An objective veterinary prepurchase exam and evaluation performed prior to money changing hands in a horse sale is an obvious choice for buyers. And while a prepurchase exam may be a "deal killer" for sellers, it limits future accusations of misrepresentation of the...

You're in a business rich in tradition. Thousands of years of horsemanship have sculpted the way you handle horses, ride and teach today. While good horsemanship practices don't change, marketing methods do. You already know there is more to marketing now than the...

When valuing a horse to sell or buy, who hasn't wished for a Blue Book of Horses where you could plug in factors like: age, height, breed, sex, temperament, general health and show record and as an instant result, establish a market value? In the past, the value of a...

I talked with a horseman recently whose job description includes the following: 150 nights away from home each year while travelling Tens of thousands of road miles each year to get work Work with hundreds of horses with unpredictable temperaments I don't suspect...

If you've ever been stuck on ice with a vehicle, you know how a small push, a few handfuls of sand or tire chains halt endless wheel spinning to move you easily on your way. When you think about dealing with slippery slopes on the farm, it's all about the extra...

I spent two days in a student's seat this fall learning from expert lawyers at Finger Lakes Horse Farm Business School organized by Jim Ochterski of Ontario County Cornell University Cooperative Extension about horse business contracts, business liability and...

I bought a book twenty five years ago for my business library that has been an exceptional investment. The book's pages are dog eared from use over time and filled with pencil and ink notes. I paid $8.95 for it; its value to me now is at least ten thousand times that....

"The U.S. recession that began in December 2007 ended in June 2009, making the 18-month slump the longest since the Great Depression, according to the National Bureau of Economic Research." After a millisecond of euphoria, I read the rest of the story. "The trough...

You hear I.T.E on the morning news report or read it online as you sip coffee. Your clients interject I.T.E. as they ramble when stalling a decision. You mutter I.T.E. as you stare at your dismal checking account balance. What's I.T.E? I. T. E. is the abbreviation for...

Have you ever watched an amateur start to paint a barn? It goes like this: 1. Raise ladder into position on barn siding 2. Return to garage to get forgotten screwdriver to open paint can 3. Remove lid and return to garage to get rag to wipe spilled paint on side of...