Experience The Giddy Up Hut in Santa Margarita

Giddy-up to the rustic town of Santa Margarita to visit Holli and experience The Giddy Up Hut. You will find fun and unique pieces that make you giddy. But that’s not all, giddy-up is what Holli the owner curator has done to get this store in motion. It’s not just a shop, it’s truly an experience.


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Experience The Giddy Up Hut

Enjoy browsing the women’s and men’s clothing, home décor, books, knick-knacks, lots of horse-themed items plus special pieces by local artists. Take the time to chat with Holli. She has veritable vision, great goals and superb styling ideas. The iconic, round-roofed, turquoise-blue Rainbow Hut is home for The Giddy Up.

Experience The Giddy Up Hut in Santa Margarita
Beautiful Horse Items

“There’s something for everyone here,” says Holli. “Don’t judge a book by its funky cover!” Gifts, décor and clothing for horse lovers is the primary theme, but vintage and unique items of many styles and eras also grace the shelves and nooks along the walls.

How Holli Got Started

Experience The Giddy Up Hut in Santa Margarita
Photo Courtesy of The Giddy Up Hut

“I wasn’t planning on opening a shop,” explains Holli. “I just fell in love with this building after meeting local saddle maker, Samantha Huston.” Samantha’s saddle shop used to occupy this distinct Rainbow Hut building in the rural and rustic town of Santa Margarita, CA. Then, one day she decided she wanted to move her Saddle Shop home and the Rainbow Hut became available.

“I’ve always collected unique, vintage and special treasures,” begins Holli. “I started working in retail at a young age, studied art and visual communication in school, and have worked as a fashion stylist, graphic designer and film director. I’ve always loved clothes and objects that tell a story and help people express themselves. This store combines all my skills.” Whether it be hunting for unique goods, designing products, spaces and experiences, or producing and directing inspiring film and video content, Holli is happiest when creating something. 


Learning to Operate The Giddy Up

Experience The Giddy Up Hut in Santa Margarita
A horsey tote and fluffy accessories.

“Now I’m learning how to have a shop,” explains Holli. She is intent on learning what her regular customers look for. With their preferences in mind, Holli hunts for items she thinks they will appreciate. “I love it when I buy something with a certain customer in mind. Then when the customer visits the store and buys that item, I privately cheer!”

Getting all the different aspects of running a shop to fit together is like working on a complicated puzzle. Holli is the puzzle master; whether it be problem solving, organizing, perseverance, or just plain satisfaction of success, she is managing it all quite well.

Recently, Holli launched The Giddy Up Hut website to expand her customer base. This took reworking her inventory system, but has enabled Holli to include links directly to products showcased in the Giddy Up Hut Instagram and Facebook stories. Products purchased through the website can be picked up in-store or shipped.

Rural, Rustic and Refined: The Town of Santa Margarita

Experience The Giddy Up Hut in Santa Margarita
Santa Margarita Gear

Just off the 101 freeway at the north base of the Cuesta Grade one will find the exit to Santa Margarita. Taking the exit to the east, one is quickly transported back to simpler days where a block or two made up the heart of a town. It’s still that way today here in Santa Margarita. 

Yet, just as rural Santa Margarita is rustic it is also refined. World-class wine tasting is offered at Ancient Peaks Winery, zip-line adventures are enjoyed through Margarita Adventures. Riders, fresh off their first trail ride with Central Coast Trail Rides, stop at The Giddy Up inside of the Rainbow Hut for a horse gift, unique decor or apparel item to take home. Poke your nose into a neighboring store, The Barn Antiques & Unique for more amazing treasures.

The Giddy Up Hut is located at 22380 El Camino Real Santa Margarita, CA. The hut is generally open Wednesday – Sundays with varying hours. Check on the Instagram page for the latest hours as holiday hours and days may be longer. One can always shop 24/7 online at the The Giddy Up Hut website.

There’s More To Explore

Experience The Giddy Up Hut in Santa Margarita
Super-bloom Wildflowers off Hwy 58 on the way to Carrizo Plains

Venture a little further out on Hwy 58 to see more. Taking a purposed left to continue on Hwy 58 going north will take you all the way to the Carrizo Plains, where a wildflower super-bloom may delight in the spring. 

Want to explore Santa Margarita Lake? There are plenty of  horseback riding trails to enjoy. Go past the turn for Hwy 58 and turn left on Santa Margarita Lake Road. 

Looking for Pozo? Stay on West Pozo Road to get out to Pozo Saloon and Vintage Cowboy Winery

Experience The Giddy Up Hut in Santa Margarita
Check the The Giddy Up Hut Instagram Page for the latest info on hours and days open. Photo Courtesy of The Giddy Up Hut.

There’s so much to explore. Just be sure to stop in The Giddy Up store for items that will make you giddy. Also be sure to enjoy a conversation with Holli. You’ll be restored.


Unless otherwise noted:

Photo credit: Sharon Jantzen Photos

Come horse around with us in San Luis Obispo County! There are so many ways to horse around in stunning SLO County. To keep this info at your fingertips we have developed a FREE Hot Sheet that will direct you to stories which tell you where you can trail ride, stay with your horse, show and taste. We’ll continue to add horsing around stories to our website. You can stay up-to-date by becoming a SLO Horse News herd member. Get your Horsing Around in SLO County Hot Sheet here >.

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