The 5 Essentials to Managing an Equestrian Amenity
By Alejandra Abella

Horses have a unique emotional pull for people and, in the United States, the majority are used for recreational purposes. Kids are frequently the first to walk wide-eyed through the barn, but mom and dad soon follow, and it isn’t long before the horses become a part of their family. The barn becomes a family hang-out, much like at a country club or a resort, where every member of the family finds something fun to do.

So how do you get that resort or country club feeling at the stables? After all, if you are paying for a service – like boarding your horse or taking lessons – shouldn’t you expect the same service that you receive from other service providers, such as your favorite restaurant or hotel? At communities that offer an equestrian center as an amenity, or at resorts with an equestrian program, horse lovers expect the same quality and level of service that they receive at the spa, golf club, or the swim center.

Equestrian centers have traditionally belonged to private individuals for whom, more often than not, the horse farm is also where they reside and work and often their sole means of income. As sole proprietors, they have the right to determine who they want for a client, and to determine and implement policies to suit their needs. But, the needs of the sole proprietor or operator are usually not in line with the needs of a residential community or resort. If an equestrian amenity in a community or resort is going to be seen as a valuable asset, it must follow five essentials to operate correctly and efficiently, meeting the unique needs of its customers.

1 – Customer Service
Guests don’t expect to hear about the bad day a resort concierge just had when approaching him with a request, nor would the manager of a favorite restaurant tell its clientele that he just changed the reservation policy five minutes ago, so a guest is no longer in the book. Not understanding the important role that customer service plays in a community or resort equestrian amenity means not understanding that clients are what makes the world go around... and the horses. In a community or resort, clients live around the corner, or guests have selected the location to spend their hard-earned dollars and the little free time they have. Customer service for these clients is not an option; it’s essential, and it’s what they are paying for when they buy a lot or go on vacation.

2 – Quality Care and Standards
Horses are part of the family, but most people can’t keep them at home, so they trust their barn to give them the same level of care they would give themselves. Quality care and standards, as well as staff certification and training, are absolutely necessary in an equestrian amenity because when dealing with horses, you are dealing with someone’s family member. That is how their owners feel and, let’s remember, they are around the corner − every day. A private facility may not have the time or finances required to continually maintain the highest standards of care and to develop and enforce policies and procedures, but in a residential or resort setting, it is essential.

3 – Feedback and Accountability
In most commercial equestrian centers, the owner is also the head trainer and the operator. If that person will not tend to a client’s grievances, there is nowhere higher to go. Clients want the ability to provide feedback and expect accountability. With a single operator, the buck doesn’t go very far before it stops and, too frequently, with no resolution. However, a professional management company is structured to give clients the necessary channels for feedback and the assurance that the client is satisfied.

4 – Continuity and Management Support
Running an equestrian facility is a full-time job, and who has time to create new programs, update the website, send out newsletters, and think of new activities for equestrians and non-equestrians alike? The equestrian management company can successfully do the job. With a professional management company supporting the staff, the barn manager can do what he or she does best – manage – and the riding instructors can do what they do best – teach. Then, when these professionals need time off for illness or some unforeseen life change, the professional management company is there to provide trained and certified staff to pick up the slack or replace them.

5 – Efficiency
An efficiently-run equestrian facility watches out for the bottom line. Doing things twice when a task can be done once translates to extra labor hours and salaries. Home owners association (HOA) fees and resort rates go up when labor costs rise, and clients know they are the ones who will eventually pay for these additional expenses. In a community or resort setting, people often retreat to the barn to escape the daily rat race. The last thing they want to see is a badly-run business. They want to experience an operation that runs efficiently at all times, where they can leave nice comments on the comment book, enjoy the latest barn event while their horse is peacefully tucked away in his stall, and be treated as if they own the place. Essentially, they do.

Alejandra Abella is the Project Director for Equestrian Services, LLC and the Director for Equestrian Management, LLC.

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A Better Life Through Horses
By Jennifer K. Donovan

Dog may be man’s best friend, but horses can offer the same and maybe even more emotional benefits to their humans as other companion pets. Pets have been shown to enrich people’s lives at the physical, emotional and social levels. Being social animals themselves, horses can play a particularly interesting role in helping us not only to relax but also to teach us useful communication tools that can be applied to other areas of our lives.

