Horse park important to future of Valley

At the planning commission meeting in early August, I spoke very briefly about a potential plan for the Nevada Horse Park to be developed on the Park Cattle Co. land between Muller and Genoa lanes on the west side of Highway 395. Since that time there have been several articles addressing what folks "think" a horse park is or what it encompasses.

My purpose in this article is to provide the Douglas County community a more complete vision of what the future holds for Nevada Horse Park. We have already met with county staff and Park Cattle and determined what a huge and positive economic impact Nevada Horse Park will have on both local and state economies.

As proposed, the project would include all 1,634 acres of land on the subject parcel of which about 1,000 acres would remain as open space for grazing, wild mustang holding/adoption corrals, hay production, equestrian cross country courses and equestrian trails. We have been exploring our options with several large land owners to have them donate land to the Nevada Horse Park 501(c)(3).

Currently the largest and most successful horse park in the country is the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Ky., at approximately 1,200 acres. That park is the future home of the World Equestrian Games in 2010 held for the first time ever in the U.S. Annually, the Kentucky Horse Park already attracts over 1 million visitors each year, both horse and non-horse enthusiasts alike. The Kentucky horse industry contributes $3.5 billion, yes billion, to the state gross domestic product, while our neighbors in California contribute over $6.9 billion annually as well as having the second largest state horse population in the country at 700,000 horses.

Between all of our neighboring states combined we have close to 3 million horses. The total contribution from the horse industry to the U.S. gross domestic product is over $102 billion in economic impacts (statistics provided by the American Horse Council Foundation). Those figures are remarkable and create an economic engine for many local economies.

The four major horse events held in the state of Nevada each year (Reno Rodeo, National Finals Rodeo, Snaffle Bit Futurity and the World Cup Finals) already contribute a combined estimate of over $100 million to our state economy annually.

An example of potential economic impact to our community from the project could be mirrored to the Florida Horse Park in Ocala, a facility currently under development with an estimated annual $40 million impact for each of the next five years. There are about a dozen horse parks in the United States. All of these horse parks are located on the east coast (except for the Colorado Horse Park in Parker, Colo.) and all operate as non-profit entities with strong backing from their respective communities and states. Successful horse parks are located in and around an existing horse community which is exactly what we have here in Douglas County.

Many of the existing horse parks are stand alone facilities with few non-equestrian amenities nearby; but here in Douglas County we are next to Lake Tahoe and the abundant recreational opportunities in the Sierra Nevada. The combination of the Carson Valley beauty and the almost limitless recreational opportunities in the area are a sure bet to attract equestrians from all over the U.S. and the world. During an average weeklong equestrian event, competitors normally compete two or three days which means they can take advantage of the other tourism attractions that are offered in our area. The location for NHP has excellent access, and the Carson Valley offers better year around weather than any other horse park in the country.

Nevada Horse Park hopes to create a legacy for future generations of the equestrian world and our local ranching community by embracing the cowboy spirit while creating a venue to accommodate every style of riding. The Nevada Horse Park will hold events for all eight Olympic level equestrian sports as well as 4H, pony club, junior rodeo, reining, cutting, roping and everything in between. Our goal is to create an endowment for future generations to carry on the dream in perpetuity. As a future 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, the park will also host events outside of the equestrian world and offer something that we believe every member of the community can enjoy. Approximately 60 percent of the property will be placed into conservation easements and used for trail riding, cross country courses, a galloping track, and agriculture. The rest of the facility would be constructed in three phases and built over a 7-10 year period.

The show grounds will include 17 arenas including a 400 by 500 foot grand prix arena, a 10-acre derby arena, and 150 by 300 foot rodeo arena, as well as vending areas, food court, permanent stabling for 900 horses, and a beautifully landscaped RV park nestled behind the grand prix arena. On the proposed facilities near the corner of Muller and 395 we plan to develop a 10,000 seat legacy events center/arena that can be used for other venues as well as an emergency center for the entire county. There will also be the inn at the Nevada Horse Park, a retail corner, and equestrian office park including museums and historic walking paths for the community to enjoy. The final phase is a training facility for up to 240 boarders, seven arenas, acres of pasture and turnouts (some of which will dedicated to rehab and adoption of the wild horses), and we have reserved land for a veterinary facility which we hope someday will host a doctor of veterinary medicine program for UNR.

The aesthetic look and feel will be similar to what was recently constructed on the north side of Genoa Lane. We really desire to keep a Western feel throughout the Nevada Horse Park in an effort to help re-identify Douglas County as a ranching and horse community. We hope to set the precedent for future construction projects to help create an architectural theme throughout the valley. Jackson Hole, Wyo., didn't become famous for retail corners that looked like downtown San Jose, Calif., " I think we have an enormous opportunity to kick start and maintain a growing economy without putting houses on the west side of the Valley.

The estimated cost of construction is in the ball park of $150 million. Nevada Horse Park has had such an overwhelmingly positive response from the National horse community already that we feel our goals and visions are obtainable.

This has been a 30-year dream for me personally and one that my family has worked on together for the last eight years. We have local, hardworking trainers on our board of directors such as Cori Rosa, who has been established in the West Coast hunter and jumper industry for over 25 years. The Nevada Horse Park board of directors is packed with other amazing businesspeople who are from the horse world such as past equestrian olympians, a former vice president for Disney and Sony, the world's greatest horseman and biggest winner from the National Reined Cow Horse Association, attorney's, and folks who have dedicated their lives to promoting the horse industry. We are also very fortunate to have Kathy Halbardier from the UNR Small Business Development Center on our advisory board.

Park Cattle Co. provides the opportunity to properly plan for the next 50 years where quality growth should occur in the Carson Valley. Quality growth means planned communities that are connected to sewer and municipal water and not thousands of approved lots within the Valley that will require well and septic. The other choice is to wait for piece meal development phases by various contractors with various styles and limited infrastructure improvement. The Nevada Horse Park is not a "carrot" but an asset to the community, one that will put Minden on the map as a major tourist and international horse destination. The jobs, the economic impact, and preservation of open space cannot be matched, in my opinion, by any other industry. Julie Winkel, owner of Maplewood Stables in Reno, and writer for Practical Horseman magazine said "Nevada Horse Park is much needed and we are long overdue to have a real equestrian park geared towards all events. I can't wait for it to be here!" For more information please visit our Web site at www.nevadahorsepark.com

- Denise Beronio is executive director of the Nevada Horse Park and a 17-year Douglas County Resident