The Colorado Horse Park, one of the largest equestrian parks in the Western United States, has been purchased by an ownership group from Littleton Equine Medical Center. The group plans to keep using the property for horse shows and build a new home for the Denver-area veterinary practice on the site.
A group of Littleton Equine Medical Center veterinarians and key stakeholders, known as Singletree Equestrian LLC, closed on the property Oct. 3 for a purchase price of $5.7 million, according to the Douglas County (Colorado) Assessor’s office. They purchased the property from Colorado Equestrian Partners LLC, of Wellington, Florida, which bought the park in January 2015 for $9 million.
The purchase is for two parcels totaling 119 acres and includes the barns, offices, show rings and parking. The former owner, Colorado Equestrian Properties, is retaining approximately 45 acres along the property’s northern and eastern borders.
“This venue has been and will continue to be such an asset to our Colorado equestrian community,” said Dr. Kelly Tisher, a veterinarian and partner at Littleton Equine Medical Center. “Over the next few years, our plan is to create a world-class equine clinic at the horse park as well as continuing to improve and expand the horse show facility.”
The park’s new owners will continue to partner with Langer Equestrian Group for shows and events as they prepare for the 2023 show season.
“We have a very long and wonderful relationship with Littleton Equine Medical Center and are so looking forward to the future. The effect this will have on the horse shows at the horse park will be nothing less than great,” said Charlotte Skinner-Robson, of Langer Equestrian Group. “Facility improvements are already underway, and the response from the equestrian community—local, national and international—has been amazing.”
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Asked whether their business plan includes bringing eventing or a cross-country course back to the facility that hosted the 2018 USEA American Eventing Championships, a spokesperson said, “We hope to work with [Douglas County] to have the cross-country events that were held across Bayou Gulch [Road].”
The county owns a large parcel of parkland adjacent to the horse park’s south boundary at Bayou Gulch Road where cross-country and driving competitions once were held.
The horse park was founded by Helen Krieble in 1992 as High Prairie Farms. It includes 11 competition arenas, including two indoors, and 300 permanent stalls.
Colorado Equestrian Partners, led by former Chronicle of the Horse owner Mark Bellissimo, purchased the horse park in early 2015.
Established in 1950 as a large animal clinic, the Littleton Equine Medical Center now treats exclusively horses. It has over 70 employees including veterinarians, interns, technicians and support staff to provide Colorado and the Rocky Mountain region with a referral center for specialized horse care.
