Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Equestrian Services LLC?
Founded in 2000 and headquartered in Charlottesville, Virginia, Equestrian Services, LLC offers residential, commercial and resort real-estate developers an opportunity to cater to the many needs of the horse-loving enthusiast.
Equestrian Services, LLC is the company setting the standards for the planning, design and delivery of equestrian experiences worldwide. We are committed to delivering an exceptional equestrian experience through our unique programs, which include: O'Connor Signature, an equestrian-branded riding and training facility; Equi-Spa, which delivers wellness, fitness, relaxation and leadership training; and Equestrian Entertainment, which is similar in quality and style to Cirque du Soleil.
Equestrian Services provides full-service programs, in order for builders and developers to take advantage of this growing market. The company designs and delivers the creation of efficient, aesthetically-pleasing, well-planned and well-executed equestrian experiences that meet the needs of equestrians, enthusiasts, community members, patrons, investors and regulators.
Equestrian Services, LLC's offerings range from equestrian program design-development analysis/feasibility studies, geo-demographic analysis, pro-forma budgeting (including capital and operational expenditure projections), planning, design, and marketing through equestrian facility operations management.
Equestrian Services’ commitment to the equestrian sport and equestrian community is demonstrated through its own passion for horses. Through caring for horses, riding, and continued education, Equestrian Services’ colleagues stay involved in the equestrian lifestyle on a daily basis, giving them unique insight into this growing market. The staff as a whole has highly diverse corporate backgrounds, along with many, many years of first-hand equestrian knowledge and experience.
Additionally, the principals’ unique background in project management and construction ensures that clients have access to the experience necessary to handle the magnitude of installing and managing an equestrian facility.
What is Equestrian Management LLC?
Equestrian Management believes that the success of an equestrian facility is most dependent on delivering a high-quality riding experience every time. Safety and efficiency in operations, as well as attracting and maintaining loyal customers, are the cornerstones of our philosophy. Understanding these important precepts, Equestrian Management (in partnership with Affinity Management) develops and applies tailored marketing strategies to optimize both total revenue and long-term customer relationships. Direct-marketing activities, brand-building, advertising, publicity campaigns, and popular promotional and community outreach programs are tools that Equestrian Management uses to draw today's discriminating equestrians to our managed equestrian facilities.
In conjunction with our strategic partner, Affinity Management, Equestrian Management develops the program elements and provides management consulting and staffing of equestrian facilities, similar to how a golf-management firm oversees the operation of a golf course.
Equestrian Management and Affinity Management provide management services to public, municipal, semi-private and private facilities, including resorts, residential developments and private clubs. Equestrian Management also offers cutting-edge programs, including equestrian entertainment options.
How Large is the Equestrian Market?
Nearly two million people own the 9.2 million horses in the United States, with another two million people involved as equestrian volunteers or engaged in the equestrian lifestyle through family affiliation, according to the American Horse Council Foundation (AHCF). Horseback riding is among the five fastest-growing sports in the U.S., and developers and resort owners seeking a new market and new amenity opportunities are turning to the growing equestrian community.
According to a 2005 study authored by the Barent's Group, LLC for the American Horse Council, "The U.S. horse industry, including recreation, showing, racing and other segments, involves more than seven million participants and includes nearly two million horse owners. The industry as a whole has an annual impact on the U.S. economy of $112 billion and supports 1.4 million full time jobs with approximately $1.9 million paid in taxes at each level."
What Value does Equestrian Services Provide to the Community Developer?
As the real estate market slows across the United States, developers are looking for ways to differentiate their properties as a means of increasing the pace of sales and their return on investment (ROI). Capitalizing on the equestrian boom that is sweeping the country, developers have recognized that the equestrian market is significantly underrealized. If executed and managed properly, equestrian amenities can dramatically help a project’s bottom line.
Other incentives of an equestrian amenity:
- They are categorized as agricultural use, which lowers the tax rate on the property;
- They require far less acreage of land and a fraction of the cash needed for a golf course, which dramatically reduces upfront costs and unlike golf, these can be phased in over time;
- They are included in the total acreage count for density purposes, allowing a project to achieve greater density than would be achieved with a golf course;
- They represent a land use that is considered low-impact and receives much greater favor from zoning officials and local community members;
- They require less earthmoving and other “land manipulation” techniques then typically seen with golf communities and other recreational residential developments;
- Other green design practices include reserving large tracts of open space for pasture, cross-country courses and creating and maintaining quality trails for riding and walking.