Even the image of horses grazing among rolling fields of green grass conjures up a feeling of relaxation and contentment, which explains the growing popularity of equestrian communities, where even non-equestrians can enjoy the benefits of seeing horses outside their windows.

The emotional connection between humans and animals has always been supported by anecdotal stories. Now, research studies are showing instances of the human-animal bond that are improving people’s attitudes, assisting in mental health therapies and are linked to better physical health.

Many people with chronic back pain report that horseback riding provides excellent relief as the movement in their backs created by the horse’s gaits naturally lubricates the joints of the rider’s spine. Those with arthritis benefit from the consistent physical activity of caring for and riding horses that helps alleviate their persistent pain.

Like other sports, horseback riding offers the physical benefits of exercise. But unlike other sports, the added component of dealing with a living, breathing, thinking animal to accomplish your goals also requires added intellectual and emotional work. The payoff to that extra challenge is the immensely satisfying feeling of making a connection with an animal that has become your partner.

Horses, who are large and can be very powerful, can also be intimidating to some. But that size and power also creates an opportunity for people to overcome fears and build their confidence, which can be related to other challenging and intimidating situations in their lives.

Not surprisingly, the examples of the benefits horses can have on one’s emotional and physical well-being are not a recent phenomenon. According to the American Hippotherapy Association, references to using horses for physical exercise were recorded as early as 377 B.C. when Hippocrates wrote a chapter on “Natural Exercise” and included horseback riding. During the 18th century, hippotherapy, also known as therapeutic horseback riding, was prescribed by doctors to help patients with improving coordination and balance.

While most people have heard of therapeutic riding programs for the handicapped and disabled, the use of horses for mental health is a relatively new field that is rapidly growing in popularity. Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP) utilizes horses to encourage the development of communication skills by analyzing body language and encouraging patients to learn new ways of identifying with and expressing their emotions to others.

As herd animals, horses learn what their roles in each social situation are and develop different attitudes and personalities accordingly. Patients discover that the way they approach one horse may not work with another horse, so they have to adapt and develop different techniques for expressing themselves, just as they have to do in situations with other people.

Anyone who can describe a special bond with their pet understands the strong bond a companion animal can offer. Pets, including horses, rely on us to provide them with everything they need to survive; food, shelter, care and companionship. In return, they offer their unconditional love and, often times, unfailing loyalty. These are qualities that we can strive for in all our relationships, not just those with our animals.

Jennifer K. Donovan is a Co-Founder and Principal of Equestrian Services LLC, which provides turn-key equestrian amenities for communities, resorts and a few select municipal clients nationwide and designs and assists in creating efficient, aesthetically-pleasing, well-planned equestrian facilities.

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In the News

Equestrian Services, LLC is making headlines and bylines again. We were featured in this great article "The Greening of the Horse World" from the October issue of the United States Equestrian Federation's publication.

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Amika Hebert, Junior Operations Manager

Amika Ryan Hebert has joined the organization as Junior Operations Manager. Hebert oversees the organization’s business management and communicates with clients and accounts management.

“My true passion lies in the equine industry,” said Hebert. “With more than a dozen years of equine industry experience, a career in the horse industry is a ‘must’ for me. I look forward to combining my experience in the hospitality industry with my lifelong love of horses, while being a part of the Equestrian Services team.”

Hebert recently earned her Masters Degree in Hospitality Management & Marketing from Les Roches School of Hotel Management in Switzerland. In 2006, she graduated cum laude from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, with a Bachelors of Science degree in Business Administration & Marketing Research. She also completed extensive equine science programs.

Amika’s work experience includes client development and marketing for Les Meridien Hotels in Dubai, U.A.E., and as a horse wrangler for The Alisal Guest Ranch and Resort in Solvang, CA.

Hebert’s equestrian experience includes being a horse owner, trainer and competitor in a multitude of equestrian disciplines, including Western Pleasure, Hunter Pleasure, Hunter Over Fences, lower-level Evening (encompassing Dressage, Jumping and Cross Country), English Pleasure, Country English Pleasure, Show Hack, Equitation, Halter, and Leisure Trail Riding. She currently owns 11 Arabian and Half-Arabian horses in Arizona and is looking forward to some of them joining her in Virginia.

