About
HorseWorld Emporium
HorseWorld
Emporium - Niagara Peninsula's Most Versatile Tack Shop
Our
Mission:
•
To supply high quality merchandise to our valued customer at a fair
price.
•
To service and repair all leather goods
To
this end, we operate a 1000 sq. ft. saddlery on our premises. Horse-related
items offered for sale to our customers have been tested on our own
farm, and on our own horses. Then, if they meet our strict standards
and our approval do they become part of our inventory. We want only
the best for you and your horse.
Profile:
Breck Foerstner
The Man Behind HorseWorld Emporium
by Debi Katsmar/Equine Niagara
News
Born
in Schlochau, East Germany (Now Poland) , Breck Foerstner has dedicated
his life the health and welfare of horses as well as other animals.
Over the years, he has lived and visited many parts of the world,
furthering his life experiences and making him the man he is today.
Receiving most of his riding and equine experience from Excavalry
officers and Marbach in South Germany (Germany's oldest stud farm),
as well as riding in Blackwell, Oklahoma and working a large herd
of cattle, Breck eventually came to Canada where he has worked cattle,
pig and turkey farms, and now a horse farm as well as his passion
- the ever-popular,
HorseWorld Emporium in
St. Catharines.
Breck and HorseWorld are no strangers to the
equine enthusiasts of Niagara Region. Always a place to go, if not
to buy new tack and riding apparel, or for repairs, but also a place
for friendly conversation, or sound advice on that difficult horse.
Always a treat to visit, HorseWorld really should have a Tim Hortons
inside for the social aspect of the store.
Now that being said, there is more to Breck than a friendly smile
and good conversation. As mentioned Breck has dedicated his life to
the care and well-being of horses. His own farm is a true-testament
to the horse's ability to live as they were meant to live. Stalls
- you won't find any at the farm. A big barn built in the 1800s that
was moved from its original foundation in a low area of the property
to higher, dryer ground, allows the horses to come and go freely.
Mares and geldings living in unison, happily eating the constant supply
of hay, roaming the acres of beautiful fields and natural marsh lands
- allowing the horses to be horses.
The horses have so much freedom to roam, you
may even find a hoof print or two on the hardwood floor in the kitchen
of Breck's home. Charlie-Horse, a 32 year old pony has been known
to wander into the house for a gander. Maybe visiting the trees that
used to stand on the property that now make up the handcrafted hardwood
floor of the kitchen.
Horse - another of Breck's charges will give a safe and wonderful
ride, but keeps the others on the farm in check - the babysitter I
believe. All the horses at the farm have a good life, cared for daily,
not a halter in sight, nor a shoe on their feet.
As a natural-ferrier, Breck in most cases, trims his own horse's feet
as needed. A firm believer they should be barefoot at all times regardless
of use. If for some reason that foot needs protection there are many
products on the market to give this protection (of which you can find
these on the shelves at HorseWorld). Everything about Breck is 'au
naturel'.
Always searching for those products that let horses be horses and
to aid in their quality of life, Breck tests all products before agreeing
to sell them in his store. Thus, assuring the quality and service-ability
of the product meets his high standards for the safety of horse and
rider. So much so, he even tries some of the products himself as in
the case of the new Aussie Sea Mineral he carries.
The Aussie Sea Minerals help provide a balance of minerals for the
horse's dietary needs making for healthy coats, help with joint problems
and so much more. Breck tried the sea minerals on his horse Josephine,
a severely arthritic horse with limited mobility, he also tried it
himself. In both cases, Joesphine and Breck - are both moving
more freely, less aches and pains and in Josephine's case - her whole
disposition has changed, once again becoming the free-loving and playful
character she can be.
"There is one draw back to the Aussie Sea Minerals…
Buckley's Cough Syrup tastes good in comparison," laughs
Breck.
Over all a simple man that requires little to be happy. A great family,
good friends - horses and humans alike, a roof over their heads, food
in their bellies and, making a living helping others care for their
horses - well - that's a bonus!
The store is filled with tack, apparel and good staff that share his
belief in letting horses be horses. Regardless of what you need, product,
service, an answer to a question or just a smile, you will always
get it at HorseWorld.
If you have yet to have had a good conversation with Breck, make a
point of introducing yourself and become part of the huge equine family
he belongs to. His life experiences and knowledge will keep you coming
back for more.
