There’s more to show manager Bob Bell than meets the eye. In addition to managing horse shows such as Jacksonville (Fla.), Gulfport (Miss.) and Atlanta (Ga.) through his Classic Company, Bell is an avid sailor and frequent world traveler. When he’s not standing ringside observing the action at a horse show, Bell is at his Bohicket Marina and Yacht Club outside Charleston, S.C., where he oversees 200 deep-water slips as well as other amenities for the boating enthusiast. Bell is also an active volunteer for horse sport. He’s on both the U.S. Equestrian Federation and U.S. Hunter Jumper Association Boards of Directors, is a member of the USEF Competition Management Committee, chairman of the USHJA Show Managers Committee, a member of the USHJA Show Standards Committee and the FEI Affiliates Working Group.

Name: Bob Bell
Home Base: Seabrook Island, S.C.
Age: 52

What was the name and breed of your first horse?
His name was Trick Or Treat. He was a tiny thing, maybe 15.1 hands, and I had no idea how he was bred.

Given the chance, what horse other than your own would you like to take a turn on?
Mardie Faucette’s Protocol. I rode him once and loved him. I wish I’d had more opportunities to ride him. 

If you could be anywhere in the world right now, where would it be?
French Polynesia. I just came back from a trip there and love that part of the world.
 
Name a person you would most like to meet, dead or alive, and why.
Sean Hannity of FOX. He seems to make a lot of sense and explains things in layman’s terms, and we all need that sometimes.
 
What is your least favorite chore around the house?
Taking out the garbage.
 
How many miles are on your vehicle(s)?
I have four cars, a Jaguar with 9,000 miles, an old Jeep with 50,000 miles, a 560SL Mercedes with 120,000 miles and a bus with 25,000 miles.

Jack Russells, yes or no?
Yes, I love Jack Russells. I’ve had a couple, and even the bad ones are still good.
 
What is your favorite trait in a person?
Honesty.
 
Name one random fact people wouldn’t know about you.
I never rode until I was 22; that’s when I got my first horse. There are a lot of people who “remember” me as a junior, and I’ll just nod and agree with them. It’s funny.
 
Describe yourself in three words.
Adventuresome, conservative and a businessman.
 
What’s the most frequent item on your credit card statement?
Staples.
 
What was the last book you read?
The Gate House by Nelson DeMille. I read a lot of books.

How many text messages do you send/receive each day?
Maybe one every other day, but I receive about 300 e-mails a day on my Blackberry. It never stops.

What is your drink of choice?
Dewar’s and soda. Of course, more Dewar’s than soda, and in a short glass.

What is the best feeling in the world?
The feeling of accomplishment.

What one item in your wardrobe best personifies you?
My blue cashmere Land’s End sweater.

What is your greatest regret?
I honestly don’t have any regrets. Everything I’ve wanted to do, I’ve done. Everywhere I’ve wanted to go, I’ve gone. Life is working out perfect.

In retrospect, what has been the best decision you’ve made in your life?
To become a show manager. Carol Kent sat me down over a glass of wine and said, “This is what you need to do. You need to be a full-time show manager.”

What three things are most likely to be found in your refrigerator at all times?
Champagne, mayonnaise and capers.

What do you think is the biggest issue facing the world today?
Peace.

What do you find to be the most ridiculous part of the horse world?
The magnitude of hours we have to put in for 2 minutes in the show ring.

Where do you think you’ll be 10 years from now?
On a boat calling a horse show by satellite phone.

What are the best and worst aspects of living in the South?
The heat is hard. But the pace of life is the best. It’s a lot slower and not as intense.

What are your hobbies?
In addition to sailing and traveling, I’m a collector. I collect Royal Dalton Toby Jugs, pillboxes and elephants.