Roxann Hart is on the edge of her seat. “Want to see my new barn?” she asks. She’s been planning this barn for what seems like forever. Three minutes later, we’re zipping along in her golf cart, passing a variety of paddocks full of mares, foals and youngsters. Roxann points out specifics of each horse grazing in the fields, telling their histories, noting which ones are champions, which ones are destined to be great. She beams with each story.

“Every day brings something new,” she says. “Probably the most exciting part of what we do here is actually breeding, raising, training and showing national champions. And we’ve done that several times.”

When we pull up at the new barn, it’s nothing less than perfect. Every detail has been considered with horses in mind. Every modern luxury, from spacious stalls with drain tiles installed underneath, to top-of-the-line pest control systems… horses here live in their own heaven.

“I’ve been around horses all my life, and I never thought I could really build a barn right,” Roxann says. “I think I’ve finally done it.”

Set the Standard
Roxann’s 47-year involvement in the horse community has taught her diligence. Sure, building a new barn is fun, but it’s only one piece of the puzzle that keeps the Rohara traditions and prestige strong.

Everything matters. Veterinary care, training, facilities, nutrition. Every element is relevant.

“I’m so tired of hearing people make excuses for the way their horses look,” Roxann says. “I always say that I can pull any of my horses out of the pasture, and within an hour, with a bath and maybe some clipping, they can be ready for a selection class.

“If I can’t feed the horses the food and the hay that I want for them, then I wouldn’t be in the business,” she continues. “I go to other training farms and breeding farms, and I’m surprised at the condition of the broodmares. Even my old mares nursing foals are in good condition. And if not, then I’ll do something about it until they do look good!”

Rohara Arabians, which derives its name from taking the first few letters out of Roxann Hart Arabians (Roxann Hart Arabians), is one of the nation’s most prestigious Arabian Horse farms. It’s a place where artists, such as internationally acclaimed Robert Vavra, visit to capture images of exquisite Arabians. Daily, Roxann works to keep up that standard by critiquing her horses and her facility.

“If you expect something to be one way, then you need to go look at it to make sure that it does,” she explains. “You have to ‘Inspect what you expect.’ ”

Why Arabians?
Roxann has decided to make Arabians her forté, but why?

Back in the cool, lushly decorated barn office, Roxann considers the question.

“Well,” she responds, kicking her feet over the top of the coffee table. “I, like so many children, was fascinated by The Black Stallion series. I always wanted an Arabian.” Roxann’s youth included a brief stint riding Saddlebreds and Quarter Horses, and then she found her first Arabian in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. She began showing in 1956, and although her family wasn’t involved in the horse industry, they were supportive.

“I had that first horse shipped back, and I had it all through high school and my first year of college,” she says. “Then I bought a stallion that stayed with me through college years.” Today, with 17 employees and 150 horses on the farm, she grins and throws a punch line. “And I always say Arabians are like peanuts: You can’t have just one.”

It Never Gets Old
Even with so many awards and rewards that must come with being the owner of Rohara, Roxann admits the workload, challenges and risks are intense.

“Does this business get old?” she says. “Sure. But this industry is one of the few industries where you’re always looking forward to something. The next foal, the next show, the next breeding decision, the next trip.

“You’re always wearing a different hat,” she says. “And that’s what keeps it exciting! ”