Hopkins County's push to become 'horse country' emphasized

By LORI COPE | East Texas Edition

Suzanne and Rick Mock detailed the benefits of relocating their home, horse farm, and horse photography business to Hopkins County during a recent roundtable discussion. The couple met with other "transplanted" horse farm owners in the county to discuss ways the county can continue improving and promoting the area as a great place for horses and their owners. -Staff photo by Lori Cope

March 20, 2003 -- Hopkins County's assets for horses, plus their owners, was the theme of the March 6 roundtable discussion that focused on why the once-dairy-rich county is becoming "Horse Country."

In October 2002, a push to promote the county as a great place for horse farms, events, and their owners began with a seminar that featured legendary Thoroughbred racehorse trainer D. Wayne Lukas and several of Texas' own horse-related celebrities such as barrel racer Janet Stover and horse breeder Dr. Charles Graham. The Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce, and Mary Bonham, who owns Rafter L Racehorse Training Stables, hosted the seminar.

The March 6 meeting, held at the Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce in Sulphur Springs, brought together several horse farm owners who moved their operations to the county within the last eight years. They welcomed the newest horse/business owners, Suzanne and Rick Mock, who plan to be living in the county by summer.

"The horse industry is coming to Hopkins County," noted Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce President Bill Elliott at the meeting's opening. "Already, since the Lukas seminar, we see that the promotion of equine in the area is working."

The Mocks attended the Lukas seminar, and after that, decided Hopkins County is where they wanted to be. The Mocks, owners of Forrest Photography, are purchasing property near Sulphur Springs. They plan to build stables and a training track for their horses, plus base their equine photography business from there.

"This puts us in a good spot," Rick said. "We are within five hours from where we need to go, like Fort Worth, Memphis, Tenn., Oklahoma City.

"And the (sandy) soil is perfect for what we do," he added about working their racing and cutting horses.

The county's sandy soil, good pastures, a central location near a major interstate, and friendly people were cited as assets for horses and their owners.

These specific assets were draws for Kevin Mohl, who recently relocated his family and horses to the county from Montana. "I like the sand, ... and there are lots of weekend shows nearby" which provide competitions for he and his family.

"I think once you get people here, and they see the (county's) amenities, they will like it too," Mohl added.

The Mocks are one example of people who came, and liked what they saw. Following the Lukas seminar, "we talked to Cliff Bailey (trainer at Rafter L) and he was so informative and kind. ... We just had to come here," Suzanne added.

Since the meeting's format was a roundtable discussion, the Mocks shared some of the "challenges" they faced during the relocation process. The couple noted horse owners may face financial lenders that are not educated about the industry's assets. "Horses are not a liability, but collateral," Rick detailed.

Donna Wallis, a Hopkins County horse farm owner who moved to this area several years ago from the Dallas area, noted local banks understand livestock "as collateral" as they are accustomed to dealing with dairy farmers who also have livestock as their money-makers.

The Mocks also noted a challenge in communicating with a real estate professional the specifics they desired in properties, and the need for improvement of county roads that lead to some properties.

Deborah Balkcom, another horse farm owner who moved to the county from Georgia about eight years ago, noted with the increased tax revenue the county will gain from more farms moving into the area, monies can be used to fix the roads that need repair.

Balkcom told the group they are working to form a horse council that will be in conjunction with the American Horse Council. "We are not ignoring anyone; we want input," she said about efforts to organize.

Information about a big horse-related venture for the county came from Rickey Brice. At the meeting he cited his plans are for an indoor, climate-controlled arena, an outdoor arena, a racetrack training facility, stalls, restaurant, and more in a complex that will be located on Interstate 30, east of Sulphur Springs. The outdoor arena is expected to be operational by summer.

"This would be what everybody's been wanting," he said. Eventually the complex would cater to big horse sales, horse-related family events and competitions to the area.

Bill Brenner, another of the county's horse farm owners, added, "Fort Worth gained $50 million in revenue by hosting the National Cutting Horse Association Futurity."

Brenner, who moved to the area a little over a year ago, noted Fort Worth is the "cradle of the horse business" and Hopkins County's assessability to the town, plus many other towns which host horse-related events, is a definite plus.

"I like Texas and I like cowboys, and this is where it's at," he said.