Source:  Morgan Josey Glover, GREENSBORO NEWS & RECORD, 2/5/10

Livestock equipment broker Emery Thibodeaux is one of those horse owners you may have heard about. You know, the ones so excited about the prospects of an equestrian center in Rockingham County that they pack up their horse trailers and move here before the first 100-stall barn goes up.

Thibodeaux said he bought 25 acres near Stoneville two years ago and has no regrets about his decision, even as County Manager Tom Robinson tries to close a funding gap for a project that has almost doubled in price during the past few months.

“I am very impressed with Tom (Robinson) because he is being totally honest with the people,” said Thibodeaux, who attended a special meeting about the horse park on Thursday. “His numbers are sound. But I think he is underestimating the involvement of the private sector. I believe the private sector needs to step up to the plate and make this happen.”

More than 100 people, including backers and opponents, packed a board room to hear Robinson update the Rockingham County Board of Commissioners on the status of the Horse Park of the South, a Reidsville facility that has been in the works for about six years. Unanticipated infrastructure costs drove up the price of the first phase from $6.8 million to as much as $13.3 million.

“No pun intended, but with these figures that pretty much just shoots us out of the saddle,” Robinson told the public during the meeting.

Robinson didn’t ask the commissioners to move forward with the project on Thursday; he plans to present his final request within three months. But Robinson did reveal possible funding sources to cover a shortfall that ranges from $6.4 million to $8.4 million.

Those sources include:

-- $600,000 from the state Transportation Department to pay for road improvements.

-- $400,000 from the N.C. Rural Center to pay for water and sewer pipes.

-- $500,000 from the N.C. Tobacco Trust Fund.

-- $500,000 in foundation grants from MillerCoors, which has a plant in Eden.

-- $1 million in private donations and corporate naming rights.

-- $3.5 million in commercial property sales.

-- $4.3 million in federal low-interest bonds.

The county so far has about $5 million in contributions, including $2.4 million from the General Assembly and

$1.5 million from the Golden Leaf Foundation. Phase one of the 160-acre park would include 300 stalls, four outside show rings and classroom space for partner N.C. A&T.

Glenn Petty, a horse industry veteran and adviser on the project, told commissioners that he still thinks the equestrian center is a good investment, despite the current recession.

“I feel just as strongly now that this is something that can benefit the citizens of Rockingham County as I did going in on this six years ago,” Petty said.

And Thibodeaux, wearing a “Horses Rock” sticker on his blue plaid shirt, said he hopes to bring to the county an annual cattle roping competition that now takes place at a South Carolina facility.

“We’re ready to book us a date now,” he said.