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Timberlane Horse Farm owner Dick Richardson and two other trainers give horses a few runs around the track to keep them in shape and to prepare them for the upcoming races that begin in the spring.
Hoke County is developing as a fine horse raising and training area
By Sherry Matthews
Although Hoke County is mov
ing into a high tech age with expan
sions at Burlington and Faberge,
there is at least one little known in
dustry in the area that relies on
good weather and lots of outdoor
activity.
Horse raising, a popular in
dustry throughout the country, has
crept into the Hoke area over the
last six years.
Four large stables are already
breeding, training, breaking and
raising thoroughbreds, harness
horses and quarter horses in the
county, and construction is near
ing completion on a fifth major
equine operation.
Timberlane, Entremont,
Becky's Quarter horses and two
other farms encircle the county.
"There has been a good bit of
horse raising cropping up in the
county," Agriculture Extension
Agent Richard Melton said.
"It seems to keep growing every
year," he added.
According to Melton, Hoke's
"good climate" and sandy soil
have attracted horse farmers to the
Hoke area.
"They really seem to like what
we have to offer," Melton said.
"We have been very successful
since we moved to Hoke County,"
Entremont manager and trainer
Jerry Lepre said.
"There are a lot of benefits to
raising horses in this area," he
added.
"The land is relatively inexpen
sive, and it offers a good seasonal
climate," Lepre said.
Entremont, which established
itself in Hoke nearly six years ago,
breaks, trains and raises
thoroughbred race horses.
"We get them ready for racing
here," Lepre said.
At present, Entremont stables
25-30 horses, but has the capacity
to hold 40.
"We have an average of about
26 or 27 horses at one time," Lepre
said.
Lepre and the other trainers
work from September to May each
year buying, training, racing and
re-selling horses.
Shoe fittings
These trainers are preparing one of Timberlane's young trotters for a day
out on the track by fitting his hoofs with shoes. This Is one of the many
jobs that hone trainers and grooms do to keep their animals ready for the
upcoming races.
"There is a great deal of money
involved with this type of opera
tion," Lepre said.
"We had a horse that we sold
for over a million dollars. That
horse has already made $650,000
in purse earnings," he added.
"That is something we are
proud of," Lepre said.
At Timberlane, a harness horse
farm, the grooms, trainers and
owners are also proud of their
work and accomplishments.
Timberlane opened up its stables
in Hoke County three years ago
and presently has 15 horses train
ing at the farm and four others rac
ing in New York.
"This has been a low year for us
financially. We have cut back on
the number of horses,"
Timberlane groom Allie Osgood
said.
According to Osgood,
Timberlane usually houses 25 to 30
"standardbreds."
"This is mainly a training facili
ty," Osgood said.
At Timberlane horses are train
ed for six months and then sent to
the race tracks.
"We usually work from
September to April, send them to
the tracks and then start back up
again in September," groom Wen
dy Nist said.
"It is a continuous process, but
it is lots of fun and hard work,"
she added.
Horses that train at the
Timberlane farm come from Ohio,
Illinois, Kentucky, New York and
New Jersey.
"We buy some horses to train
and race. Some we just train for
other people," Osgood said.
Although the grooms and
trainers begin their day at 7:30
with early morning stall cleanings,
feedings, brushings and a four
mile run with the horses, both
women say the work "is worth it."
"We have about 90% good luck
with our horses," Nist said.
"You can't explain the feeling
you get when you stand in the win
ner's circle with a horse you have
trained," Osgood said.
"It is like watching your child
take a first step," she added.
Besides "the good atmosphere"
that Hoke County provides, both
Osgood and Nist believe horse rais
ing has moved into the area for
"many reasons."
"Look at all the possiblities,"
Nist said.
"The people are nice, the
weather is seasonal and the horses
seem to love it," she added.
"There is no drastic change in
the weather here. The horses are
less likely to catch viruses in this
type of weather," Osgood said.
"Besides, the horses seem to be
much healthier here," she added.
In addition to the racing horses
that are trained on Hoke soil, some
"show horses" are also bred and
prepared for contest in the area.
Becky's Quarter Horses, just
north of Raeford, raises show
horses and according to owner
Larry Williams has produced
"many first place winners." .
"This is good horse country,"
Williams said.
44 We had a horse that we sold for over a million
dollars. That horse has already made $650,000 in
purse earnings."
?Entremont Manager Jerry Lepre
"You can see that if you count
the number of farms that have
moved into the area over the last
few years," he. added.
Williams and his wife Becky
raise, train, show and sell
quarterhorses.
They have horses in their stables
from North and South Carolina
and Michigan.
Just recently William's horses
took two first place and two se
cond place awards at showings in
South Carolina.
"It is a real good feeling when
people appreciate the work you
have done," Williams said.
Like the others, Williams
believes the good soil and seasonal
climate are "just right" for horse
training.
Williams also believes that the
horse industry in Hoke County will
build up the area's economy.
"We pay taxes on these horses
and a lot of them are worth a good
bit of money," Williams said.
"The county benefits from the
horse farms," he added.
"I think we will see more and
more springing up. That does not
bother me...it just helps the
business and the county,"
Williams said.
What will be the county's largest
stabling operation is nearing com
pletion off of Highway 211 near
Timberland.
Although the owner could not
be contacted for comment, the
farm will apparently be used for
raising thoroughbred race horses.
Stables at the facility will house
67 horses who will train on an
almost one-mile race track. Con
struction is expected to be com
pleted this spring.
Hoke Chamber of Commerce
Director Earl Fowler says he sees
the horse industry in this county as
an opportunity to bring in more
support industries.
"We are in the beginning stages
of exploring those possibilities,"
he added.
According to Fowler, businesses
that sell or produce horse feed,
harnesses, bridles, shoes and other
horse accessories would be
welcome in the county.
"Horse raising has been good to
this area. 1 think it is going to grow
and bring in more income for the
county," Fowler said.
"There is great potential for
Hoke to be another big
thoroughbred area," Melton said.
"It could be a boost for this
area," he added.
Ready for thoroughbreds
This almost mile oval is nearing completion on a new thoroughbred raising
and training stable coming to Hoke County. The multi-million dollar
operation is moving here from Moore County and will house 67 horses.
The facility Is expected to be completed by mid-spring.