Glen D. (Skip) Richardson Jr. understands the meaning of hard work, which he learned from his father, Glen D. Richardson Sr. His father married his mother when she was in her early teens. Three daughters followed soon after they married, and for many years Glen Richardson Sr. supported his family in the trucking business.The younger Richardson isn’t sure what motivated his father to change career tracks, but, by the time he was born, years after his sisters, his father was traveling the country selling western saddles and horse tack at livestock shows and horse auctions. The senior Richardson didn’t know at the time, but a family business was born when he chartered the new course.In 1963, Glen Richardson Sr., realizing that much of his business was based in Colorado, moved his family to Colorado Springs where he opened a store on the corner of Platte Avenue and Circle Drive. When Glen Richardson Jr. wasn’t in school, he worked beside his dad in the store waiting on customers for $5 per day. The business grew, and became nationally known as a premier store for western saddles, tack and trailers.Richardson Sr. watched as Colorado Springs began growing to the north and the south. He felt it was only a matter of time before the city expanded east, so he bought the property where the store is now located at 1145 E. Highway 24. He anticipated someday moving the business to Falcon. At the same time, he also bought property to further east where he would eventually build a home.In 1979, the Falcon store opened and Glen Richardson Jr. was officially running the business. His dad was still working in the store in Colorado Springs, but he soon closed it and moved the inventory to the Falcon operation. The life size bucking bronco horse that sits atop the store has become their trademark. Richardson’s father purchased the bronco from the Gene Reed Arena in Colorado Springs originally for the downtown store. He later moved it to Falcon.Richardson Sr. remained active in the business until his death in 1989. His wife still lives in Falcon on the original property her husband purchased. Richardson Jr. enlarged the business in Falcon, and, true to his father’s ideals, he still travels the country selling saddles and tack at horse auctions.Introduced by friends, Richardson and his wife, Lana, met in 1990. Lana Richardson, a Colorado native from Arvada, and Glen Richardson dated for nine years before tying the knot in 1999. They now run the business together. Glen Richardson has two adult sons from a previous marriage.In addition to her stepsons, Lana Richardson, an accomplished equestrian, said she is a “mom” to numerous animals, including horses, dogs and birds. In 2000, the American Quarter Horse Association named her one of the top-10 riders in the world in the cow-horse division.The store is filled with all kinds of supplies for the horse owner. Beautiful western saddles, bridles and bits, ropes, lariats, grooming items and other equestrian essentials are neatly displayed throughout the store. The Richardsons also sell unique southwestern gifts, artwork, prints and benches, and they have recently added collectable Bryer Horses to their inventory. The Richardsons’ primary business is selling trailers – all types of horse, hay, hauling and other trailers. Both Lana and Glen Richardson are trailer experts, and customers come from all over the country to purchase the trailers.See all the wonderful items and the trailers for yourself at the long-standing store on Highway 24. For more information on Richardson’s Western Supply and Trailers Sales, visit the store in person or check out the Web site at www.richardsonswesternsupplyandtrailers.com.
