Behind the Scenes with Jim Welsh of Elite Horse Transport, LLC

Information on your background?

I grew up in Tenafly, NJ which is right outside NYC. I’m the oldest of three boys. I loved playing soccer and wrestling, but I always found myself at the barn whenever I had a free minute. After college, I returned home where I worked for a boutique finance firm. I loved the excitement of high finance, but after several years I found myself slowly creeping back to the barn late at night and when I wasn’t working.

Tell us about your business and how you got into horse hauling?  

After 9/11, I took some time to myself and I started riding again. I was introduced to a large breeding operation in Orlando, FL and I worked there for a year helping with the stallions. I called Tim Dutta of The Dutta Corp who I knew from showing horses years before and I told him I was interested in horse hauling. I flew to NY, interviewed and I started working for him flying horses and shipping on the east coast. Tim gave me the start in the business and eventually I bought my first truck. That’s when Elite was born! Tim Dutta and I still do business today, 16 years later.

What is your experience with horses?

I started as a working student when I was 12. I mucked stalls and got riding lessons like many of us in the business. Eventually it morphed into more and I worked for some top trainers in dressage and driving horses. I loved riding but more importantly I enjoyed the farm life. I am very detail oriented and some would say a “micro manager.” That has helped me as I have grown Elite and in my side passion of breeding Warmbloods at my farm just outside of Lexington, KY.

Where do you see a majority of your business come from?

Most of my business comes through referrals and repeat business. Due to my upbringing in the dressage world I also ship many dressage horses. Elite Equestrian also partakes in sponsorships at the horse shows. This helps support the horse business and gives us an opportunity to meet new people, who often turn into customers.

What’s your favorite route and why? 

I love to go to the northeast! Not many truck drivers say that, but for me it brings back memories of growing up and showing in the mid-atlantic area.

How do you care for the horses you are transporting? 

The most important thing for us is that once your equine partner steps onto one of our trailers our motto is, “give ‘em a good ride.” That means we do our best to drive well and minimize stress. We plan our trips to try and account for traffic, weather and any other factors that we might run into.We have shipped horses to 48 states and logistics is one of my strong suites.  We take the care and comfort of each horse very personally. We love horses and aim to treat each horse as if it were our own.

What do you look for in an employee? 

Foremost we look for someone that can handle horses. A responsible, dedicated person who is compassionate and has horse experience is always our best match. Truck drivers are easy to come by, but we only hire people that are comfortable around your equine partner.

What do you recommend to anyone looking for a reputable, commercial horse carrier? 

The first thing you should do when hiring a shipper is to make sure the company is a licensed for hire carrier. The easiest way to know this is if the shipper has a DOT/MC number on the side of his truck. You can find legal shippers by using organizations like The National Horse Carriers Association. Also, I recommend looking at the company’s online reviews and asking for references you can call. Talk with people that have shipped their horses with the company you select.

How do you maintain a work/life balance? 

In the horse world you are always on call. I don’t mind working, because I love what I do. I am passionate about the company and our commitment to every single horse we ship. I often have to be reminded by my family to put down the phone and relax. We love to go to the lake when we can, but for me I just love being on the farm doing little projects and working with the baby horses. It is easier to maintain the balance when you love your work and also find working on the farm relaxing.

In what direction do you see the commercial horse hauling industry heading? 

Commercial horse hauling continues to head in a great direction. The Department of Transportation is continuously implementing more stringent regulations that keep safety in the forefront for the legal haulers. The implementation of e-logs, cracking down on illegal haulers, and continued strong oversight on hours of service regulations means that those of us doing it the proper way are doing it the safe way.