As you saw first on GoHorseShow.com, horse trainer Sandra Morgan just won $35 million in the Canadian lottery. This prompted us to ask some leading horse trainers what they would do if they won the lottery. Would they keep training? What role would horses play in their life?
Let us know what you would do if you won the lottery. Would you quit your job? Travel or buy a lot of horses? Tell us in the poll at the end of the story.
Ross Roark, Texas–I would not show halter horses any more. I would buy fifty steers, five of the best rope horses, and a golf course. I would also hire Sam Rose and Robbie Schroeder to come rope with me. I would golf all day and then rope all evening for fun. I would also set two million dollars aside to try and win the All American Race Futurity.
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Mellott, Kansas–I would go buy some of the worst horses and send them
to all my horse trainer friends and be the worst owner I possibly
could–(laughs). Seriously, I would buy a few of the nicest horses and
keep them in training with some the best in the industry. I would also
buy my daughter the best horse. I wouldn’t train for the public anymore.
I would stay involved but just on a smaller scale. I would spend most
of my money traveling to places I enjoy.
Bruce Vickery, Texas–I would stay in the horses, but I would only have one horse and he would be the best horse I could buy. For the most part, I would just travel around the world and live off the interest.
Robin Griggs, Arkansas–It is funny that you should ask me this. A few years ago when we were in the process of moving to Arkansas, I was helping some people in Oklahoma, and I would play the lottery when I would go there. There was an on-going joke that if I won the lottery I would buy Vital Signs Are Good for my daughter Connor for the 11 and under and hire Leigh and Leonard Berryhill to keep her, and I would never set foot on her. I would also have the top fashion people make Connor’s clothes, and I would sit up in the stands and watch. I would also hire Neil Pendergraft as my tax attorney!
Shane Pope, Florida–I
would still ride pleasure horses but just not as many. I would buy a
place in Ocala and South Carolina. I would keep the clients I have now,
and I would buy a place on the ocean. I would also pay my help a little
bit more. (laughs)
Dave Miller, Connecticut–If I won the lottery today, I know it would change my life. But horses, my professional career and my desire to move forward in this industry wouldn’t change. I would probably use it to buy the farm of my dreams somewhere warm, and hire someone to drive our rig to the shows, and to finally have the chance to own some fantastic horses myself. The hunter world will always be my first love and their creation of Hunter Derbies fascinates me–so my first purchase would probably be to buy the best Derby horse I could find (and ride!)…..oh and I absolutely can’t forget a new beach house for my mama. I promised her one years ago.
Troy Oakley, Texas–I could keep some of it, but I would give most of it to charity. I got a second chance on life when I almost died from a heart aneurysm. I would keep buying and selling horses and still ride some, but I would give most of it to the underprivileged.
Judd Paul, Ohio–I would pay off all my debts, keep my current customers, buy a new bus, and buy a ranch in Florida where we could go and train during the winter months. But most important, I would want to be debt free.
Steve Ferguson, Texas—
I wouldn’t change much. I would buy a big ranch in east Texas but keep
showing the halter horses. I would buy some more bulls and pay off my
kid’s college tuitions. I would give some of it to my church and to some
charities. We play the lottery sometimes on Saturday night and when we
pass the convenience store on Sunday mornings we look to see if there
are television trucks out there–when we never see them, we assume we
didn’t win the lottery. My wife says that she would have a personal
chef, personal trainer, and she would definitely quit working.
Sara Simons, Texas–I would give a lot of it to the Humane Society and animal shelters. I would continue to show horses on a smaller scale so it would not be so financially demanding to run. I would also have some fun with my sister and mom and build a pretty elaborate home on the ten acres that I own right around the corner from the ranch. Come to think of it–I need to go buy some lottery tickets right now. (laughs)
Steve Heckaman, Texas–I would still train pleasure horses but only ride and show the ones I liked. I love to develop and train prospects but it would be nice to be very picky at the ones I choose to show. I would concentrate more on quality than quantity. I would also get more involved with the Thoroughbreds. I would buy two of the best young race bred mares and breed them to whoever I wanted to. I would also build a larger home for my family and give them some luxuries that I am unable to give them now. I would still live in Pilot Point because I love the people and the climate.
David Dellin, Oklahoma–I would have to wait five years and turn non-pro and show in the Cutting. I would buy a top cutting horse and show at the top shows across the country. I would keep a few pleasure horses for fun but I wouldn’t train for the public. I would also hang out with my kids more and start a small cattle operation.
Shane Young, North Carolina–I would buy a Prevost and travel the country with my son and wife. We would travel on our own terms. We would keep a few of our own horses but wouldn’t train for the public. I have worked so hard for several years to get where I am now so it would be nice to just enjoy my family and travel.
Larry Spratto, Wisconsin–My wife Rhonda and I have been very fortunate in our careers, invested wisely and are in a good place. Other than a beach front condo, I cannot think of any other purchases that would make a difference. That being said, I think we would take a big chunk of the lottery money and do some good for the needy, the recent tornadoes in Joplin and other places down south, so many people lost everything, I would definitely like to set up a fund for all those that lost homes, barns etc. Helping those folks would make us most happy.
Troy Compton, Oklahoma–I
would probably stay where I live and still stay in the horses, but I
would completely start over in a new discipline. I would love to show in
the non-pro in the Reining. I would turn into one of those guys that
keeps my horses at home and then brings it to my trainers two weeks
before the major shows for them to fix them. I would also travel a lot
too.
Bruce Walquist, Texas–Yes, I’ve bought lottery tickets. Well, the horse business is a tough industry and I didn’t get in it to become wealthy. There are not many trainers I know that retire wealthy. All I know when I started was that I wanted to train horses. If I won that amount of money, I would still have customers and train for the public–just on a smaller scale. Focus more on quality than quantity. Only have the best horses–I have a tendency of collecting more horses than I need.
Ruth Ellen, Texas–I
would buy (1st class all the way) tickets for some family and friends
for trips to Africa, Australia, and Antartica. I would donate huge
amounts to my favorite charities, some of which include St. Jude’s
Hospital and several conservation groups. Then, I would go back to
riding reiners and buy three of the best.
E.H. Pait, Arkansas–I wouldn’t quit but I’d hire me one hell of a horse trainer!
