DAN URBAN: BEHIND THE SCENES AT THE FEI WORLD CUP
Equine Exchange Ambassador Dan Urban is making it happen in the Midwest. Dan has been involved every step of the way in preparing for the 2017 LONGINES FEI World Cup™ Jumping & FEI World Cup™ Dressage Finals, serving as the stable manager responsible for transforming the CenturyLink Center in Omaha, Nebraska into home away from home for the world’s top horses and riders. We caught up with Dan just before competition kicked off.
Dan’s Story
Dan’s family operates Quail Run Horse Centre in Omaha, a beautiful 250-acre property ideal for training and riding. As a junior, Dan represented Zone 6 in both the National Junior Jumper Championships (Prix des States) and North American Junior/Young Rider Championships. As a young professional, he has twice qualified for the USHJA International Hunter Derby Championship with his mom’s horse, Cousteaux, and has several Grand Prix wins to his name. Dan is a trainer, instructor and co-owner at Quail Run where he develops students and horses from the ground up to Grand Prix.
Dan has his sights set on improving the quality of hunter-jumper competition in the Midwest and launched an equestrian management production company with his brothers, Urban Equine Events. They host several shows throughout the year at Quail Run and also took over the long-running Mid-States Horse Show series in Mason City, Iowa, five years ago, prompting an increase in entries every year since. At Quail Run shows, the Urban family hosts classes, subsidizes USHJA outreach memberships and offers an open Schooling Day to help bridge the gap from schooling shows to rated shows. Dan explains, “we are introducing people to a higher standard of equestrian competition and they see the value in it — better footing, better jumps, better officials, better medication regulation, and so on.”
The Road to The World Cup
Dan’s family works with the Omaha Equestrian Foundation which helped bring the World Cup to Omaha. The vision of this non-profit is to grow equestrian sport in the Midwest. In 2012, they introduced “The International” horse show at the CenturyLink Center, which helped Omaha win the World Cup bid, and will continue to host that show annually.
As the World Cup approached, Dan logged long hours prepping the convention center, coordinating pre-bedded stalls, hay, fencing and tents. Twelve months of careful planning culminated in a sprint of non-stop activity crammed in a few days. Last Saturday a Boeing 777 touched down to deliver forty of the international horses, who would have to be quarantined for 48 hours. During the quarantine anyone in contact with the horses had to wear a special suit and gloves. The horses all had their blood drawn and analyzed at Iowa State University and had their temperatures taken twice daily. Once the quarantine lifted, the domestic horses arrived. Over 2,000 tons of special riding surface material was hauled in to create world-class competition arenas, in which riders and horses from 27 countries will vie for recognition as the best in the world.
Sharing the Joy of Equestrian Sport — and What’s Next
Dan has high hopes that the impact of the World Cup will be long-lasting. He wants attendees to know that anyone can participate in the sport on some level and the opportunity exists in the Midwest. He says, “This isn’t just to watch. We do this right here in Omaha, and anyone’s invited. We’re showing the world that the Midwest knows how to do horses. We’re hosting a world-class event and we’ve received nothing but positive reviews. This kind of buzz will lead to recognition for our region and will lead to greater interest in events like mine.” In recent years Quail Run has added three outdoor riding arenas and a stabling barn with competitions in mind. As soon as the World Cup is finished, Dan will turn his attention to further improving the infrastructure at Quail Run and growing his own equestrian events.
On Becoming an Equine Exchange Ambassador
Dan is an example of integrity and professionalism in horse sales and recently became an Ambassador for Equine Exchange. “When it comes to buying a horse, people don’t really know what they’re getting into…,” Dan alludes to the prevalence of shady dealings and traps for the unwary in the market for horses. “I try to inform clients as much as possible, but that doesn’t happen everywhere. Equine Exchange guides you through the horse buying process in such a way that you won’t get cheated — it provides a safety net for those who aren’t informed or experienced.”
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