Developers build equestrian communities

By Margaret Jackson 

The Denver Post

Article Launched: 01/15/2008 01:00:00 AM MST

Lone Tree developer Robert Gray is marketing High Prairie International Polo Club, which features 60 homes, a 100,000-square-foot equestrian facility, a 60-stall horse barn and a show arena. It also will have three polo fields and a training area for riders and horses. (Brian Brainerd, The Denver Post )

In the world of residential development, horses are the new golf.With nearly 2 million horse owners in the United States, branded equestrian developments are popping up across the country, including in Colorado, which ranks 10th nationally in number of horses. There are about 250 equestrian communities nationwide.Industry experts say the developments have strong similarities to golf-course developments in terms of approach and demographic draw.Lone Tree developer Robert Gray recently started site work on a 1,300-acre equestrian community adjacent to the Colorado Horse Park in Parker. The 60 homes at High Prairie International Polo Club will start at $1.5 million. Lot sizes range from 2.5 to 10 acres.The focal point of the community, which will have a relationship with the Colorado Horse Park, will be a 100,000-square-foot equestrian facility with a 60-stall horse barn and a 150-by-300-foot arena. The project also will include three polo fields and a field for training riders and horses in other types of equestrian competition.“Our biggest market will be people who show at the horse park,” said Gray, who’s been in the development business for 30 years and also is a polo player. “But we think there’s a lot of other folks who will appreciate the mountain views and the open space.”Fewer than 30 percent of people who buy homes in golf communities actually play golf, said Jennifer Donovan, co-founder of Charlottesville, Va.-based Equestrian Services LLC, which is working on 10 horse-oriented communities. The balance buy their homes so they can enjoy the open space.Similarly, “horses are a great draw for people who ride, but they’re also a huge hit for what we call the passive enthusiast,” Donovan said. “They don’t ride, but they love the idea of looking out their window and seeing horses galloping across the field.”Equestrian Services promotes equestrian sports by connecting its projects with celebrity riders in the way golf courses boast the Jack Nicklaus or Arnold Palmer brand.The company is working with Olympic equestrian athletes Karen and David O’Con nor and plans to launch a branded community this year with internationally recognized trainer John Lyons, a Parachute native known as “America’s Most Trusted Horseman.”“We’re in negotiations with several sites in the West, including Colorado, to see who ends up landing the inaugural community,” Donovan said.Read the full article at  http://www.denverpost.com/business/ci_7971835

New Jersey’s background:
They have a state lottery and casino gambling, but The Atlantic City Racetrack has suffered from declining audiences and fewer race days. Simulcasting is the suspected cause. NJ faces competition from surrounding states and “Delaware, Pennsylvania, and New York already have either slot machines or video lottery terminals installed at tracks or they have recently passed legislation permitting them. These efforts are attracting larger racetrack audiences and enhancing revenues.”

New Jersey’s equine has 81,000 acres of farmland with a breeding stock value of at least $600 million and the industry contributes $672 million to the annual economy. Their Department of Agriculture is said to be a leader in West Nile Virus research.

Additionally, “since 2003 a new breeder program has been advertised for standardbreds and work is continuing toward a thoroughbred-breeding program. The Equine Science center continued its research, and the NJ Equine Advisory Board continued its efforts to bolster promotion and education efforts to stimulate interest, attract new owners, and create career opportunities in the equine industry.”

Some of the strategies are to continue current programs to promote the industry and to continue to invest in improvements for Monmouth Park, which is the location of the 2007 thoroughbred Breeder’s Cup.

Here are some of the specific strategies listed:

8.0 EQUINE STRATEGIES

8.1 Ensure Horse Health
71) STRATEGY - Work with horse owners to assure awareness of disease threats and animal safety. Continue working to protect the health of horses from the immediate threat of devastating and economically damaging diseases.

