NorCal ‘horse people’ spare no expense for their passion

Comstock’s magazine has been showcasing the region’s most prominent women in leadership, young professionals and family businesses for more than a decade. We now recognize that there is another class of business influencers who have so far been left out of the spotlight — those graced with fur and feathers. To that end, we are inaugurating a new leadership showcase, focused on highlighting the talents of the Capital Region Creature Suite, otherwise known as the C-Suite. Check out some of our nominees.

We are also open to nominations for human leaders aged 40 and under for our annual Young Professionals showcase. Send in your nomination by April 15.

Now for our featured story.

For those who call themselves “horse people,” no amount of money or hours spent in the saddle outpaces their love for their steed.

I’ve wanted to run a story about horse ownership for a long time. It remains one of the region’s less visible pursuits, though it’s thriving in certain enclaves. I grew up a “horse girl,” and our president and publisher, Winnie Comstock-Carlson, is also an equestrian. Even so, I’m often struck by how quaint many people perceive horseback riding to be – as if it belongs to another place or era.

The barriers to entry are real. In urban areas, the cost of boarding alone can put horse ownership out of reach. In rural settings, however, expenses can be more manageable. Growing up on 20 acres, we took in two horses and two donkeys that needed a home, and for much of the year, they grazed on pasture. Costs did rise with farrier services and veterinary care, but not dramatically more than those associated with the average pet.

Where the “horse bug” becomes truly expensive is at the competitive level. Lessons, tack, transportation and required attire – not to mention the price of a well-trained horse — place equestrian sports alongside traditionally high-cost pursuits like skiing and sailing.

Still, many dedicated horse people find ways to sustain their passion. For some, it’s not just a hobby, but the defining pursuit of their lives. Here’s how they make it work.

– Dakota Morlan, managing editor

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Recommendations From Our Staff:

Judy: Social media often introduces me to books, articles or podcasts I might not know about. I saw an intriguing post on X about an MIT lecture called “How to Speak” that has 21 million views. It’s by the late MIT computer scientist Prof. Patrick Winston, who gives tips on how to do your presentations whether you’re in business or academia, or to any audience. Some tips include repeat your main points, choose the right time and lighting and show passion for the subject. “Your success in life will be determined largely by your ability to speak, your ability to write and the quality of your ideas. In that order,” Winston said.

Jennifer: I’m teaching Introduction to Literature at UC Davis this quarter, and today I introduced the mostly STEM-major students to the poetry of Emily Bronte. To be honest, I don’t think Emily Bronte wrote the world’s best poetry (she and her siblings put together a single volume which they had self-published and only sold two copies), but her poems are definitely interesting, not least for their very clear expression of a 19th-century version of teenage angst. The students were amused by ”Ah! Why, Because the Dazzling Sun,” with one noting that it’s “relatable” because it’s mostly about wanting to stay in bed.

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