26th Galbreath Recipient Steve Day: President & CEO of Dover Saddlery

“I have a confession. I am a serial entrepreneur.” This is how Steve Day, President and CEO of Dover Saddlery, describes himself. Day was this year’s recipient of the Galbreath Award. It is given by the University of Louisville to someone they believe is an entrepreneur in the equine industry.

Photo from bizjournals.com

Photo from news.maryland.gov

Day started his entrepreneurial days at a young age. While attending Purdue University, he and a few friends started up a motorcycle rental. He also got a program started at Purdue where students could take horseback riding lessons and receive their physical education credit.

Day later went on to attend Harvard, but before he was accepted he found himself in a very unique position. When Day was finished with his degree and military commitment, he took a job as a riding instructor at Coach House Stables in Chicago, Illinois. One of his riding students was the wife of a man opening a resort for Playboy in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. Day was invited to come and start a trail riding operation, which he stayed at until his Harvard acceptance letter came.

After spending time in construction and real estate, Day turned his career back to the equine field when he heard State Line Tack was booming. He wrote a letter to the owner, Dave Post, who also started State Line Tack, about buying the company. Three weeks passed and there was no response, so Day decided to give Post a call. Post said the company was not for sale, but Day was invited to have a talk with him.

Post was very proud of his company. He told Day that if he listened to how the company was built up and the future plans for it, he may be allowed to buy it. When Day finally received permission to buy the company, he brought in five other firms to help. After four and a half years, the firms were ready to get their money back, and Day had to let the company go to PetSmart for $18 million. PetSmart wanted to put State Line Tack in their big box stores instead of separate buildings and it failed. As Day said, no one trying on expensive breeches wanted to walk through dog waste.

In 1998, Day acquired Dover Saddlery. The company made $14 million per year when he bought it and it now makes over $100 million per year with 28 stores open and each averaging $2 million in sales. Day is hoping to open up a Dover store at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, and if not there then close by.

Since the age of twelve when Day first started riding, he has always found a way to keep doing what he loves while being successful, though it wasn’t always an easy route. “Trust me, you will fail,” he said, but Day has gone on to prove that you can make a career out of your passion.

The Retirement of Miss Believin': My Once-in-a-Lifetime Horse

Every horse person dreams of having their own “once-in-a-lifetime” horse at some point. I don’t necessarily mean the greatest champion who wins countless times or who breaks many records; I mean a horse that you have a special bond with. A horse that teaches you many lessons. A horse that has helped you advance as a rider and overcome struggles, whether that be on horseback or personally. A once-in-a-lifetime horse is one that you emotionally bond with and you are completely comfortable with. I am lucky enough to say that I have found my once-in-a-lifetime.

2014 ad from Shelbyville Horse Show.

On October 27, 2007, Miss Believin’ (Bella) was presented to me with a big bow around her neck. She became the first and only show horse I have ever owned. It’s not often that a horse will carry a thirteen year old rider all the way to the ranks of the amateurs, but that is exactly what Bella did. Our first show season together was in 2008. We showed mostly in Junior Exhibitor Three Gaited and also took a couple seasons to show in Equitation. After aging out of Junior Exhibitor and into Amateur status, Bella and I switched into the Country Pleasure division for 2014 and 2015. Throughout our eight seasons together, we not only won in all three divisions, but took our turn at beating horses with World Champion titles.

2013 ad from Dayton Horse Show.

Here’s the thing about Bella. She may not have been one of the top quality horses costing six figures, but she always showed up ready. When the big dogs didn’t bring their A game, we were right there to catch them. There were always bigger and better horses at the shows, but that didn’t necessarily mean they had as much heart as the smallest mare in the class. One of Bella’s former owners, Dee Thomas, called her “small, but mighty,” and she couldn’t have been more right.

Julia Shelburne-Hitti Photo. Mercer County Fair 2015.

Our last show together was the Kentucky Fall Classic at the Horse Park earlier this month. The Bluegrass Select Series Country Pleasure Championship would be our final performance. The script could not have been written any more perfectly. Bella and I had one of our best shows together. The mare was feeling game and she did every single thing that I asked her to. Even though I was feeling great about our performance, you never how a class will be tied. When Bella and I were called as the champions of the class, the tears didn’t stop flowing. I was too ecstatic to have Bella go out on top with such a great performance. She received many well-earned hugs before we took our final victory pass together and exited the show ring for the last time.

Bella exiting the ring for the last time with her blue ribbon.

I can’t thank this mare enough for all the great years she has given me. She’s taken me to some of my favorite memories and picked me up from my low points. She’s gone from being a versatile show horse to a companion I can bareback on, and I would not be the rider I am today without her.

So here’s to a well-deserved retirement, Miss Believin’! You earned it every step of the way.

Barebacking on Bella at Kismet Farm.

World's Championship Horse Show 2015

I know I'm posting this nearly two moths later, but enjoy it anyway!

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American Saddlebreds, Hackney Ponies, and Road Horses travelled from all over the country for the 112^th World’s Championship Horse Show. It is one of the most prestigious Saddle Seat horse shows of the year. The three World’s Grand Champion titles for the Saddlebreds (Fine Harness, Three Gaited, and Five Gaited) are the most anticipated classes of the eight day long show. Three new victors earned these titles this year. Two of them have been trying for a few years, and one a young and upcoming superstar.

 The first World’s Grand Champion title was in the Fine Harness division. Fine Harness horses are very animated and pull a four-wheeled buggy at the park trot and animated walk. At just four years old, Lady Mandolin MS (Undulata’s Nutcracker x Suddenly Summer) took this title with two first place votes from three judges. Earlier in the week she won the junior division for the mares. She was guided under the hands of Jim Stachowski (who won the honor last year with Nutcracker’s Nirvana) for owner Hellen Lacey Reed. Lady Mandolin is poetry in motion. When she enters the ring it is hard to even look at any other horse. She moves as if it is the easiest thing in the world to throw her legs above level, and she carries an air of grace as she goes.

WGC Lady Mandolin MS

The Three Gaited title went to HS Daydream’s Heads Up (Undulata’s Nutcracker x A Daydream Believer (BHF)). Scott Hagan showcased his homebred under the Silver Brook Stables banner, with Debbie Foley as the trainer. This is the fourth year Heads Up has shown in the Three Gaited championship. He was shown as a three and four year old with Tre Lee aboard and finished second both times in the class. Scott showed the gelding last year, finishing fourth. Now, in the horse’s six year old year, it seems as if the team of Heads Up and Hagan have really come together. The judges tied them 1-1-2. Heads Up exemplifies what a Three Gaited horse should be and many have followed the horse since his reserve in the Championship as a three year old. He trot is strong and fluid with a great headset to compliment it. It is hard not to look at the gelding with his neck back and high, but still carrying a perfectly rounded poll.

WGC HS Daydream's Heads Up

The crowd finally got what they have been waiting years for in the Five Gaited championship. Lionel Ferriera presented Marc of Charm (Santana’s Charm x Pretty Ribbons) for Riverdreams LLC in the finale of the show for the fifth time and finally racked his way into history. The nine year old stallion had won the junior championship as a four year old and has been trying to earn a blanket of roses since then. Six horses were called back in a workout after the class had finished. As the other horses seemed to tire out, Marc of Charm reached no bottom. Lionel Ferriera continued to show off his mount while others were gearing down on the rail. Marc of Charm grabbed the victory with two first place votes. The crowd erupted into a roar, and Marc of Charm closed out the show when he racked out of Freedom Hall with his blanket of red roses.

WGC Marc of Charm