72) STRATEGY – Work with Rutgers University’s Cook College to continue development of a state-of-the-art research facility for its Equine Science Center. The Center is developing cost-effective techniques for nutrient and waste management to ensure the compatible co-existence of horse farms in urban and suburban environments.

73) STRATEGY - Work to implement the recommendations of the Department’s “Focus on New Jersey’s Horse Racing Industry” report and seek to augment purse values, increase track attendance, and improve the industry’s supportive infrastructure.

8.3 Promote the Industry
74) STRATEGY – Continue working with the Horse Park to explore the possibility of hosting future Olympic equestrian events and other prestige events.

For more information, please visit the New Jersey Government website at  http://www.njintouch.state.nj.us/agriculture/conventions/2006/equine.html

By ALICIA ROBINSON The Press-Enterprise

An equestrian park that’s considered the jewel of Norco will get about $12 million worth of polishing over the next several years, beginning with a ceremonial groundbreaking next week for major improvements.

Ingalls Park will get a second covered equestrian arena, stables, an expanded animal shelter, and a plaza dedicated to the memory of Vietnam War hero George Ingalls as part of the multiphase project that will begin construction in early 2008. The groundbreaking event is being held in conjunction with the California Circuit Finals Rodeo that begins Wednesday.

More than just a simple park upgrade, city officials see the plans for what is now called the George Ingalls Equestrian Events Center as another step toward fulfilling the promise of the city’s trademarked slogan, “Horsetown USA.”

 Read the full article at http://www.pe.com/localnews/norco/stories/PE_News_Local_C_carena08.3e8a769.html

“Tickets for the 2010 games have been reserved by U.S. Equestrian Federation members in 49 states and the District of Columbia, plus the Virgin Islands, Bermuda and Canada.” Ticketmaster is currently taking reservations, but the final ticket price has not been set.  After the initial trial period, the ticket sales reservations will be shut down until the Games officials can decide how to proceed. Read the article from the Lexington, KY Herald-Leader at http://www.kentucky.com/101/story/225796.html

“Fort Dodge will move to Olathe bioscience park”
Kansas City Business Journal
Fort Dodge Animal Health is the first tenant to announce its intent to open facilities in the new Kansas Bioscience Authority Park in Olathe. The company announced Thursday that it will build a $40 million research and development facility in the park. The 150,000-square-foot project will include laboratories and offices, the company said in a release, and be staffed by more than 200 employees.

Read the full article at http://kansascity.bizjournals.com/kansascity/stories/2007/11/05/daily32.html

Now, I think I’ve seen it all. This horse, Patches, made his way around the email world a while ago, but I’ve just found him again and posted the hilarious video here. My dogs will open and close the fridge and ride in the car, but I never expected a horse to do the same. Enjoy the video - the ending is the best part.

Grad Student Forum: The College of Agriculture’s Equine Initiative at UK includes an exciting branch of Master and Doctorate-level research in equine related topics, including equine economics, land management and animal & vet science. Graduate students are encouraged to post summaries of their research interests at www.UnbridledNews.com, an online community for equine research, business, and related topics. The goal is to create an online graduate student equine research organization where students, faculty, and the equine industry can learn more about equine-related graduate work. The news forum is hosted by the chair of this new organization, Kimberly Brown.

For more information about the UK Equine Initiative, visit www.ca.uky.edu/equine or contact the chair of the graduate student equine research organization, Kimberly Brown at kimberly.brown@uky.edu 

J. Brian Ewing
Staff Writer
Thursday, November 8, 2007

Bill and Kathy Morrow can see themselves starting a little horse tack shop outside Reidsville. People could buy Western wear and leather goods, as well as other items for horses. The Morrows may be the first entrepreneurs to take advantage of the Horse Park of the South.They were part of the crowd that packed into the Reidsville City Council chamber Wednesday afternoon to hear County Manager Tom Robinson present an overview and update on the proposed equestrian center.

Read the full horse news article at http://www.reidsvillereview.com/