RECREATION & LIFESTYLE

Recreation & Lifestyle

Welcome to Recreation & Lifestyle, which includes leisure riding and other aspects of the equestrian lifestyle for you and your horse loving friends and family.

Looking for the perfect present? See the Gifts & Jewelry section. Redecorating? Find a Painting, Photograph or Sculpture in the Artwork section. Need to check out a movie or crawl up with a good book or magazine? See our Entertainment section where you will find and Books, Movies, Games, and Magazines. And don't forget about Fine Art in some specialty Museums that might surprise you.

Looking for love or a trail buddy? Riding Partners is the spot to seek other riders who share your passion. Find a place to ride with that special person in our Trail Riding section and if you need more time away, take a look at Vacations. Want to know about the next horse show or special event? Don’t miss it! Dates and locations are included in the Calendar of Events for Recreation & Lifestyle.

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Another Kind of Motherhood: Reflections on the Occasion of Mother’s Day by Diana du Pont

This Mother’s Day I will not receive a Hallmark card, a dozen roses, or a box of Shari’s Berries. Not because I am estranged from my children, or they met some tragic fate before their time. Rather, it is because my children have four legs and fur.

Having been cradled in the arms of a troubled mother who repeatedly lamented, “All I have are kids, kids, kids!” and then marinated in the battle cries of second-wave feminism that valued career over children, I had never thought of myself as maternal. When I was a young girl, lost in those daydreamy moments of childhood in which I would imagine my future incarnation, I could not fathom becoming a mother. And, as a young woman, I never noticed the ticking of my biological clock. It was not that I felt it and then ignored it, I simply never experienced it.

Unlike my mother who married and started a family too young, seemingly the root cause of her ever-present regrets and destructive drinking, I delayed marriage until my mid-thirties after having focused on furthering my education and establishing my career, all while never entertaining the notion of a family. By then, I had become a die-hard careerist and grinding workaholic, having flipped my mother’s desperate alcoholism into another form of addiction that was socially acceptable.

In time, I was offered a new post in a new town known for its rich equestrian legacy. Magically nestled between the mountains and the sea, Santa Barbara still featured an active equine community in spite of the relentless pressures of growth, an important quality-of-life factor in my having accepted the position of curator of modern and contemporary art at the city’s main art museum. If I did not know precisely when, I knew that somehow, someday, here in this equine haven, I would return to the wonderful world of horses (and dogs) that had defined my childhood. I can do this! I thought, I can finally make life with horses work while still pursuing career success full tilt.

LOVLEI Ranch Founder Robin Hoffman Haack grew up with one foot in the surf and the other in the stirrup. Splitting her childhood between the beach and the ranch, she dreamed of blending both worlds into something meaningful.

Though her family were surfers, Haack discovered her passion for horses at just 8 years old. From all -around western events to jumping and finally cutting, she immersed herself in competition. That love eventually took her to Weatherford, Texas — the cutting horse capital of the world. There, she established herself as a formidable competitor, earning more than $600,000 in winnings, securing numerous championships, including the NCHA Super Stakes Non – Pro Champion and cementing her legacy with an induction into the National Cutting Horse Association Non-Pro Hall of Fame.

Photo courtesy of AQHA

Texas gave her lifelong friends and cherished memories in the show pen, but her heart eventually pulled her back home. In the early 1990s, Haack returned to Southern California to help run the family’s fabric business, a legacy started by her grandfather in 1924. Today, she carries the responsibility alongside her brother as a third-generation leader, joined by her daughter and nephew as the fourth generation of a company that has thrived for more than a century.

That deep connection to fabric, combined with her champion Western roots, sparked her own brand of Western apparel, LOVLEI Ranch.

“We had always been behind the scenes designing and printing fabric for manufacturers and fabric stores all over the world,” Haack said. “I finally found the energy and ambition to create something of my own. We have a world of prints and fabric at our fingertips. I wanted to build a legacy for my family.”

Top Luxury & Contemporary Brands

Hermès: Their renowned, luxurious pattern "Cheval D’Orient" featuring scenes of horses with Persian-inspired, vibrant designs. The "Tressage Equestres" is a high-end, artistic collection featuring intricate braided patterns inspired by harnesses and passementeries.
Julie Wear Designs: Known for the "Cheval" pattern (snaffle bit theme) and the "Bluegrass Equestrian" collection.
Vagabond House: Features the "Wellington Bit" collection in fine bone china, which often includes equestrian-themed, hand-drawn detailing.
Ralph Lauren: Known for the "Equestrian Braid" series and other tableware, including platinum and stainless options.

