First a little history:
1. We have been in the industry for over 20 years and in the past have expended a fairly large amount of money to buy, campaign and prove the bloodlines we have here at the farm.
2. My wife runs the operation, along with Jose Perez her farm manager and 1 extra person in the foaling and summer months.
3. Our herd consists of between 60 and 125 horses at different times of the year.
4. We produce about 20 - 35 babies each year and have for several years.
5. We have sold horses for a wide range of pricing from 750.00 - many thousands of dollars.
6. Cindy advertises on a regular basis in mini magazines, but more importantly in other breed mags., the web and numerous other places every month etc. etc.. Her advertising budget for 2008 exceeded 12,500.00.
7. We have proven our lines of horses by exhibiting them in halter, driving, hunter, jumping, open, youth and ammy for the last 9 years on a regular basis in both AMHR & AMHA.
8. We are a breeding farm only and do not take outside customers for training or anything else with the exception of very,very few outside breedings over the years.
OH!
With all that said, yes Cindy has shown a profit for 5 of the last 6 years.(remember we have been in it for over 20 years, but Cindy only got serious with it 9 years ago) So yes it can be done, but not without a serious plan, expenditure of money and effort on the part of the owner of the farm.
For most folks the love of the horses is the reason they are in this game anyway. Even though Cindy has shown a profit, she could make way more money by returning to the legal field. But this what she loves/enjoys and as long as my company is capable of paying the bills for us. She can live her life and raise these wonderful little guys to her hearts content.
Hope that answers your question.