and error, I came across Topline Naturals. I was so pleased with their products that I decided to stock them in the Brush Store, for those of you, who like me, who prefer to use entirely natural coat preps on your beasties.
Although
I no longer have a bricks and mortar premises you will find me at
some shows with my trade stand. If you see me out and about come over
and say 'Hello' and check out the amazing array of brushes.
You
will find a list of venues that I will be attending this year, below. Do
keep an eye on it because the list will be updated regularly.
TRADE STANDS '24 The National Equine Show at the NEC in Birmingham - 2nd and 3rd March The Horse of the Year Show at the NEC in Birmingham - 9th to 13th October
If
you would like to follow The Brush Store on social media you will find me on Facebook and Instagram.
