5 minute read
Country Lane Enterprises: LaGrange Business Specializes in Horse Harnesses and Supplies
COUNTRY LANE ENTERPRISES
LAGRANGE BUSINESS SPECIALIZES IN HORSE HARNESSES AND SUPPLIES
Writer / Angela Cornell Photography Provided
There are several unique characteristics that set Amish country apart. The delicious food, whether found in a restaurant or at a farmers market stand, is certainly a highlight. The timeless groceries and other specialty shops are also a delight for any visitor. However, the one defining feature that any non-Amish guest will recognize from the moment they enter Amish country is the horse and buggy.
As minimalist and pleasant as the sight of a horse and buggy is, some
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Countrylane Enterprises, LLC
• All Harnesses form Minis to Draft • All Horse Supplements • Salve • • • Blankets Collars Bio Granite Ph: (260)-463-2002 Fax (260)-499-5126 • Brahma
• Leather Oiling Hours: 7:30-4:30 M-F; 7:30-12 Sat
• Leather Repair • Owned by Marion Miller
of the parts are far more complicated than most realize. One of those parts is the harness. Marion Miller, the owner of Country Lane Enterprises, is a harness maker living outside of LaGrange.
Miller purchased the business last year and came into possession in early January of 2021.
“[My neighbor] asked me if I’d be willing to buy his harness shop,” Miller says. “At first I thought he was kidding.”
For him, the transaction was the realization of a lifelong dream of owning his own home-based business.
After deciding to purchase the business in November of 2020, he spent two months learning how to make harnesses.
“I went over to my neighbor who had the shop a couple evenings a week, and he trained me,” Miller says.
As far as Miller is concerned, Country Lane Enterprises is a perfect fit for him, since he especially enjoys meeting his growing customer base. He also enjoys the work itself.
Harnesses are necessary for anyone involved in the equine world, and Miller makes a wide variety, from driving and show harnesses
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to training harnesses, and anything in between.
The harnesses he makes in-house are all customizable. His most popular harnesses are made with synthetic leather from brands like Granite, Brahma Webb and BioThane. He also has genuine leather harnesses available.
When a new customer orders a harness, the first thing Miller does is determine what kind of specifications are necessary for the client’s needs.
“When a customer calls and asks for a show harness, that comes in a couple different sizes,” Miller says. “A lot of them want different-colored trim.”
In addition, he offers options that help with hitching a horse to a buggy, like breast collars and hames.
Driving harnesses are his most popular product among customers. However, he hopes to do more show harnesses in the near future to appeal to the area’s growing show-horse community.
“It’s really coming in, as far as getting into the training harness and stuff like that,” Miller says.
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Country Lane Enterprises offers far more than locally made harnesses. It is also a one-stop horse shop, offering a wide variety of inventory that appeals to Amish and non-Amish horse lovers alike.
In his store he offers horse blankets, soaps, and even several lines of husbandry products, including wound salve and sprays, horse supplements and mineral oils. He also offers horse clippers, quarter boots and all manner of training gear. There are even items available for horse riding such as saddles, bits and bridles.
“I sell all kinds of equine stuff,” Miller says. “When you walk in the door, I ask what you’re interested in. I’ll show them what I have and what I can get.”
In the near future, Miller plans to expand the business.
“My goal right now is to stock all harnesses, so they can just come in and take their pick,” Miller says. “They don’t have to wait two to three weeks to get their harness. I’m going to be offering more products, and hopefully it’s going to grow.”
Country Lane Enterprises is located at 2465 West 350 South in LaGrange. For more info, call 260-463-2002.
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