Equestrian Services, LLC offers a variety of options to satisfy the demands of community members, patrons, investors, and regulators that will ensure that the community or resort offers exceptional equestrian amenities.
Through carefully executed market-feasibility studies and in-depth facility programming evaluation and design, Equestrian Services is able to create and deliver a plan that identifies and attracts a specific market segment to meet a development’s return on investment (ROI) goals. Equestrian Services is involved in the project through its Equestrian Management, LLC division that further ensures the long-term success of a project, resulting in the maximum ROI.
Lastly, Equestrian Services’ commitment to the equestrian sport and equestrian community is unparalleled and is demonstrated through its passion for horses. Through caring for horses, riding, and continued education, Equestrian Services’ colleagues stay involved in the equestrian lifestyle on a daily basis, providing unique insight into this growing market. In addition, the nature lover – the people who enjoy open space and being outdoors – also gain great benefits from equestrian communities and equestrian amenities.
How Does Equestrian Services Set Its Facilities Apart From Others?
Equestrian Services has partnered with world-renowned Olympians Karen and David O’Connor to offer a unique branding opportunity modeled on successful golf-industry branding and management concepts. Similar to communities that boast an Arnold Palmer or Jack Nicklaus golf course, Equestrian Services offers the opportunity to acquire a signature equestrian facility brand associated with these world-renowned equestrian experts.
The O’Connor Signature branded facility follows the highest standards. Also, this brand carries a cachet to horse-owners throughout the U.S. and overseas, which brings prestige, excellence and quality to equestrian facility owners.
Equi-Spa, in conjunction with WTS International, offers the ultimate in spa differentiation. This is a new and unique worldwide spa program that delivers relaxation, wellness, improved riding, mind-and-body awareness techniques, spa services for horses, fitness and leadership training services.
Equestrian Spectacle Productions, in partnership with Frederic Pignon and Magali Delgado (creators of Cavalia), caters to resorts and casinos.
What Other Services Does Equestrian Services Provide?
As part of the turn-key process of delivering a unique equestrian experience, we provide the following services:
- Equestrian Real Estate Syndication/Consortium Development
- Equestrian Programming, Geo-demographic and Feasibility Analyses
- Pro-forma Budgeting, including Capital Expenditure Projections and Operational Analysis
- Equestrian Project Planning and Design
- Construction Administration
- Marketing/Promotional Program Development
- Management through Equestrian Management, LLC and Affinity Management
Who Are Some of Equestrian Services’ Clients?
- The Oaks of Lake City, FL
- Fairfax County Parks Authority, Fairfax, VA
- Bergen County Improvement Authority, NJ
- Frying Pan Park, Fairfax County, VA
- Chesapeake Dressage Institute, Annapolis, MD
- Woodstock Equestrian Park, Boyds, MD
- Volvo World Cup Grand Prix Field, Albert Court Ltd., Del Mar, CA
- Hidden Meadow Farm, Garrett County, Maryland
- Herder Training Facility, Napa, California
- RO Ranch Public Equestrian Park Project, Suwannee River Water Management District, Florida
- Toll Brothers, Inc., Marlboro Ridge, Upper Marlboro, MD
- The LandMar Group, Heart Island, Florida
- Wyatt Development, Aiken, South Carolina
Who are Equestrian Services’ Principals?
Equestrian Services was founded by Michael M. Donovan, an award-winning landscape designer and contractor, and Jennifer Donovan, a lifelong horse owner and competitive dressage rider. Together, the Donovans created a unique professional standard for quality design that focuses on the safety and efficiency of equestrian care, while creating a horse profession built on effective business practices, customer service, and quality management, training and instruction.
What is Equestrian Services' Contact Information?
Equestrian Services LLC is located in Charlottesville, VA. The telephone number is
434-872-0108.
Equestrian Services' Media Contact is as follows:
Marijean Jaggers,
Standing Partnership
3445 Seminole Trail, Suite 196
Charlottesville, VA 22911
434.973.0645 - Office/Fax
636.485.2920 - Cell
MJaggers@standingpr.com - Email
www.standingpr.com - Web
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