P T
ublisher’s Welcome
Labors of Love
ime surely does fly. Remarkably, this edition of Warmbloods Today wraps up our fiſth year in print—a huge milestone. Five years is that magic number that small business owners like me hope and pray we surpass given the odds against us. Te U.S. Small Business Administration estimates that more than 50 percent of small business
start-ups fail in the first five years. I’ve been fortunate to launch three relatively successful companies in the last 20 years, which categorizes me as an “avid entrepreneur.” My bet is that over half of our readers are entrepreneurs as well. In fact, our industry is full of them—trainers,
veterinarians, farriers, breeders, boarding barn owners, massage and chiropractic therapists, horse product manufacturers, tack and feed store owners, saddle makers—the list goes on and on. Tere are common threads among us horsey entrepreneurs (many of which can be spotted from a distance): we passionately work obscene hours; we put our lives on the line daily handling dangerous beasts ten times our size; we walk around continuously covered in sweat, dirt and hay; and we throw a party when those new Ariat boots arrive in the mail. Are we out there making a fortune? Not likely. Do we love what we do? Most likely. Inevitably, at some point reality sets in, and we realize that our equestrian careers are truly ‘labors of love.’ “It’s not so bad,” jests a breeder friend of mine, who struggles monthly to meet her bills. “At least I have happy
customers who’ve bought my horses, happy clients who have bred to my stallion, and happy horses to work with every day. If only my checkbook was that happy.” In two of our features, two young women, eventer Allie Blyskal-Sacksen and jumper Ali Cornish, each announce their
intent to be professional trainers, their first journey into entrepreneurdom. My first thoughts when I heard about their plans were: wait until you are older and more financially secure before going out on your own; and hey, I hope you’re prepared for a bumpy ride! But then I remembered my early thirties and the excitement, optimism and adrenalin I felt as I launched my first company. I’m the last person who should squash anyone’s entrepreneurial dreams. And remember the predictions that our industry is dying a slow death because the baby boomers are still its prime
supporters? If that’s true, then we desperately need up-and-coming trainers like Allie and Ali. Who else will carry this industry forward for decades to come? We baby boomers won’t be around forever and we should applaud and support the efforts of the younger generation. As every business owner will attest, owning a business has plenty of ups and downs, pros and cons. For most of us, the
pros outweigh the cons. Today, however, I’m faced with both. Tis aſternoon I received the sad news that Scot Tolman, our regular “Warmblood Whoas” columnist, needs to retire his pen. Tis is his last column with us and he will be sorely missed. With heartfelt gratitude for his contributions over these last five years, I wish Scot and his family all the best. His column has been an important part of the magazine since the very first issue and earned an instant loyal following among our readers. Not long aſter Scot’s email, I received a complimentary email from a reader describing how much she loves the
magazine. And there it was—that intangible reward of gratification for a job well done. So like this reader, I hope you too enjoy my ‘labor of love,’ this thirtieth issue of Warmbloods Today. Be safe this year as you ride, train, breed, or do whatever ‘labor of love’ that brings joy in your life.
Liz Cornell, Publisher
editor@warmbloodstoday.com
Our Mission: Warmbloods Today is the leading magazine in North America focused on the entire spectrum of Warmblood breeds. It’s a place where people from all aspects of the sport horse community can come together: amateurs, owners, trainers and breeders. Each issue contains interesting, informative and often heart-warming stories of peoples’ experiences with their horses, along with thought- provoking opinions from various professionals and amateurs. We cover all horses from European descent bred for the sports of jumping, dressage, eventing and driving including the Iberian breeds and American Warmbloods.
14 January/February 2014
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