Sport Horses: Billionaire Luxury Goods and Opaque Markets

Resources

Books

• "Horse in the City" by Clay McShane and Joel Tarr - This book explores the functional role of horses in urban environments, framing them as "living machines."

Videos & Documentaries

• "Yellowstone" - Mentioned as an example of a show that depicts quarter horses, which are prevalent in Western riding.

Research & Studies

• Economics Paper on the Centrality of the Potato by Nathan Nunn - This paper, though not directly about horses, is used as a parallel to illustrate how a single commodity (the potato) can supercharge development, similar to the horse's historical impact.

Tools & Software

• Zillow - Used as an analogy for a desirable, transparent online marketplace that is currently missing for horses.

Articles & Papers

• "Horses at Work: Harnessing Power in Industrial America" by Ann N. Green - This book highlights the pervasive use of horses in American industry and urban life in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

People Mentioned

• George Frideric Handel - An 18th-century composer whose "Messiah" brought the podcast host to Chester.
• Constance Hunter - Chief Economist at The Economist Intelligence Unit and an avid equestrian, who discusses the economics and market of sport horses.
• Nathan Nunn - Author of an economics paper used as a parallel to illustrate the impact of key commodities on development.
• Peter Frankopan - Professor of Global History at Oxford University, who discusses the historical significance of horses in global civilizations.
• Ann N. Green - Historian and retired professor at the University of Pennsylvania, author of "Horses at Work."
• Clay McShane - Colleague of Ann N. Green and co-author of "Horse in the City."
• Joel Tarr - Colleague of Ann N. Green and co-author of "Horse in the City."
• Mark Paul - Economics professor at Rutgers University and co-owner of a business that imports and sells sport horses.
• Elizabeth Bortuzzo - Professional rider, co-owner of AVO Dressage, and business partner to Mark Paul.
• Heinrich von Eckermann - A Swedish jumping rider, mentioned as an example of a top-tier equestrian for whom an amateur's horse might not be suitable.

Organizations & Institutions

• Edward Jones - Sponsor of the podcast, mentioned for guiding listeners through life's financial journey.
• LinkedIn Ads - Sponsor of the podcast, highlighted for its effectiveness in reaching professionals.
• The Economist Intelligence Unit - The research division of The Economist publishing group, where Constance Hunter works.
• NYU - University where Constance Hunter was on the equestrian team.
• Oxford University - University where Peter Frankopan is a professor of Global History.
• Rutgers University - University where Mark Paul is an economics professor.

Courses & Educational Resources

• Riding Lessons - Mentioned as a way Constance Hunter got into horses and as a service offered by horse farms.

Websites & Online Resources

• freakonomics.com/liveshows - Website for purchasing tickets to Stephen Dubner's live shows.
• radio@freakonomics.com - Email address for submitting voice memos about supplements.
• linkedin.com/freakonomics - Website for LinkedIn Ads offer.
• dell.com/holiday - Website for purchasing Dell PCs.
• framer.com/design - Website for Framer, a design tool.
• southerncompany.com - Website for Southern Company.
• amica.com - Website for Amica Insurance.
• claude.ai/freakonomics - Website to try Claude AI.
• vitamix.com - Website for Vitamix blenders.
• saveonzepbound.com - Website for Zepbound savings options.
• AVO Dressage Website - The website for Mark Paul and Elizabeth Bortuzzo's business, where they list their horses with transparent pricing.

Other Resources

• Chester Racecourse - Located in Chester, England, it is the oldest continuously operating horse track in the world.
• Roman Walls of Chester - Ancient Roman walls surrounding the city center of Chester, England.
• Chester Cathedral - A cathedral in Chester, England, parts of which date back nearly 1,000 years.
• Fascinators - Three-dimensional hats worn by British ladies to festive occasions.
• Equinomics - A term coined by the podcast host to describe the study of horse markets.
• The Silk Roads: A New History of the World by Peter Frankopan - A book discussing global connections through trade routes, where horses played a central role.
• Tang Dynasty terracotta animals - Sculptures from the Tang Dynasty in China, known for their depiction of animals, especially horses.
• Chariots of Tutankhamun - Six full working chariots found with Tutankhamun's burial, indicating the importance of horses in ancient Egypt.
• Appendix Quarter Horse - A type of horse, a cross between a Quarter Horse and a Thoroughbred.
• Quarter Horse - A prevalent breed in the US, known for being smaller, chill, and family-friendly, often used for Western riding.
• Studbooks - Registries that monitor and record the pedigrees of horse breeds.
• Thoroughbreds - A breed of horse bred for speed over short distances, often used in horse racing.
• Arabians - A breed of horse known for its endurance and refinement, used in crossing to create warmbloods.
• Draft Horses - Large, heavy breeds of horses known for their strength and slower pace, used in crossing to create warmbloods.
• Warmbloods - A type of horse created by crossing "hot-blooded" breeds (like Thoroughbreds and Arabians) with "cold-blooded" breeds (like draft horses), commonly used as sport horses.
• Hanoverians, Oldenburgs, Dutch Warmbloods, Belgian Warmbloods - Sub-breeds within the Warmblood category, often originating from Europe.
• Hunter Jumper - An equestrian competition event that mimics a hunt field.
• Dressage - An equestrian sport often called "horse ballet," involving precise and complicated movements between horse and rider.
• Eventing - An equestrian event that combines dressage, cross-country riding, and show jumping.
• Show Jumping - An equestrian event where horse and rider jump over a course of obstacles.
• Jasper Dela Tour - Constance Hunter's horse, described as a forgiving and athletic warmblood.
• Bolio's Cool Eric - Constance Hunter's other horse, a 20-year-old warmblood with a strong personality.
• Vital Hit - A six-year-old Scottish-bred horse owned by AVO Dressage, being trained for elite competition.
• Kobus - A 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood being trained by Elizabeth Bortuzzo.
• Beet pulp and alfalfa pellets - Food given to horses.
• Festival of Champions - A competition where Elizabeth Bortuzzo plans to bring Kobus.
• Mid-Intermédiaire I - The second international level of dressage competition.
• Rotational Fall - A type of fall in horse riding where the horse falls over its own neck.
• Horse Flu (Great Epizootic of 1872) - An outbreak of horse flu in 1872 that significantly disrupted city services reliant on horses.
• Western Riding - A style of horse riding often associated with Quarter Horses, including disciplines like reining.
• Reining - A competitive equestrian discipline where a horse and rider perform a precise pattern of circles, spins, and stops.
• Teamsters Union - The symbol of this union is a horse, representing its historical connection to hauling.
• Horseback Riding - The activity of riding horses, discussed in terms of its physical demands and inherent risks.
• Saddle Pad - A pad placed under a horse's saddle.
• Stirrup - A loop attached to a saddle, in which a rider places their foot.
• Crop/Whip - A tool used by riders to communicate with or encourage a horse.
• Steeplechase - A type of horse race involving jumping over obstacles.