She tames the power of equus—maybe
For Tracy Underwood, horses offer a captivating but challenging business adventure
At more than 16 hands, Verso towers above the slim, petite Tracy Underwood. The massive horse outweighs her by about 1,500 pounds. When Underwood commands her stallion to go back into his stall after a minute in the sun, he ignores her. "Go back in," she says. "Go on!" His massive nose pushes her hand away and he shakes his head no. Verso runs this show, see? He holds the power.
Tentatively Underwood stretches out her fingers toward the magnificent Brazilian steed and he displays his pink tongue, clamps it between his teeth. He looks for a moment like a cute kitten nuzzling her fingers. She pushes his head around as if to direct his next move, petting his nose. Playfully and defiantly, he shakes her off. Verso runs this show.
Soon the interaction becomes clear—Underwood asks Verso to return to the barn. She submits her request and this time he complies. The balance of power: tricky, uncertain but affectionate. Today he turns and goes in. Tomorrow? She will find out then who is the boss of whom.
As for the business, Underwood is definitely the boss. She owns 25 horses and presides over the stabling of another 50. She and her husband Wes purchased Santa Rosa Equestrian Center and European Pony School more than six years ago. The horse business, reliant on disposable income, has suffered through the recession.
About 10 instructors teach riding through the European Pony School, paying Underwood for use of the facility. The rest of the business is boarding and training horses.
The school shows girls how to ride as well as care for a horse, including grooming and feeding. Students are about 99 percent girls, Underwood says. "Maybe it's a power thing," she says. "It's such a powerful animal."
Many owners of horses at the facility are nurses. "Horses require an awful lot of care," she says. "There is that nurturing aspect. They're always getting hurt. It's amazing. They can hurt themselves in their stalls. Such big powerful animals can be so delicate."
"They are fairy tale horses. I had seen pictures when I was a little girl, and had always wanted one."
Underwood had never owned a horse until 2004, when her husband bought Rimer, a gorgeous black Friesian from Holland. "They are fairy tale horses," she says. "I had seen pictures when I was a little girl, and had always wanted one. He is my favorite, an awesome horse." Rimer stands 17.2 hands high. "I can put anyone on him who has never been on a horse. He'll take good care of them."
Then they bought the two businesses along with 50 acres as an investment. "He thought this would be a good idea," Underwood says, chuckling. Their timing wasn't ideal. "There is no money in the horse business," she says. "That wears on you after awhile. I get no monetary reward. I own some very, very nice horses. I certainly enjoy it. I would enjoy it more if I could have more help. It is an expensive hobby."
A couple of her trainers make a good living. They don't own horses. They work by the hour training people and horses. She has eight full-time and a dozen part-time employees. In the past year the business has begun to recover. She earns additional income by hosting horse shows.
To get a day off, "I have to leave town," Underwood says. "Even then you're fielding phone calls." She rides nearly every day.
Food, veterinary bills and boarding for horses is expensive. Boarding a horse at her facility costs $675 a month, including three meals a day. Most owners come daily to ride their horses. In the years she has owned the facility, Underwood has made many improvements, including building an elegant new riding arena; there are now five arenas.
Underwood and her husband are real estate attorneys. She sold real estate before going to law school. "I practiced law for a firm in Los Angeles," she says. "There was no time for anything," such as horses.
They opened a private practice near their home in Manhattan Beach. "That allowed more free time," she recalls. Now she practices dressage but no law; the business demands all her time. She used her legal training to rewrite liability contracts for the horse business.
Dressage is a highly refined style of riding that emphasizes subtle communication between horse and rider. The sport holds competitions through organizations such as California Dressage Society; she is one of its directors. "It's very mental, with precise movements," Underwood says. "The goal is to make it look as if you're just sitting there doing nothing," while the horse executes a series of fancy moves.
"You have control over this huge animal . . . . This animal could kill me at any second. You develop a relationship with him. You are able to go galloping at 20 miles an hour."
"The power could attract women to horses," Underwood says. "You have control over this huge animal. Women are compassionate and appreciative" of the animal's strength. "This animal could kill me at any second. You develop a relationship with him. You are able to go galloping at 20 miles an hour. It seems so absurd." Dressage trains horses to adopt postures—somewhat like yoga—that are good for their muscles but not moves they would do in the wild. "It's crazy what we convince them to do!"
She was cantering in the jump ring once when Rimer lost his balance and fell. Luckily one of his hind legs got caught in the fence. "He was down but he did not roll over on me," she says. Underwood has been thrown many times. "If you are going to ride, you are going to come off," she says. "The goal is to stay on."
Underwood has found herself drawn to horses her entire life. "They are beautiful animals," she says.
She has two breeding stallions, including Verso from Brazil. "It's artificial insemination," she says. "We collect and ship the semen."
While dressage is popular, hunter-jumpers compete for money. That equestrian realm may offer an easier way to make a living.
—James Dunn
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