04/15/2025
Hi everyone,
As the rumour mill runs rampant, it is time to make a statement. Sadly, after 14 years (plus 2 freelance), Tiara Equine is closing its doors. There will be many versions being shared so I think it’s important that you hear mine. I’ll try to keep it concise but I can’t promise it will be short.
I’ve faced every possible trial and tribulation since I’ve started. Landlord challenges, injuries, a strangles outbreak, a pandemic, a massive farm relocation, loss… so much loss. And like most horse people I got into this industry to work with horses. Unfortunately that means, we who understand animals best, often get thrown into running a business and have to learn to communicate with clients or manage people. I started with 9 horses and a dozen students, (many of which were my friends), and no idea if I could hack it. I did. I have accomplished so much; grew from 9 to 70 horses, won coach of the year, did my first FEI, my first CDI, my first Grand Prix, took two students to NAYC and essentially introduced and established a breed in Canada. And I loved it all so deeply.
However, a common mistake in this industry is not establishing any personal boundaries. This meant I constantly subsidized things financially or gave too much of myself. When I knew I needed to make a price increase I couldn’t help but think “oh, but so and so is between jobs”. When I charged a late fee I remembered the client who constantly made me wait for payment saying “your late fees last month really messed up my budget”. People didn’t understand my tardiness in billing wasn’t because I was rolling in profit, rather that at the end of 16 hours days, spending 7 hours at the computer, just filled me with a state of dread and total and absolute overwhelm. I went through some incredibly successful times, and from the outside, and Tiara probably appeared to be a consistent and successful businesses.
But, real estate in Ontario is impossibly expensive, rent is high, and wages are up. Inflation has increased costs massively, yet the expectation of board remaining reasonable, and perhaps my own guilt, meant that every month, I paid the staff wages out of my lesson and training hours. Not only does boarding not make money, but with any sort of facility improvements being executed, especially with major challenges with landlords, it can become a losing battle. I made the decision to downsize my breeding program and sell personal horses to try to keep going. That was the point that I was hit with a scary health situation that halted me in my tracks. When I gave 110% to the business, riding up to 18 horses a day, working 16 hour days regularly, I didn’t have the emotional capacity to handle any sort of personal health crisis. I made the decision to hand over the operations of the business to a director, and take a break, with the goal to come back to teach and ride but not have to manage a staff of 10 and the day to day operations of a barn of 70. It seemed like a perfect solution. But sometimes what seems too good to be true, is just that.
Sadly the handover plan was not executed, which meant I gave notice on the lease expecting it to be taken on by the partner, but that did not happen and the landlords opted to lease to someone else. While I believe people think I’m having a wonderful “vacation” in Florida, I’m actually riding, selling and doing all the work on up to 12 Canadian horses here, while trying to first salvage my business from afar, due only to my loyalty for my clients. Knowing clients were reeling to figure out next steps, and feeling completely abandoned does not make me feel good. For that, I am incredibly sorry. As always, I was working behind the scenes to establish a solution, as I already did once with a massive farm move during COVID, because I believe a team approach before options are established creates more panic than camaraderie, and in this case that is what happened. It doesn’t feel good to receive more scrutiny than support from many of the people I’ve always put first, who believe they understand the ins and outs of this business. However, having decided that I need to prioritize me, means all I can do now is work towards closing the business with whatever dignity I can, given the unfortunate and unexpected sudden nature of this news.
So, I would like to thank each and every person who rode with tiara from the very beginning, took a lesson at Tiara, showed at Tiara, worked for Tiara, bought a horse from Tiara, giggled at our pink outfits at shows, recommended us, had any positive impact at all in the 14 years I’ve put in. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. This is a sudden change, and it is sad, but it is necessary. If you’ve read through all of this, I encourage all of you horse owners to thank the barn manager who stays up with the sick horses in the night, the coach who has a vision for their students in probably greater detail than the student has for themselves. Thank the barn staff who drive in all weather to make sure the horses are fed. Thank the trainer who risks themselves on your rank young horse with the chance of injury that can totally sideline their entire source of revenue. Thank the vets who sometimes take the sadness home with them whether they mean to or not. Thank the hay guys whose success is based on years of experience and the damn weather man! Thank the barn owner who is carrying debt over the hay bill, the facility improvements, paying interest on the slow paying clients accounts, and scrutinized for raising prices. And if you have one person in your barn doing multiple roles, then show them some compassion and understanding because eventually it can just become too much.
Now with that I want to say, I would prefer to celebrate Tiaras history rather than mourn it. I’m sharing this in the hope that others in the industry feel empowered to make the changes they need to profit and provide for themselves properly, and clients understand just a bit more about what goes on behind the scenes. And to my loyal long term clients, any barn would be lucky to have you. Thank you to those who’ve supported me through this challenging time and massive decision.
And as we celebrate the amazing times we’ve had over the years I would like to close out my time at Shirley road with a special final event. This is why we are hosting the Jim Koford clinic the last weekend of April. I’m excited to welcome one of the most sizable influences in my career, whose helped me to believe in myself both in the saddle and not. At the same time we will be running a massive farm sale; tack, blankets, show jumps, barn equipment, dresssge rings, mirrors, judges booths, tractors, dump wagons, Xc jumps etc etc. Details will be posted shortly and the info email for the clinic is going out now. Send a PM if you are interested in riding in it or auditing, or feel free to drop by and say your goodbyes!
-best, Meagan Maloney
