Equestrian News
SCAD
Savannah College of Art & Design (SCAD), the highly regarded design school, has retained Blackburn to provide design services for the improvement and expansion of the Ronald C. Warranch Equestrian Center.
Baghdad Equestrian Club: NPR’s Weekend Edition
I thought this short piece about the Baghdad Equestrian Club by NPR’s Peter Kenyon is worth sharing. I’ve always enjoyed a day at the track and think it’s a tradition worth saving. For that reason, it’s uplifting to hear that, despite the turmoil that has pervaded the lives of Iraqis over the past several years, a day at the track can provide Iraqis with the same sense of escape and excitement as it does for me and others the world over.
Oakhaven Farm in Field Sport Concepts
The latest newsletter from Field Sport Concepts, a group of affiliates devoted to rural land conservation of which we are members, features Oakhaven Farm in Austin, Texas. This Blackburn-designed farm includes a 16-stall barn, open and enclosed arenas, and related structures. The vernacular of the area inspired the use of local materials, such as its “Austin Stone,” while the deep trellis provides a bit of shade for the horses and owners.
Greenbarns
We’re pleased to announce that our line of pre-designed barns called Blackburn Greenbarns® is now available in ready-to-construct form. Starting with four models, each barn is designed to capture the power of the sun and wind to provide natural light and ventilation. While each barn can be modified to meet your design preferences and operational goals, the “starting point” concept designs minimize architectural fees normally associated with complete custom design.
Prince George’s County Maryland: Horse Industry Task Force
An associate of mine runs a great email list that features news and happenings in the equestrian community. The other day, the email contained an article from Maryland’s Prince George’s County section of The Gazette. Written by Zoe Tilman, the article is about a horse industry task force up for vote in Prince George’s County. With several states adding slots venues (such as Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Delaware), the pressure is on the equine industry to take advantage of its potential revenue power, especially in regard to racinos—the combination of a casino with thoroughbred racing.
Tilman’s article points out that Prince George’s County isn’t necessarily well known for its equine industry, but that the County is interested in spreading the word in order to garner interest and recognition throughout the state. If approved (a vote is expected sometime this month), the horse task force will bring together “state and local equine industry groups and economic development agencies.”
While I believe racinos are fun and have their time and place, I do wish there were more public equestrian facilities and parks. However, it seems that many states are becoming desperate to get out of the red, so to speak, and look at slots/gambling as a way out.