Equestrian Services, LLC Partners With Frédéric Pignon and Magali Delgado
Equestrian Spectacle Stars to Launch Equestrian Services' Entertainment Division.

Equestrian Services, LLC recently announced an exclusive strategic alliance with Frédéric Pignon and Magali Delgado, to provide equestrian entertainment to resorts and casinos worldwide.

With the addition of an entertainment division, Equestrian Services enhances their equestrian program offerings, providing high-quality equestrian entertainment to clients through the new partnership. Equestrian Services will provide feasibility, planning, and design interface with project architects, while Frédéric and Magali will create the spectacles.

"Partnering with Equestrian Services was a natural fit for us, as we came quickly to understand that we share a common philosophy about honoring and respecting the horse first and foremost, while creating magic through performance that can touch the human heart," said Frédéric Pignon. The European “horse whisperer”, Pignon’s work with stallions at liberty (completely loose) is unique in the world. The spectacular performances that he and his wife Magali achieve spring from a training philosophy based on patience, love, and total respect for the horse.

“We’re thrilled to announce this exciting partnership with two of the world’s most highly-respected figures in equestrian entertainment. Every resort property worldwide is looking for a unique edge, a differentiator in the market... The magic created through a custom-designed equestrian spectacle production will draw people looking for something new and inspiring,” said Jennifer Donovan, principal of Equestrian Services, LLC.

“Currently Frédéric and Magali are busy creating a new production that will tour in Europe initially and then be ready for a permanent home at one very lucky resort destination,” said Donovan.

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O'Connor Signature Expands Offerings

It has always been the goal of Karen and David O'Connor to improve the quality of equestrian experience available to the broadest group of riders. Additionally, the O'Connors and Equestrian Services continually seek to add value to the O'Connor brand and offer services that more specifically meet the needs of their clients. To that end, Equestrian Services, LLC is pleased to announce that the O'Connors have expanded the offerings of their branded Signature Equestrian Center program.

O'Connor Signature Equestrian Centers continue to set the global standard for innovative and value-driven equestrian amenities. The newly designated “O'Connor Signature Equestrian Club” features the complete programming, design, and delivery of the specific amenity that best achieves the development objectives. Hospitality-based and concierge services from a nationally-certified management team and training staff continue to be operational hallmarks. Additionally, all Club-level projects also offer full collaboration with the project design team, in order to ensure the equestrian amenity effectively complements the other design components, including membership-based clubs, residential product, and other planned amenities. Available services with the O'Connor Signature Equestrian Club include providing detailed lot matrix and alignment consulting and designing remote activity areas and model equestrian “farmettes” - where private horse-keeping lots will be offered.

The O'Connor Signature Equestrian Club can also be incorporated into existing equestrian centers. Facilities that feature program-appropriate equestrian elements (e.g., riding venues and stable buildings) demonstrating high-quality design and construction may be granted the O'Connor brand directly; others may require some modifications. “Too many riders today have less-than-satisfactory riding experiences. We know our world-class horse care, lesson and riding programs, and our hospitality-based customer service truly set apart the O'Connor Signature brand,” said David O'Connor. “Our goal is to provide our Signature-level riding experience to as many equestrians as possible.”

A new offering from O'Connor Signature is O'Connor Signature Design. The Design level provides planning, design, and select project management services for clients’ equestrian facilities, without the commitment to a management agreement or the detailed programming associated therewith. For developers with clear programming goals or limited opportunities, O'Connor Signature Design ensures that the equestrian center will be designed to meet those goals effectively, efficiently, and with the health of the horses and safety of all participants a primary concern.

“While we recognize that the experience for riders and horses offered through our programs by our certified staff are what really set us apart from other centers, we wanted to offer the benefits of our design expertise to an even broader audience,” said David O'Connor. “We understand that some projects are not large enough to take advantage of our full program. However, most developers have little or no equestrian design experience. Relying on a “friend who rides”, even if they are a very experienced rider, does not equate to having knowledge in feasibility, ROI objectives, planning/design, and Club management expertise. There is a real likelihood they will overbuild their stables or make them operationally inefficient. Our facilities have received international recognition for excellence in design and sustainability from the International Sustainability Council, Audubon Lifestyles, United States Pony Club, and the Certified Horsemanship Association. We wanted to give everyone the opportunity to get their projects off to a good start.”

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Scheduling Riding Lessons: As Complex and Fascinating as a Rubik's Cube
By Alejandra Abella

If you have ever encountered a Rubik’s Cube, and if you ever tried to solve this three-dimensional puzzle, its sole mention will bring to your memory sensations of frustration, obsession, madness, and despair. If you are one of the few who ever solved it, however, your memories will likely be of elation, victory, and unabashed bravado. Or at least they should be; according to some sources, only 14% of the world’s population can solve the puzzle! Well, believe it or not, riding-lession scheduling is very much like trying to solve a Rubik’s Cube, except that we have a tool that netherworld invention does not: flexibility.

