Charlie Cole

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Western Horse Mecca

HIGHPOINT PERFORMANCE HORSES

Western training and showing phenom Charlie Coles gives us a tour of his world-class training and breeding facility in Pilot Point, Texas.

By Alana Harrison, managing editor, Horse & Rider

As an exclusive supplement to EQUUS' November issue, we gifted subscribers with a free issue of Everything For Horse & Rider: EQUISHOPPER, for winter of 2010. In this pub, we provided you with a behind-the-scenes tour of Team H&R member Charlie Cole's phenomenal Western training and breeding facility in Pilot Point, Texas. Since we weren't able to include ALL the fun features of Charlie's place, we thought we'd use this opportunity to show you a different side of the horse-showing biz. After reading below, be sure NOT to miss the slide show. That's where the real fun begins! Enjoy!

(Note: Just in case you missed the article in our winter 2010 EquiShopper magazine, here's a brief summary of how Charlie got started in north Texas.)

Instead of heading west to seek authentic Western horse country, quintessential cowboy Charlie Cole picked up his ranch in Chino Hills, California, in the late '90s and headed due east. Charlie and business partner Jason Martin landed in Pilot Point, Texas---one of the premier Western horse meccas in the country, located about 50 miles north of Dallas. And, a Texas paradise they did find. "We wanted to relocate to a more Western-oriented part of the country; plus Pilot Point is centrally located, which makes it much easier and less expensive traveling to shows," Charlie explains. Charlie and Jason purchased the 32 acres, two meager barns, and a moderate house destined to be Highpoint's new home. It's been awhile in the making, but they've transformed their simple two-barn operation into a horse-training/showing wonderland. Highpoint specializes in a multitude of events, including Western pleasure, Western riding, trail, hunter under saddle, and pleasure driving. Both Charlie and Jason are AQHA Professional Horsemen, and Charlie's a certified AQHA judge. Combined, they've trained over 100 world champions in Western pleasure, Western riding, horsemanship, trail, pleasure driving, and other events. Jason and Charlie have won the AQHA Superhorse title four times and the APHA World Show High Point Horse award six times. Here's your opportunity to peek inside Western phenom Charlie Cole's Western horse-training paradise.

A UNIQUE TWIST…
Tortoise Paradise
Charlie's second passion to horses? Exotic tortoises. "I've been fascinated with reptiles since I was a kid, especially tortoises," Charlie says. "And now I have the means and space to have my own ‘habitat.'" And, a habitat he does have. His 40-plus exotic tortoises, including Galapagos, Aldabra, Radiates, and Redfoot tortoises, have a vast near-acre resort with an indoor heated house, swimming ponds, mud pits (a tortoise's fave), climbing obstacles, and mini-igloo houses. Rocki, one of the Galapagos variety, is more than 70 years old; Charlie's other fave tortoises Theodore, Rosie, and Alvin are well into their 20s. While most would assume tortoises not to be the most affectionate of pets, Rosie clearly has a strong attachment to Charlie. As he feeds her apple slices, she cranes her neck out begging for a scratch, and her soft, human-like eyes squint in delight as he gives her a good neck scratch. The pressing question: Which are more work to take care of…. the horses or tortoises? Charlie smiles.

Barn of Another Variety
Charlie's most recent facility update is a sixth barn and run-out area, but the stalls are slightly smaller than those of the four main barns. Here, he houses a burro, a goat, a Miniature Paint Horse, two dwarf minis, a miniature Brahman, and a kangaroo. "For us, it's mostly a fun thing. We love all types of animals, and it's great to have friends come and enjoy the animals, too," says Charlie. "Plus, I think it adds some character to our ranch."

Enjoy the following slide show, featuring views from Charlie's facility that we unfortunately couldn't include in the article. And prepare yourself for some giggles toward the end!

Click the thumbnails below to view full-sized images with captions.