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Throughout the year I will be featuring different stables and trainers located throughout Wisconsin. If you own a stable or are a trainer and would like to be featured in future editions of the Wisconsin Horseman, please send me an e-mail at horseads@athenet.net. This month's featured stable is Wisconsin Equestrian Center (WEC) located in De Pere, Wisconsin.
Introducing....
WISCONSIN EQUESTRIAN CENTER
As you move along the gently winding drive through the cross-country course to the stables at the Wisconsin Equestrian Center located in De Pere, Wisconsin, you may feel you are moving back in time into a romantic era of equestrian gentility. But owner and manager Bobbie Wier hasn’t always been a horse person, and the property that is now WEC was just a cornfield until 1987 she and her husband, Mike, decided to build the equestrian center.
Although her grandfather had owned a farm and she had previously ridden, Bobbie really didn’t become involved with horses until her oldest daughter, Nicole, who was just 7 at the time, asked to take riding lessons. Since the Wiers were members of what was then Oneida Golf and Riding Club, Bobbie approached the riding instructor at Oneida, Kim Deaton (now Kim Deaton-Iwen, the head instructor and trainer at WEC) to ask if Nicole was old enough to ride. She was, of course, and it wasn’t long before 32-yr-old Bobbie was asking Kim if she taught "Old Ladies" to ride too!
When Oneida opted to close its stables, Bobbie and Mike, who, she says, had always wanted to live in the country, decided to start a riding facility of their own. Realizing it would be difficult to profit from a small operation they decided to "go for it", turning what was then just cornfields into a 36-stall equestrian center. Today, the center boasts 41 stalls, 4 tack rooms, a lounge, and an 80 by 220-foot indoor arena with perma-flex footing and an observation deck. Outside, there are two 150 by 250-foot arenas in addition to a regulation-size dressage ring (all with perma-flex footing) and a cross-country course bordered by wooded trails. The facility has 12 paddock areas for daily turnout including 2 large paddocks used for group "all day" turn out (one is used for mares and one for geldings) and 10 paddocks used for individual turnout.
WEC currently offers training in all levels of dressage as well as instruction in beginning riding and jumping. Four school horses are available for lessons for beginner through first-level dressage, and you can trailer your horse in for private instruction if you do not board at the center. The facility also hosts several clinics throughout the year: featured clinicians in the past have included Natalie Lamping and Marlene Schneider.
Each summer WEC sponsors two horse shows - a Wisconsin Hunter Jumper Association show in June and a USDF and USAE-rated dressage show in August. (Bobbie stresses that although the dressage show is not schooling show and USDF rules are strictly followed, there are classes available for those wishing to participate at introductory levels.) The center also hosts a variety of US Pony Club activities, including mounted and unmounted meetings throughout the year and an annual Pony Club rally in August. Last summer, WEC also hosted a week-long Pony Club camp.
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Before interviewing WEC owner Bobbie Wier, I asked subscribers what questions they would like to ask the owner of this impressive equestrian center. Not surprisingly, most questions centered on the financial aspects of owning and operating a riding or boarding facility.
Q: How do you protect yourself from lawsuits arising from injuries or accidents that might occur on your property?
A: I think the best advice is to really strive to maintain a safe barn. In addition to tending to the physical aspects of the property, we have regular barn hours and certain rules we ask boarders and riders to follow. And we expect our boarders and those who use our facility to show common courtesy toward each other. That said, we also carry a lot of liability insurance! And whenever we have a special event like a show or rally I always call my insurance agent to make sure we have sufficient coverage for that event. Also we do have all boarders and riders sign a liability waiver. And, of course, WEC is incorporated so our personal assets are protected.
Q: How do you manage to make a profit from your boarding operation?
A: It's very difficult to make a profit from a boarding operation. Although we would love WEC to be a very private riding facility just for use by our boarders, we've found we have to open it up for horse shows and other functions in order to make a go of it.
Q: What advice would you give to someone considering starting a boarding facility?
A: Do a lot of research first. Talk to hundred different people! When my husband and I decided to build an equestrian center we traveled to the East Coast to look at different facilities there, because there really wasn't anything like we wanted to build in Wisconsin at the time. And we went in the winter so we could see all the facilities under the worst possible conditions. WEC is actually modeled after "The Lighthouse", an equestrian center in New Jersey. that we particularly liked.
Q: What is the biggest problem you encounter in your business?
A: Finding good stable help. For this, I find word of mouth works better than advertisements in the paper. Also, it's really important to find a good handy person for maintenance work on the property. I'm very fortunate to have my husband, Mike, who does a considerable amount of maintenance work on our rings and grounds.
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If you are interested in boarding your horse at WEC, or would like additional information on the shows and clinics hosted by the center, contact Bobbie Wier at 920-336-8005. Board ranges from $335 to $355 per month with an additional $30 for turnout. Individual turnout is for 1 1/2 hours a day, but horses can be turned out with a "buddy" for an additional hour and a half, or placed in the all-day turnout for 5 l/2 hours a day.
To inquire about riding lessons or training, contact head trainer Kim Deaton-Iwen or assistant trainer Karen Zolle at 920-336-8005. Riding lessons are $25 per half hour of instruction. (Kim Deaton-Iwen is the featured trainer in this edition of the Wisconsin Horseman. To read about Kim, click here)
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