University of Wisconsin equestrians have jumped over many hurdles in competitions, but they are having a hard time jumping over the financial hurdle facing their venue, the Hoofers Equestrian Center.
Union Council, the highest decision-making authority of Wisconsin Union, voted Monday to shut down the center due to financial reasons, Council President Jack Comeau, said.
The Hoofers Riding Club and Wisconsin Equestrian Team organize their trainings and events at the Hoofers Equestrian Center all year round. Since the equestrian team began, members have won multiple national competitions, both in groups and individually, Caroline Brown, equestrian team president, said.
“I’m upset because I’m was really looking forward to spending my senior year doing what I love, riding horses and being a part of the team,” Brown said. “[I want to] go out and compete and represent my school on a national level, and I don’t get the opportunity to do that.”
Brown said the team and the club are not only about riding horses. She said they also grow in leadership and bond over an activity they are passionate about. Shutting down the center will not only upset members, she said, but also disappoint alumni and sponsors all over the country.
The Union Council believes it has made the right decision, based on long-term considerations of the university’s financial well-being, Comeau said.
Comeau said Hoofer’s Riding Club accumulated a large amount of debt by 2005 and can no longer be self-sustaining.
“Last year they had lost a substantial portion of money, this year they’re predicting some pretty bad losses,” Comeau said.
To solve the problem, riding club representatives went to Hoofer’s Council, which governs the finances of all Hoofer clubs, to ask for help with the debts. Since Hoofer’s Council distributes money across all Hoofer clubs, it would hurt other clubs to cover the costs of the riding club, Comeau said.
After Hoofer’s Council turned down the request, the riding club turned to Union Council. The club proposed two options: either the council helps pay off all its debts, or covers a portion of it. Due to the large amount of debt the club has accumulated, the council decided to shut the center down instead and liquidate its assets, Comeau said.
“I know a lot of members were very disheartened and feel this is the end for their organizations,” Comeau said. “But, I really think that we need to look for creative solutions and ways to continue to provide students with an opportunity to ride and learn horsemanship.”
Comeau said the riding club was around before the Hoofer Equestrian Center was purchased, and the club thrived at different facilities, such as one in Middleton. He said the council is dedicated to helping both the club and the team, hoping they continue their organizations in the future.
The equestrian team, however, is dissatisfied with the union’s response.
“The union keeps saying ‘oh, we want the club and the team to stay around,’ but it’s a little hard to do if we don’t have all our horses to practice on,” Brown said. “It’s not exactly easy to be a riding club if you don’t have any pony to ride.”
Brown said the team is allowed to finish up this semester, and they are planning to host their own home show as well as the regional finals at the home barn.
The Union Council will meet Monday to create a committee and begin planning the liquidation timeline for the equestrian center.