Understanding the Pieces

Riding-lesson scheduling can be as easy as matching a horse to a rider, and to an hour of the day, but when you are dealing with many horses and many riders, as well as with limited riding rings, instructors, and hours of the day, the possible combinations and permutations – coupled with the limitations – can make the task daunting. In order to limit the chaos and reduce the need for grooms, instructors, horses, and office staff to be on stand-by for lessons all day, every day, riding lessons are frequently grouped into pre-scheduled sessions of several weeks. Like with other activities, such as ballet lessons, swimming, and karate, this allows equestrian facilities to pre-plan staff, operating tasks, and business hours. With horses, it has an added benefit: the routine that horses crave and the ability to think of their needs before they are assigned and without rush. The needs of the horse – that animal we all love and the reason for which we ride in the first place – can then become one of the main focuses of correct scheduling.

Enter the Rubik’s Cube... or at least the first similarity. The Cube is complete when all the boxes of one color are on the same side. It’s really about categorization, and with session scheduling, that is the first step: categorize the horses by what they can do. Jump, flat, walk, trot, canter, second-level dressage, cross country galloping – the list of disciplines and levels of activity within the equestrian world is endless, and no one horse can do it all. In addition, all horses have other considerations for categorizing them properly, such as age, conformation, exposure to training, temperament, health status, and more.

To schedule sessions with an existing herd of horses, scheduling must begin with categorizing the horses by what they can do, or the horse will not be a happy or pleasurable mount. “You ride the horse you have, not the one you want,” is one adage of horsemanship, and this type of scheduling teaches that important premise. Assigning a color code to different levels of riding (and therefore lessons) and grouping the horses into the color groups where they belong allows us to start putting sessions where they belong on the schedule.

Putting it All Together and Learning to be Flexible

Flexibility is a tool that equestrian facility operators learn early on, because we work with live animals that think, breathe, feel, and have many of the same needs we do. They need food, water, shelter and care, and they thrive on routine. And their care is expensive, so that must be grouped the best way possible, as well.

The Schedule: Pieces of the Puzzle Falling Into Place

To begin solving the Rubik’s Cube of lesson session scheduling, we block out the times of day necessary for basic horse care and facilities operations: feeding, turn-out, stall mucking, barn cleaning, arena dragging, etc. We want to give our full, undivided attention to the horses when they need it, and to the clients when they do, so mixing these tasks with riding lessons is typically not ideal.

Once the time for necessary tasks and for horse digestion have been identified as non-riding hours, then colored tabs that represent the lesson sessions that can be taught may be put in place. But it’s not all or nothing – you have to be flexible. As a business, equestrian facilities need to maximize revenue, and the vehicle for doing that is the horse herd. In the wild, horses walk an average of 10 miles a day and slowly graze for almost the entire day, if possible. In equestrian facilities, a horse’s feeding time is structured – his daily activity is limited and not typically done in a natural environment, and it has to be adjusted to the humans’ schedules. Many riders work or go to school, which limits activity hours to the afternoon or evening. For the horses, this means they can be overwhelmed with activity at that time. In addition, there are many levels and sizes of riders, and although some horses can carry several of them, what time of the day they are assigned to each type of rider can make a difference in how well they will perform with that rider. And so the Rubik’s Cube continues: you have all the colored pieces, but how do you get them all in the right place? By considering every piece of the puzzle, being flexible, and doing the best you can by each group involved – the horses, the clients, the staff... and the budget!

Some experts say that, ideally, a horse should have from one to two hours to digest before being put to work, and one to two hours to cool down before eating. The compromise: in order to fit in the horse’s digestive needs, the time when staff is available, and client riding times, lesson scheduling may include a ground lesson or a lower-level riding lesson session as the first one in a horse’s day, after being fed. In order to reduce the labor needs in lesson horse preparation, a group of horses that can do both intermediate and advanced lessons may be scheduled to do the advanced group first, so that the more experienced riders can work through any issues of the horses or help with preparation. And the offerings must be balanced, not only for the clients – so they have enough choices within the week – but also for the horses, so they don’t become bored or one-sided.

Finally, one of the responsibilities of equestrian facility operators is to always remember that our tools of the trade are also our dear, live friends and companions. Like us, they have bad days or times when they don’t feel well. Like us, they sometimes need to have their workload adjusted and/or reviewed, and sometimes, they need to take a vacation or a sick day, or just have a one-on-one with a rider friend. The schedule must take this reality into consideration, by making sure there are horses available as replacement, spaces left open for private lessons, and instructors and staff that understand there is more to being a horseman or horsewoman than just riding. Enthusiastic, comprehensive, and knowledgeable treatment of the horses and teaching of the lesson is as much as part of success as the schedule. A little bit like that elusive white side on the Rubik’s Cube – just when you thought you had it all figured out...

