106 SIDELINES SEPTEMBER 2013
FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
By Dani Moritz
Colorado rider and tack shop owner Tiger Adams has always
made the best of her situation and has never scoffed at something
different – perhaps that’s why Tiger is where she is today.
Unable to purchase her first horse until she was 12, Tiger had
to find other ways to feed her curiosity and passion for horses.
Her solution? Reading and watching.
Tiger read everything and anything she could to learn about
the gentle giants and spent hours just watching them go at horse
shows. Eventually, she became dedicated to understanding why
they performed the way they did – and she came to the conclusion
that tack was a major part of it.
For Tiger, not being able to own a horse in her early years
became a great blessing. “I’ve always had an interest in tack
because before I could actually have a horse I read voraciously
everything I could about them and saddlery always fascinated
me.”
Her Journey
While serving in the United States Army in a medical support
unit, between 1983 and 1987, Tiger was exposed to several
different disciplines and types of horses. She had the opportunity
to ride other servicemen and servicewomen’s horses as she
toured the country from base to base – always happy to ride
whatever was available.
After serving in the Army, Tiger moved back to Wellington,
Florida to finish college. Tiger laughs that she knew Wellington
“when the barns were brand new and horses hadn’t even
been in there.” While there, she enjoyed competing in jumper
competitions.
While in Florida, Tiger finished school and met and married her
husband, Dick.
A few years later, they decided to pack their things and head to
Colorado. They had been there before and, quite spontaneously,
decided to go back – eventually roping their family into going
with them. “We always wanted to come back so one day we just
decided to pack it up and do it,” she said.
A Knack for All Disciplines
Fresh out of college, Tiger knew the key to success was
keeping an open mind, which is how she began riding side saddle.
Now a certified judge and instructor with The World Side Saddle
Federation and winner of several national titles, Tiger originally
became interested in riding astride while living on the North Shore
of Long Island.
“My dad and I used to go every year to opening night at Madison
Square Garden when it was the old garden and seeing the ladies
side saddle class fascinated me,” she said. “I thought it was such
a lovely tradition and I just became interested in learning to ride
aside.”
Upon her arrival in Colorado, Tiger started a small side saddle
business – but eventually went back to fitting English and Western
saddles.
Opening Shop
After earning the trust of the community, Tiger started a mobile
tack unit called The Horse in Sport and did saddle fittings at
shows and area barns. “When we moved from Denver to Grand
Junction, I started teaching and became involved with the horse
club and I was always adjusting tack for people,” she said.
Tiger primarily focused on English shows and her husband Dick,
a high school and college rodeo rider, drew an interest from the
Western crowd. “They were delighted because they didn’t have
anyone doing it at the time,” she said, about people’s reaction to
their mobile unit.
With all their success, it didn’t take long for them to realize they
needed more space. In 2004, Dick and Tiger set up shop in a
storefront in Grand Junction – although they continue to spend
most weekends on the road with their mobile unit.
And all these years later, Tiger is still proud to cater to all different
kinds of horses and riders. “Saddle fitting needs to traverse all
disciplines because every horse deserves a comfortable fit…and
it gives me great pleasure when someone like a barrel racer calls
and says their horse is doing so much better and they’re turning in
better times because the horse is comfortable,” she said. “That’s
very gratifying so I would not turn away any particular breed for
any reason.”
Despite being an experienced saddle fitter, the thirst for
knowledge that began Tiger’s journey is the same thing that
inspires her to continue it. She is dedicated to working with
veterinarians and massage therapists to learn how to better
benefit horses and she continues to further her education. Most
recently, Tiger attended testing at The Society of Master Saddlers
in England and earned her membership as a qualified saddle fitter.
To learn more about Tiger or her tack store,
visit
.
Tiger Adams – A Fan of the Horse In Sport
Tiger Adams
Photo by Barb Young
e
Colorado
