Why Own a Horse? (Especially if you don't ride.)

Horse Ownership in a Nutshell

I think that there is one universal truth when it come to owning a horse- ALL HORSE OWNERS ARE NUTS. And if you are a horse owner and don't believe this statement, there is probably a therapy group you should join to help you come out of your state of denial. I am sure there are some husbands out there who believe that somehow they are exempt from this statement because they just pay the bills (resentfully in most cases) for the animals that their wives and children own. But they are in a state worse than denial. At least once you admit you are crazy, you can enjoy your craziness.

I can't tell you how many times people have come to my barn and witnessed how much work it is to take care of these horses on a shoe-string budget (quite literally) and have said to me with a look somewhere between pity and awe, "How... Why do you work so hard to ride and care for these horses?" And the answer is, "Because I absolutely love it. I love being outdoors. I love the thrill of their personalities, their majestic power, their fragility. I love the challenge intellectually, emotionally, practically. I love being able to eat what I want and not worry about gaining weight. I love that I don't have to pay for a gym membership. I don't worry most days of the week about what clothes I am wearing or make-up. I love that horses keep me real, keep me honest with myself, keep me humble. I love watching their herd relationships. I love that I get to see the sunset almost seven days a week."

But I am crazy- fully admitted. The real question is why would someone else, especially a person who does not ride, want to own a horse?

"The Investment"

This fall (2012) Springstone had an opportunity to put together a partnership on the young horse Jadore WW. I was involved in the aquisistion and training of Jadore since the fall of 2011 and I believe she is a horse that shows a great deal of potential as a top level show jumper. However to produce this horse to the top levels would require an investment that was beyond the scope of my current resources. I needed "Investors" to get this horse on track to meet her potential.

The term "Investor" is a tricky word when used in association with horses. I would love to get a list of the number of sitcom episodes that have been based on the joke of a naive investor with big dreams of making millions getting duped into the purchase of a broken down racehorse. The truth of horses is that they are expensive, fragile, temperamental creatures that are a high risk investment at best. They take a base of knowledge to care for them and train them that is only gained through years of experience. The value of a horse is often judged by intimate knowledge of bloodlines, nuanced show records and subjective experience of riders with the usual vulnerability to markets shifts. In short investing in a horse is primarily an investment in an experience, a little like a trip to Las Vegas or along the lines of something Indiana Jones would pursue in Raiders of the Lost Ark- brave the hostile natives, booby traps and ancient curses for the promise of a special statuette of which only a few will know the significance.

It came as a wonderful surprise to me when our family friends expressed a willingness to invest in Jadore WW. A number of conversations took place over the phone outlining the details of the partnership and responsibilities involved. The partnership was drawn up legally into a limited liability corporation with details clearly agreed upon. We talked about her potential future but entertained a healthy dose of skepticism in an attempt to keep everyone with one foot on solid ground. Our family friends had decided to go into the horse business, long distance, and they don't even ride.

The Introduction

Last week, some of J'Adore's new family came to visit. In typical horse-fashion, she injured her legs the day before their arrival. Nothing serious but a few cuts and a bandaged leg, but I had to remark on her timing. As I said in the beginning, one thing I love about horses is how they keep you real.

I always enjoy watching non-horsey people's reaction to horses up close and personal. Frank's first few comments were about J'Adore's size. Even horse folk like my mom noted her massive size at 3 years old- every bit of 16.3-17h, with big bones and a broad chest. The other trait that is blatantly obvious to the uneducated is what a curious, nosey mare she is. As soon as Frank walked to the fence, J'adore walked over to meet him and nosed every inch of his face and arms as if vetting him out to see if he was worthy of her. Frank handled her cautiously remarking on her sudden flinch at an accidental bump in the nose, "These creatures are so temperamental and big."

The horses took to Frank as he sat by the fence reading news items on his phone. I don't know if it was the peppermint gum he was chewing or they just liked his unassuming presence near the herd. I have always said that horses are the best judge of character. They immediately identify dominant personalities, call out over-bearing individuals, and are wary of people with unsettled personalities that are prone to drama. As Buck Brannaman says, "Your horse is a mirror to your soul, and sometimes you may not like what you see . Sometimes, you will." In my observation the horses including J'Adore liked what they saw in Frank's soul.

 

The Future 

I am very thankful for the involvement of Frank and Doris, and the many others that helped in 
setting up the partnership that will allow me to continue to train this wonderful mare. I have been researching the "horse syndicate" model for quite some time and believe it is probably the best and only way to go with horse partnerships. There are great resources for learning about the process of "syndicating" or forming a limited liability corporation to own a horse and I am including several links below for further reading. Competing horses at the top level of the sport can be very cost-prohibitive. I believe the "syndicate" model offers opportunities for expanding participation in the sport to people who don't necessarily want to ride or compete horses but enjoy their personalities and watching them perform. Ownership of a horse has the potential for financial rewards but first and foremost it should be fun and an adventure that everyone can share the process.

http://www.experienceeventing.com/syndication.aspx

http://www.westpointtb.com/about

http://www.dreamteamracingstable.com/

http://www.sporthorseenterprises.com/showjumpingsyndicates.php

http://www.demonedressage.com/Syndicate/index.html