The vision for HOM is two-fold; the first is to offer the option of horse ownership and all that it involves to anyone who wants it, making it affordable, fulfilling and educational. Making it affordable will allow hundreds of thousands of households to participate in the human-horse bond who could not be involved before; making it fulfilling will assure that the generations  will be nurtured with the love and connection only horses can offer; making it educational will assure that sub-par horse care and neglect will be minimized as these new horse enthusiasts will understand horse nutrition, care requirements, and physiology of the horse much better than the past horse-loving generations.

The 2nd is to create a supportive community of like-minded horse facilities that can earn a profitable living and keep their farms, and their horses, without risk of closing down due to financial problems. Keeping these facilities up and running is imperative to the longevity of the horse-human relationship, now as well as in the future.

In building this community, what has the opportunity to evolve is the very best practices in horse care, training and marketing. The community will cover all aspects of the horse in our lives – from the breeding farm, to the training facility, to the horse show or race track. It all will be documented and shown as an example for future horse owners.

HOM is intended for horse enthusiasts at all levels of engagement, but really to attract the non-horse owner, a market that is much larger than the actual horse owner, and one that is more lucrative. This is an opportunity to take this targeted market and give them the experience of owning a horse without the actual expense involved in owning one – at least not yet. Giving them a real-life experience that is a safe distance from their pocketbook will encourage this new market to try it out, see what they think, fall in love.

HOM is also intended to create future horse lovers who will buy their own horse and, hopefully, from a farm that is in our community. But not until they have some education, some skills, some understanding of the real responsibility of owning these amazing animals.

Wildwood Farm is where it all begins – babies, brood mares, peace and quiet, young horses being started with the basics, a neighborhood riding program. The first farm partnership should be one that takes these young horses and molds them into the athletes they are destined to become – be that in the dressage, H/J or racing world. Finding the right trainer and the right farm that sees our vision and wants to be a part of it – it all needs to be connected; we need to show that to our virtual owners.

Our strategic partners also need to be involved from the beginning. What feed do we use? What tack do we endorse? What is the safest horse trailer, the only one we would use? The veterinary requirements, do we vaccinate once or twice yearly, and why? What about de-worming? Halters? Supplements? Horse Blankets? All of the aspects of horse ownership should be “owned” by a strategic partner that is willing to invest with us for that visibility.

And the experts that we lean on to teach us and our horses, who are they? What is the epitome of the best way to work with a yearling? What is important at that stage in their life? What about a 2-year old? 3-year old? When do you know what their career path will be? How is that determined with the best interest of the horse in mind?  What about the human partners, what skills should they start learning from the beginning? How often should they ride? When should they consider getting their own horse, what does that decision model look like? How can we assure they are getting the best education, what accreditations should we look for?

And the horses themselves, how do we know which breed is best for us? What traits do they have that we should consider? What jobs do they like best? How much do they cost? How can we assure they are happy and content with the life their owners are giving them?

HOM is the way to bring all of this together with the support, education and sustainability needed to keep the horse-human relationship alive and well.

If you have any questions you may contact HorseofMine by e-mail at: info@horseofmine.com