You simply can’t be a successful business enterprise that is part of a larger industry that doesn’t have a credible cohesive business plan. Regardless of the economy, I think there is a whole lot here that is being politely ignored. The demise of this farm is not really unique, it is merely very high profile. In the broadest sense, what hurts all American-based breeders is that the leaders of our organizations are so firmly entrenched in self-interest and what can only be described as ignorance and arrogance. They haven’t the desire, or frankly - the education and ability - to see that the consequences of their day to day decisions are ultimately toxic to the breeding industry. We can look back at the last 25 years and see one failure after another… one false start after another, one hideous business decision after another, and yet breeders continue with the same “leadership.” Doing so is beyond idiotic…
I try not to respond to these “ignorant and arrogant” 
sermons from Cartier, but I will point out the following:
1 – the Sims were successful business people long before they got into the sporthorse world. One would assume they know how to put together a business plan. Whether or not they did so is no one’s business except their own.
2 – It is pretty laughable to think that private sellers, auction houses, etc., are supposed to “vet” the business plan of a prospective buyer. In fact, I imagine if a seller asked a buyer for a copy of their business plan, they would get told off pretty fast.
3 – Even enterprises with solid business plans fail.
4 – As I mentioned before, the Sims had very good guidance from very good people when they started building their breeding program (and yes, from people with “education and ability” – i.e., PhD’s, DVMs, highly experienced and successful breeders, etc.). While they initially took some of that advice, they later ignored similar good advice from those same people – including recommendations to curtail the willy-nilly buying and breeding. It was, in fact, some of that later advice from certain registry people that sent the Sims off in a huff and into affiliations with other registries that were happy to take their money.
Whatever the reasons for the closing of Highlife Farm, the important thing is that the horses find soft landings. If you can help in that regard, than good on you. If you can’t, then maybe you should just climb back up there in your ivory tower and find something else to ruminate about. :rolleyes:
