Elite Horse Transport Celebrates Their 20 Year Anniversary
For Elite Horse Transport, one of the horse sport industry’s most respected horse shipping fleets, July 2024 marks the company’s 20-year anniversary. Founded and run by James (Jim) Welsh, the company has risen from humble roots to be recognized as “How Champions Travel”. It all started when at 12 years old Jim was bitten by the horse bug. His friends had all gone to camp and Jim didn’t want to go. His mother told him if he didn’t go to camp, he needed to get a summer job! He went to a local horse farm for work and there he met 3-time US team rider Heidi Ericksen, and his passion for horses and riding began. Little did Jim or his Mom know that this would lead to his eventual career as owner and operator of Elite Horse Transport. We had a chance to catch up with Jim and ask him a few questions. Here is what we learned straight from the horse “shippers” mouth.
- What prompted you to start Elite Horse Transport?
Jim: “I was working in mergers and acquisitions in New York City when 9/11 occurred, so I thought that it would be a great time to refocus and get back into the horse world, which I had missed so much. I traded in the suit and tie, and headed to Orlando, Florida where I began working for Joan and Kenny Simms at High Life Farms. I was doing some horse shipping for them and helping around the farm, and riding horses again with my old trainer Heidi Ericksen. While it was very enjoyable, I realized I was going to have to do something that would provide me a little bit more financial stability. I reached out to my friend Tim Dutta, who I knew from my young rider years. Tim flew me to New York, and I started working for him at The Dutta Corporation, his International horse shipping company. I worked for Tim and learned the ins and outs of the horse shipping business. Less than a year later with my entrepreneurial spirit sparked by Tim, I went out and bought my first straight truck and Elite Horse Transport was born in July of 2004.”
- What skills from your former careers do you feel helped your success with Elite Horse Transport?
Jim: “Well obviously, I had plenty of horse knowledge from my years of grooming and riding, from the time I was 12 at Overpeck Riding Center and later with Jimmy Fairclough and Chester Weber at Top Brass Farm in Newton, NJ. Horsemanship is a key component to being a good horse shipper.
My career in mergers and acquisitions taught me how to deal with people and gave me an understanding of how to properly run a business. It was a perfect marriage of business skills and my love of horses.”
Q: You also own a farm and raise and show horses, how does this enhance your ability to run Elite Horse Transport?
Jim: “When I am not on the road, I am hands-on at my farm, Cold Spring Run in Waco, Kentucky, which is a retirement, layup and breeding farm. You’re dealing with the animals whether it’s on the farm or in the trucks. Equally importantly, you’re dealing with the management of the farm or the Elite fleet, it’s really very similar. Running a farm is all about managing your employees and managing your horses- making sure they’re taken care of properly, whether it’s farrier, feed, vets, etc. and it’s the same thing with running Elite. I am dealing with drivers, mechanics, and truck maintenance to make sure every trip goes smoothly. Obviously, there is the connection with the customers and their needs, and over the years I have developed so many amazing relationships. In the end, all the decisions start with the horses and their well-being, on the farm or on the Elite trucks!”
Q: What do you feel are the most important qualities for a horse shipper?
Jim: “Again, it’s the combination of the compassion for the animals and a commitment to understanding the client’s need, really knowing their world. It takes a professional approach to the business; from licensing and safety, to hiring and managing top employees with extensive horse and driving knowledge.”
Q: How do you select employees for Elite Horse Transport?
Jim: “The first quality that I look for in an employee is knowledge of the horses because we’re dealing with live animals, so every driver needs to understand how horses think and react. Of course, they must have a class A driver’s license, experience, a clean driving record, reliability and a desire to be Elite.”
Q: Elite Horse Transport is involved with sponsorships and giving back a lot to the community, why do you feel this is important?
Jim: “I think it’s important to support the sport and give back through sponsorships and community involvement. Elite has been involved with Wellington International, Dressage at Devon, the United States Equestrian Federation, the Secretariat Center, the Young Horse Show Series, the Vinceremos Therapeutic Riding Center, the Special Olympics, and the US Army Caisson Platoon at Arlington National Cemetery, among others.
I love giving back to the sport and helping riders celebrate victories. I love being at the horse shows and seeing customers doing well, knowing that I helped them a little bit by getting that horse back and forth safely. It’s a team effort and we know the importance of getting horses to competitions on time and in the best possible condition, so they can perform their best.
I take pride in the fact that over the years more and more customers use Elite to get their horses to major championships and big events because we always do a good job. We know the importance of our role in their horse’s success and we deliver peace of mind, along with a happy, healthy horse.”
- Tell us a little bit about your life outside of Elite Horse Transport?
Jim: “I am married to my beautiful wife, Vanessa and we have three kids between us, my twins, Charlotte and Jimmy and my stepdaughter, Parker. My daughter, Charlotte rides and competes in three-day eventing. Our lives revolve around the horses. I love to be on the farm. I love walking around at night just to hear the horses contently munching their hay. As I get older, I am starting to appreciate those moments more and more.”
Q: What have you learned in your 20 years in the business?
Jim: “Over the years I’ve come to respect that every horse we ship, whether it ever goes to a horse show or a race, is a champion and we treat them all like champions. We’ve forged amazing relationships over the years because at the heart of the business is the genuine love of horses. In 20 years, we have never wavered from that core passion. We have also stuck to the rules, with proper licensing and insurances. We also stay on top of trends and technology. We know the value of maintaining a top fleet for safety and we simply never compromise. We joined the National Horse Carriers Association a few years ago and really value those relationships and collaborating with like-minded shippers. Our commitment to horses, safety and reliability has brought us so far in 20 years. I look forward to the next 20 years and the great horses and people I will meet along the way.”
