Michael Donovan

Principal, Equestrian Services

Michael Donovan, principal of Equestrian Services, has more than 20 years of experience in planning, project management and construction, with a broad range of programming, design, development, and in-field experience in community, resort, municipal project and private residential development. This experience is augmented by his formal scientific training, and earlier work in academic research and environmental consulting. His current project work includes: equestrian amenity feasibility studies, equestrian community master planning, development, and marketing; equestrian facility planning, design, construction, and management; riding arena evaluation, design, renovation, construction, and maintenance; and barn operations management and business planning.

Michael’s in-field project management experiences began with design/build landscape contracting and included completing a California Landscape Contractor’s Association award-winning project in Fairbanks Ranch while vice president of RBM Enterprises, in San Diego in 1992. Michael’s first "horse project,” the Albert Court Ltd. Linda Allen Grand Prix course which was completed prior to the 1992 Volvo World Cup in Del Mar, California, was connected to the complete landscaping of the farm he did with RBM Enterprises. He then worked with the Los Angeles-based environmental consulting firm Meredith/Boli & Associates, developing and performing large-scale environmental assessments and mitigation projects, including work on the PG&E “Erin Brockovich” project and remediating underground storage tank issues at Bank of America Data Centers throughout the United States.

After returning to the east coast in the mid-1990s, Michael and his wife Jennifer, a life-long equestrian, began developing Equestrian Services, LLC. Initially providing complete equestrian-related contracting services in Maryland, but wanting to offer the highest-quality services to the broadest group of clients, they grew Equestrian Services into the planning, design, and operations company it is today. Since its establishment in 2000, Michael has had direct involvement with more than 200 clients, including private farm owners, international community and resort developers, municipal governments and national agencies.

The rigor and precision encountered throughout the firm’s work is based in Michael’s scientific training. He received his B.S. in Chemistry from the University of Vermont and his M.S. in Chemistry from the University of California, San Diego. His commitment to both the development and equestrian industries is demonstrated by his membership in the Urban Land Institute, the American Resort Development Association, the National Frame Builders Association, the US Equestrian Federation, US Equestrian Team Foundation, the Maryland and Virginia Horse Councils, and his lead partnership role with the Equestrian Land Conservation Resource. He also currently holds a Contractor’s License.