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How Well Do You Know Your Horse?
By April Neumann

There are many ways in which to know your horse, but contrary to what you may think, the most important way has little to do with knowing his girth size and his favorite treat; it has much more to do with the simple acts of being aware and taking notice. A horse is not able to tell you when or why he is feeling sick or sore, and he is not able to ask for help when he needs it. It is up to you, as a responsible owner and horse person, to be aware of your horse’s habits, routines, and surroundings, and to take notice when any of these things change.

Knowing your horse should begin with the basics. How much water does my horse usually drink? Is he typically slow to finish his grain? What is my horse’s normal temperature? Has he always had that bump on his leg? Knowing the answer to these and other similar questions is the first step to being aware. All horses have different habits and needs, and being familiar with the behaviors specific to your horse not only gives you important information, but it also allows you the opportunity to begin to understand your horse better. On the other hand, don’t overlook the value of being aware of what is normal for horses in general. Worming schedules, vaccination requirements, normal vital signs, shoeing types and methods, saddle fit - all of these things can enhance your understanding of your own horse. Talking with your vet and farrier, or purchasing a horse reference book is a great place to start.

Now that you are more aware of what is normal for your horse, you can begin taking notice of when things are not normal. A change in your horse’s behavior can be the first sign of a problem, large or small. Early detection can be essential to the successful treatment of a lameness, illness, or disease. Taking notice should not be limited to behavior and routine alone. It should also extend to your horse’s environment and the things in it. Is his stall free from exposed nails? Is that a loose board in his paddock? Is his bit too small? Is he getting along with his turnout buddy? Don’t wait for a fellow boarder or the barn manger to notice these things first; be responsible by being observant.

Horses bring joy and meaning to our world by simply allowing us to be part to be part of theirs. Take the time to really get to know your horse and return the favor.

April Neumann
Assistant General Manager/Barn Manager
Bergen County Equestrian Center

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Managing Personalities
By Rhonda Gailey

As the Platinum rule by Dr. Tony Alessandra states, “Do unto others the way they want to be done unto.” Managing personalities can be challenging; some even say that it is the single most challenging aspect of running any business. What we have to understand is that approximately 40-70 % or more of the people that we come into contact with will not communicate or react exactly like you do. As managers or salespeople, we must make it a point to identify and master their personality profiles. It is our obligation to connect with our staff and clients, not to expect our staff and clients to make the effort to communicate with us.

First, you must “know thyself” (Socrates). Then, “seek first to understand, then to be understood”. As customer service specialists and master communicators, some often make the mistake of talking too much during communication or presentations and negotiations. Do you ever wonder why we were made with only one mouth and two ears? We must first listen to the needs and wants before we can satisfy.

Once we understand our own behavioral style, then we can recognize who we are dealing with, what makes them most receptive to our goal, and what makes them “tick”. Lastly, we must adapt our communication or presentation style to match theirs. Being a great communicator is essential, and connecting with customers is critical.

It is also important to note that it is not always about the words, but sometimes it is also about body language, physical touch (or lack thereof), crossed arms (defensive posture), and the speed and pitch of our voices (possible indications of nervousness). And when managing personalities, we must always be flexible with our time and understand that some people need more from us. In the end, we are destined to learn a little something from everyone. We are either green and growing, or ripe and rotting.

Rhonda Gailey
General Manager & Riding Director
The Oaks Equestrian Center - an O'Connor Signature Facility

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In the News

The Oaks of Lake City was featured in the Summer edition of Covertside - The Magazine of Mounted Foxhunting. Check out "A New Sporting Lifestyle: Equestrian Communities".

The Oaks was also written about in the Five O'Clock Somewhere blog - check out "Stable Spotlight: The Oaks Equestrian Center".

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Operations & Management News

The Oaks Equestrian Center (an O'Connor Signature Facility) has obtained the United States Pony Club certification!

The first Hunter Pace at The Oaks Equestrian Center was a HUGE success, with over 60 people attending! Click the thumbs below to see larger photos of the event.

We are hiring for the Bergen County Equestrian Center in New Jersey! We are looking for Office Staff, Equine Program Coordinators, and Grooms.

Requirements for the Equine Program Coordinator position:

• Candidates must have experience coordinating and running equestrian and other recreational programs.
• Must show competency in teaching multi-disciplinary and recreational lessons to adults and children, with a cheery disposition.
• Must be a people person who enjoys working with the public.
• Must possess a willingness to serve in multiple capacities and be flexible.
• Instructor certification required.
• Experience with summer camp programs is a plus.
• Experience with therapeutic riding and other equine-related mounted, natural horsemanship, and non-mounted is also a plus.

Offering competitive compensation packages. Please send resumes and cover letters to sherylbcec@gmail.com.

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Project News

Bergen County Equestrian Center renovation is well underway!

David O’Connor and Michael Donovan are making plans to travel to China and design the Cross-Country Course for the Zhangbei Equestrian project.

Equestrian Services, LLC has signed an agreement with Beijing Business Consulting Services to provide representation of the O’Connor Signature brand in China.

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