Hebert is a member of the Arabian Horse Association and the United States Equestrian Federation, and she was a Pony Club member, as well as a 4-H Horse project member, club president and treasurer. She is a skilled horse trainer and enjoys starting young horses. Hebert also has instructed numerous children in the safety and joys of horsemanship.

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O'Connor Signature News

The Oaks of Lake City kicks off Phase 1 Lot Sales on January 19th, 2008.  If you would like to attend, please contact us - Karen O’Connor will be there to personally give you a tour.

The Oaks also recently released a brand-new brochure! (pictured at right)

In addition, The Oaks continues to make the news - read some of the pieces below.

• The Gainesville Sun: Olympians Lend Name to Community, November 23, 2007

• The Gainesville Sun: The Oaks, An Equestrian Community (Video), November 20, 2007

• Sustainable Land Development Today: Rail Fences, Horses and Homes, November 19, 2007

• Lake City Reporter: Gallop Away From Fruition, November 16, 2007

• Private Communities: The Oaks of Lake City, Florida Introduces World's First O'Connor Signature-Branded Equestrian Facility, October 22, 2007

 Recent Photos of The Oaks:

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Submit a Question:
What does having a "green" equestrian facility really mean?
by Allison Mouch

Developing a truly “green” equestrian amenity involves a comprehensive approach from beginning to end.  Effective land planning decisions guide where an equestrian facility might best be located, onsite design decisions work within the context of existing ecosystems, and LEED-certified design and construction supports sustainable facility operations and the best management practices for the amenity.

To begin, a facility's location is the first step in developing a sustainable amenity.  If an equestrian facility (and its associated community) is located far away from existing development, the environmental costs of transit, waste disposal, and access to resources outweigh the “green” benefits.  Finding ways to balance a “new ruralist” lifestyle with current Smart Growth techniques is one way which an equestrian community and its associated facility can become a steward of the environment.
  
Once a site has been chosen which meets sustainable land use requirements, consideration should be given to regional issues, existing land cover, topography, as well as location of wetlands and sensitive natural areas when selecting the location of an equestrian facility onsite.  Development with respect to the existing landscape and ecosystems is one of the first steps in creating a sustainable facility.  Where you choose to locate your barn and covered arena, ancillary structures, pasture, and circulation should always reflect the existing natural conditions onsite.  A truly sustainable facility works with the existing landscape, not against it.

A truly “green” equestrian facility should also take into consideration stormwater management, onsite hay production and manure composting.  Stormwater management techniques such as pervious pavement options as opposed to asphalt or concrete, using bioswales to retain and filter stormwater before returning it to the ground, installing intensive green roofs to minimize runoff, or utilizing a graywater catchments system to collect water for pasture or arena application are just a few ways to mitigate the environmental impacts of an equestrian facility.  Conserving land for onsite hay production is yet another way an equestrian center can operate sustainably, especially as weather extremities threaten existing hay supplies nationwide.  Manure management continues to be a buzzword in the equestrian community, and onsite composting techniques are becoming more popular and easier for large-scale equestrian facilities to implement.

While standards for sustainable barn design currently do not exist, many of the United States Green Building Council (USGBC)'s LEED recommendations can be applied to barn design and construction.  As stated previously, green roofs are highly beneficial for onsite mitigation of stormwater, and most barns consistently address natural lighting and ventilation concerns identified in the LEED for New Construction program.  Utilizing existing standards in the design, construction, and material selection of an equestrian facility is imperative when aspiring to create a truly “green” amenity.

Water Bars – to prevent trail erosion

Equestrian facilities are at an advantage to promote sustainable land use and construction practices nationwide.  To be truly “green”, however, no one item listed above is enough.  Sustainability is a comprehensive process, beginning with land use, site development choices, natural systems, green building design and sustainable site operations.  While implementing any one of these measures is better than none, a truly “green” equestrian facility looks at how each step influences the next, and how a comprehensive approach produces superior results for the horse, rider, and the environment all to enjoy.

*The LEED Green Building Rating System™ is the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction, and operation of high performance green buildings.

Allison Mouch is an Equine Land Planner for Equestrian Services, LLC.

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