GoHorseShow.com in partnership with SmartPak are pleased to introduce a new column, GoSmart with Charlie and Jason. Team SmartPak riders, Charlie Cole and Jason Martin have achieved success beyond compare. Since founding Highpoint Performance Horses in 1992, they have trained over 100 World Champions and 200 Congress Champions.

Exclusive to GoHorseShow.com, GoSmart with Charlie and Jason will give you access to Charlie and Jason and the secrets to their success like never before. The column will be set up in a question and answer format and we encourage you to email us questions for future columns. Our first question comes from Carrie D. from Paoli, PA.  Carrie asks...

Dear Charlie and Jason-
My partner and I are often overwhelmed by all of the various responsibilities that go with running a successful training business. I have always been impressed at how well things seem to run at Highpoint and I'm curious of who is in charge of what and why?  Can you please break down your individual responsibilities. Thank you.  Carrie D.

BUSINESS
 

Charlie: I've always said that Jason and I compliment each other very well because my weaknesses are his strengths and his weaknesses are my strengths. From the beginning we have been able to identify who is good at what and that's how we determine what we do. The long and the short of it is that Jason is in charge of the administrative side of business. He takes care of the bill paying and banking and I am in charge of managing the barn and horses. Jason oversees all the breeding. People will ask me how much do we pay for hay or what do we charge for this and I always say "that's not my department.” We have been in business together since 1992 and I totally trust him with running that side of the business and don't interfere with that.

Jason: It's always been important for us all to have well defined responsibilities here and that's a big reason why things run so smoothly at Highpoint. I am more of an out-of-the-box thinker. I oversaw the remodel of the house and I'm constantly thinking about what else we can do to make the ranch better. I am the one who decides if and when we need to split a pasture or how we will landscape. I work with our customers when it comes to their show clothes. I negotiate the deals and maintain the relationship with our highly valued sponsors such as SmartPak.  Charlie is happy if he is riding horses and his credit card works…and that's the truth! But when Charlie comes in from the barn he is finished. I am a night person so there are plenty of times I am up till 1 am doing paperwork or working on something. We both have very different roles in the business and knowing our roles has worked well for us.

HORSES

Charlie: As far as the horses go, I decide who is riding what and determine whether or not they are progressing well. I used to start all the two year olds but I don't as much as I used to, we have determined that my time is better spent teaching horses to change leads or some of the more advanced training. I ride most of Jason's horses so he can run the business. He will come watch them or ride them when it gets closer to the shows. Jason and I ride the same way and either of us can hop on the others horses and feel right at home.

Jason: I will admit that I don’t ride as much as I used to. I have my few horses that I show and I make sure they are peaked for the Congress and World Shows. I really enjoy teaching one to change leads. Most of the time my horses are behind coming into the summer, but are coming into their own by Congress and World Show. That's my goal anyway.

SUPPORT

Charlie: Between Beth (Case), Adam (Wainscott) and myself, we ride around 25-30 head a day. Beth also rides Jason's or my horses if we are gone so they don't lose any riding time. Beth has been with us since she was nine years old and she trains the horses the same way Jason and I do. Once in a while, Beth will have me ride one of her horses if she's having trouble. I love when this happens because when she wins something big I jokingly tell everyone I trained it! Adam has fit in really well here at Highpoint. He has filled a void with our western futurity horses and young horses. With our heavy show schedule, finishing two year olds was always hard for me. Adam is great with the young horses and he's picked up the western riding fast, placing with two horses in Senior Western Riding at the 2010 QH Congress.

Jason: Since we now have both Beth and Adam we are changing up our business plan some. We are trying to have more horses available for sale. Our goal is to buy young horses and teach them to change leads, start them in the trail and add a turn around so when someone is looking for a new horse, they can come to our ranch and we might have five to look at. I really want to have a place where people can come buy nice horses that are ready to show.

Would you like to submit your question to Jason and Charlie to be considered for a future column topic?  Send us an email.

Click here to learn more about SmartPak and see why Jason and Charlie put their trust in this fantastic brand. 

Click here for more information about Jason and Charlie and Highpoint Performance Horses. 


Pictured above left to right: Dan Houck, Adam Wainscott, Christi Christensen, Jason Martin, Charlie Cole, Beth Case and Laura Hastie. Photo © GoHorseShow.com.