Today we’d like to introduce you to Shelly Phalen.
Hi Shelly, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Jim and Shelly Phalen purchased what is now Phalen Equine Wellness Center and Horse Hotel nearly 9 years ago. The facility has been transformed from a run-down, half empty barn, to a full, thriving facility known for it’s exceptional care and customer environment.
Phalen Equine is located on over 50 acres situated directly on Interstate 70 in Bonner Springs, close to Interstate 35 and just minutes from beautiful downtown Kansas City. The facility includes 49 stalls, an 80 x 180 indoor arena, 115 x 215 lighted outdoor arena, round pen, hot walker, hot & cold wash rack, restrooms, 8 dry paddocks, 10 grass paddocks, a large pasture for pasture boarding, as well as a six-acre lake surrounded by a 3/4 mile race track. The facility also operates a horse hotel for people traveling cross country with their horses, and most recently has began to offer services such as foaling out mares and rehabilitative care.
Jim and Shelly Phalen both bring extensive backgrounds in business and the horse industry. Holly Phalen, their oldest daughter and a Kansas State graduate, now runs the facility and also manages the Phalen’s breeding and showing program. Shelly’s experience in the horse industry, combined with both she and Jim’s business experience bring credibility and stability to this facility.
Holly’s experience and dedication has further accelerated the level of organization and care at the facility, and also propelled the Phalen’s’ small breeding program into one that has now created AQHA and NSBA World and Reserve World Champions. Additionally, Holly is responsible for managing and growing the foaling out and rehabilitative pieces of the business.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The road to success has not been easy. It required not only a financial investment, but an investment in time and experience. Horse boarding is definitely a labor of love, but it also requires a lot more ‘people’ management than many realize.
Learning how to properly manage and train employees, establish processes for care, while also ensuring customers have a welcoming environment to come and enjoy their horses can be much more complex than people realize.
Remodeling an existing facility, and throwing in a pandemic in the middle of it also presented challenges over the past several years.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Phalen Equine has become known for it’s exceptional care and cleanliness, and it’s unique customer environment. We manage a complex group of riders, from dressage, western pleasure and all around, to trail riding. Pernille Andree operates her dressage training business at Phalen Equine, where everyone shares the arenas, and has gained respect for disciplines different from their own.
Our customers know they can count on clean stalls, ample feed and fresh water all the time thanks to our Drinking Post automatic waterers. Our employees are second to none! Without them we would not be able to provide the level of care we constantly seek. They are the backbone of the facility.
From a breeding program perspective, we are proud to produce a small number of high quality, AQHA western pleasure and all-around prospects, We have two exceptional producing AQHA mares (VS Code Victoria and No More Doubts) who we can now proudly say are World or Reserve World Champion producers.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
Don’t hesitate to reach out for more information. We are always seeking growth opportunities and love to find ways to connect with the community! Holly can be reached at (913)424-3164.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.phalenequestriancenter.com
- Facebook: Phalen Equestrian Center and Horse Hotel