Image by Ainslie Gilles-Patel from Pixabay

Conflicts in the Middle East have led to widespread cancellations of elite competitions, significant logistical disruptions for international participants, and severe welfare crises for local horse populations. These countries include Iran, Israel, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, and Jordan.

Cancellations of Elite Competitions

Recent escalations in March 2026 have forced the Fédération Équestre Internationale (FEI) to suspend several high-profile events due to security concerns:

Longines Global Champions Tour (Doha): The five-star CSI event scheduled for March 4–7, 2026, at Al Shaqab was cancelled due to airspace restrictions and travel limitations.
UAE Events: Competitions including the two-star CSI in Abu Dhabi and a CSI2* show in Al Ain were cancelled in early March 2026.
Dubai World Cup: The $12 million race, scheduled for March 28, 2026, is currently in a "wait-and-see" status as owners and trainers monitor airstrikes and transport risks.

Logistical and Participant Impact

Stranded Personnel: Dozens of international jockeys and trainers became stranded in the Gulf region after Iranian attacks led to the closure of Dubai International Airport and other major airspace.
Transport Disruptions: International horse shipments, including those from Europe to Qatar and Australia to the Middle East, have been rerouted or grounded. In some cases, planes carrying grooms were forced to turn around mid-flight.

Buying gold and silver equestrian jewelry can be a solid, wearable investment, particularly for long-term value retention, acting as a hedge against inflation. Gold offers superior stability and higher resale value, while silver provides a more affordable, durable entry point. It acts as a "passion investment" combining aesthetic, personal, or equestrian interests with tangible, intrinsic value.

Why Gold and Silver Equestrian Jewelry Can Be a Good Investment

Intrinsic Value & Inflation Hedge: Precious metals like gold and silver have historically maintained their worth and served as protection against economic downturns and inflation.
Wearable Asset: Unlike coins or bars, jewelry can be enjoyed daily, making it a "passion investment" that serves a functional purpose while holding value.
Long-Term Durability: High-quality gold and sterling silver jewelry are designed to last for generations, often becoming valuable family heirlooms.
Portfolio Diversification: Adding physical precious metals to a portfolio can reduce overall risk due to their stability.

Image by JackieLou DL Photo Courtesy of the EIE Editorial StaffPixabay

Key Tax Benefits for Horse Racing

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) of 2025, signed by President Trump, revitalized the horse racing industry by permanently reinstating 100% bonus depreciation for investments in racehorses. This allows owners to immediately deduct the full cost of purchasing horses and breeding stock in the first year, causing a record-breaking influx of capital into the market, such as a $531.5 million Keeneland September 2025 Yearling Sale.

100% Bonus Depreciation: Owners can write off 100% of the cost of a racehorse, breeding stock, qualifying property or equipment (like barns and tractors) in the year they are "placed in service". Previously, this rate had dropped to 40% in 2025 and was scheduled to hit 0% by 2027.
Expansion of "New" Assets: The definition of eligible property was expanded to include used horses, such as broodmares or stallions purchased after they have already started racing, provided the buyer has not owned the horse previously.
Loss Offsets: Owners can deduct horse-related losses against other types of income, including salaries and capital gains, which acts as a "partner" for investors in a high-risk industry.
Permanent Three-Year Depreciation: Separate legislation, the Race Horse Cost Recovery Act of 2025, permanently established a three-year depreciation schedule for all racehorses regardless of age, providing an alternative for those who do not use immediate expensing.

Market Impact and Records

These incentives have driven record-breaking results at major thoroughbred auctions:

Keeneland September Yearling Sale (2025): Grossed an all-time record of $531.5 million, with 56 horses selling for at least $1 million.
Fasig-Tipton (2025): The November sale saw $245.9 million in transactions, the highest-grossing since 2007.
Increased Asset Values: The tax breaks have turned racehorses into a "hot investment" for the ultra-wealthy, with top-tier colts selling for $3 million to $4 million even when they have minor physical flaws.

Important Limitations

To claim these benefits, owners must meet specific IRS requirements:

Business vs. Hobby: Owners must prove the activity is a for-profit business rather than a hobby. The IRS generally presumes a business motive if the operation shows a profit in at least 2 out of 7 consecutive years. (Note: Please consult and verify this with your accountant who is familiar with the tax laws for an equine business such as Len Green.)
Reporting Thresholds: Starting in 2026, the threshold for issuing a Form 1099 to vendors (like blacksmiths or contractors) increases from $600 to $2,000, reducing administrative burdens for smaller farms.
Wagering Losses: While owners gained significant breaks, bettors saw a slight reduction, with wagering loss deductions now limited to 90% of losses compared to the previous 100%.

Did this tax act benefit you? We’d like to hear how. Email us at info@equineinfoexchange.com

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