To Go Pro Or Stay Non-Pro? – Courtney Brockmueller

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134 – May, 2016

By Elizabeth Arnold

Where do childhood dreams of horses lead? It’s a decision many horse show kids have faced toward the end of their youth careers. Will they continue to exhibit and own horses as a hobby, or will they pursue their passion a step further and make it a career? Benefits and pitfalls rest in either path. In addition, many parents and trainers have strong opinions about whether or not talented young horsemen, and women, should transition their love of horses from teenage dream to business scheme. The Equine Chronicle asked leading non-pro exhibitor Courtney Brockmueller of Whitesboro, Texas why she chose her path in the industry.

While Brockmueller followed her mother’s footsteps into the horse industry, it wasn’t necessarily in the way some might have imagined. Brockmueller’s mother, Nancy Sue Ryan, has been showing and breeding top Hunter Under Saddle horses for several decades. Her name is synonymous with quality performance stock. Given this family history, some might have assumed that Brockmueller would continue the tradition.

Despite her lineage, she decided that the best way for her to enter the industry was as an amateur. “It’s not that there weren’t times I considered going pro,” Brockmueller says. “I certainly had a lot of people suggesting it, but I think I saw how hard it was for my mom. Being a woman and doing it alone isn’t easy.” Though Brockmueller opted not to show as a professional, her decision hasn’t altered the extent to which horses play a role in her life.

She says, “I’ve always wanted a family, and it’s been important to me that horses remain a balanced part of my life.” For Brockmueller, that balance includes carving out time for her husband Mark, and son Brim. “My husband is incredibly involved with and supportive of horses. He ropes, so he gets it. It makes this something we can enjoy together.” Still, just because she doesn’t compete as a pro, that doesn’t mean Brockmueller doesn’t view her horse operation as a business.

When she’s not helping run her husband’s construction business, Brockmueller focuses on raising, showing, and selling futurity horses. “I usually keep ten to twelve horses at our place. I have a five stall barn and do all of the work with the horses myself, which I love.” On a typical morning, Brockmueller can be found headed to the barn, coffee cup in hand, ready to care for her equine crew. She believes her business model allows her the time and space to develop a relationship with her horses that many traditional pros can’t. “I clean their stalls; I turn them out; I wrap their legs, I clip, saddle—you name it; I do it.”

Brockmueller believes that sense of ownership affects her connection with her horses. “I’m able to develop this ebb and flow with each of my horses that really translates well to riding and showing. I spend so much time on my babies so, when they leave here, they stand still and do the little things that make everyone s life easier,” she says. But Brockmueller admits she’s able to do that because she doesn’t have the time constraints most pros have. “I have the time and patience to take my time and fuss with them, because I’m not overworked and don’t have twenty heads,” she concludes.

Given her mother’s involvement in breeding quality horses, Brockmueller has a reliable source to pull her prospects from. “I usually buy all my young ones from Mom. She has so much knowledge of the mares and always breeds to what’s trending, which makes them easier to market down the road. I believe a good horse will always find a good home. I love my horses so much, and that it makes it hard to sell them. But, this business is what makes my world go around and provides for my family. Plus, it satisfies my competitive nature.” She adds, “It also satisfies my passion of building good horses. Knowing they end up in the right hands makes it easier.”

Click here to read the complete article
134 – May, 2016