A breed apart

Sheri Boito Hibbs was two years old when her uncle, a rodeo cowboy, set her upon his horse, “and I’ve been hooked ever since.”

She got a quarter horse named Tumbleweed when she was five and began breeding Arabians when she was 24.

“I’m not a big-time breeder,” Boito Hibbs said, “but my stallion, Ferrari, is known, and I market him on every horse Web page I can.”

This spring she and her husband, Mike Hibbs, welcomed three new fillies to Sunshine Acres Arabians, their north Spokane ranch. Later this week they will showcase Ferrari at the Inland Empire Arabian Horse Show.

The 47th annual gathering starts Wednesday at the Spokane County Fair and Expo Center, 404 N. Havana St. The finale is from 7 to 10 Saturday night. The public is welcome, and admission is free.

During a recent interview, Boito Hibbs discussed how her business has evolved, the recession’s impact, and why owning a horse is “the best thing” for teenage girls.

S-R: Did you grow up around horses?

Boito Hibbs: Yes. My grandfather had a dairy farm in Southern California, so we always had horses. And when I was in high school, my stepdad had horses. I remember going trail riding with my friend Nicky, who had a pure white Arabian, and I thought that was the most beautiful horse I’d ever seen.

S-R: What distinguishes Arabians from the hundreds of other horse breeds?

Boito Hibbs: To me, it’s the beautiful way they carry themselves. When they’re set free out in a field and run around with their tails up, they remind me of deer. And their versatility – they can beat other breeds at their own game. For instance, quarter horses are known for cattle cutting, but Arabians can do that. They’re very competitive in dressage, and jump, too. They’re also very loyal. I’ve been thrown off horses a lot of times. My other breed horse went home without me, but my Arabs always waited for me.

S-R: Anything else?

Boito Hibbs: They’re very smart. That can be a problem if you’re a first-time horse handler. You don’t make Arabians do something – you ask them to do it. They’re a very friendly, in-your-pocket type of horse.

S-R: When did you buy your first Arabian?

Boito Hibbs: Thirty years ago, when we moved to Piñon Hills – high desert outside Los Angeles. And that’s when we decided to start breeding.

S-R: Back in the mid-1980s, Arabians were at the peak of their popularity. One sold for $11 million. Then the government eliminated a generous tax break, and prices plummeted. Was that actually a good time to get into breeding?

Boito Hibbs: Yes, because we were able to get wonderful mares at bargain prices. We bought our first mare for $10,000, and a year earlier she probably would have been $50,000.

S-R: When did you move to Spokane?

Boito Hibbs: Twenty-three years ago.

S-R: Was there a pivotal moment in the evolution of your business?

Boito Hibbs: When I bought my stallion Bachelor Bey 12 years ago. That’s when things really picked up. He was well known around here, so I’d have barn parties every summer – I called them “Bachelor parties” – and those brought in lots of customers for our foals.

S-R: How many stallions do you have now?

Boito Hibbs: Just one – Ferrari. I had to put Bachelor down when he was 24.

S-R: How much do Ferrari’s foals cost?

Boito Hibbs: They start at $7,500, and the price goes up as they get more training. If I had one with a big trainer, I could probably get $30,000 or $40,000.

S-R: How far afield are your breeding-service customers?

Boito Hibbs: I have a gal in Colorado who wants me to ship some semen next month.

S-R: Is the breeding business lucrative?

Boito Hibbs: I’d make a bundle if I only had one or two horses. But I have 18 now, so the breeding business basically pays for my hobby.

S-R: Besides selling Ferrari’s semen and foals, what generates income?

Boito Hibbs: I lease my mares for $250 a month while they’re pregnant. Then when a baby arrives (after 11 months), the customer gets it. The lease fee covers the mare’s expenses for the year.

S-R: Why do you have so many mares?

Boito Hibbs: Sometimes people decide to get out of horses, and I’m the first one they call. They either sell a really good horse cheap, or they give it to me because of my reputation for taking care of my horses.

S-R: Did the recession affect your business?

Boito Hibbs: Yes, it was horrible. I had three horses whose owners couldn’t pay their boarding bills. And when the price of hay went from $140 to $280 a ton, I had to give a couple of my horses away. But sales have started picking up again.

S-R: What’s been technology’s impact?

Boito Hibbs: It’s great for marketing. But I still get my Arabian Horse Times magazine every month.

S-R: When are you busiest?

Boito Hibbs: Right now – breeding season. I’m out there at least nine hours a day, seven days a week.

S-R: Do you and Mike take vacations?

Boito Hibbs: We probably could, but don’t. Although we do go to the big Arabian horse show in Scottsdale, Arizona, each February. You’ve got to relax sometime.

S-R: What do you like most about your job?

Boito Hibbs: I love being around horses.

S-R: What do you like least?

Boito Hibbs: Cleaning up. But I don’t really mind. It tells you how a horse is doing.

S-R: What are you most proud of?

Boito Hibbs: My stallion, and the temperament of my horses. When I took one to a school for kids with special needs, one kid came roaring up in his wheelchair. Some horses would be spooked, but mine just leaned down and nuzzled his hand.

S-R: How many other people breed Arabians locally?

Boito Hibbs: Probably about 10.

S-R: What distinguishes your breeding program?

Boito Hibbs: The bloodline. And I’ve been doing this longer. But I’m not cheap. My stud fee is $1,500, while some others’ are $500.

S-R: Does the popularity of Arabians vary regionally?

Boito Hibbs: Yes. They’re most popular in Arizona.

S-R: Because?

Boito Hibbs: That’s where all the nice farms are, and wealthy people like Arabians.

S-R: How much did it cost to launch your business in 1985?

Boito Hibbs: Probably $30,000 or $40,000. My mom did it for me.

S-R: How much would a facility the scale of Sunshine Acres Arabians cost today, including horses?

Boito Hibbs: Maybe $200,000 or $300,000.

S-R: What sort of person is best suited for this career?

Boito Hibbs: Someone who likes the outdoors, doesn’t mind the cold, and is cautious but not easily intimidated.

S-R: Is it dangerous?

Boito Hibbs: It can be. Over the years, I’ve got bit and kicked and stepped on, but I’ve never had to go to the hospital.

S-R: If someone asks what it costs to keep a horse, what do you tell them?

Boito Hibbs: If they keep it at home, probably $150 a month, not including veterinarian services. I do a lot of that myself.

S-R: How about the time commitment?

Boito Hibbs: Horses need attention. You can’t just put them in a pasture and take off for the weekend. But a horse is the best thing to get your teenage daughter. It’s something to do. Most teenagers get bored and want to be naughty. I had my horses. They were my responsibility. That’s what saved me.