Featured Pro: Margaux Spitzer – Papillon Sales Horses

Oct. 22,2021

ProEquest

Finding the perfect match between horse and rider takes a keen eye, understanding of human and equine nature, and the ability to see potential. Margaux Spitzer of Papillon Sales Horses in Temecula has an impeccable reputation for matching horses and riders, creating teams that help riders fulfill their goals.

The role of an equine broker is nuanced, the horse and rider must fit each other in both skill and personality. Some prospective riders and owners are seeking young horses and Margaux’s role is to discern a horse’s potential and what it will become, in addition, to correctly matching it with the rider. Margaux’s determination to satisfy every buyer’s request and her full-service approach to guiding buyers through every aspect of the process distinguishes her career.

Papillon Sales offers sales and consignments of horses for show jumping, hunter, and equitation. Margaux specializes in amateur hunters and jumpers and has helped riders at all levels, both amateur and professional, find horses. Margaux works with professionals to find up-and-coming talent in Europe and also takes consignment horses from all over the United States, including Hawaii. She and her team import 40 to 50 horses a year from Europe, including those for clients.

The Early Years

Margaux grew up in France, but her family wasn’t involved with horses. “It’s a big mystery,” she says. “I suspect it’s because there was a park that my babysitter took me to on Saturdays and the park had ponies; it was all downhill from there.”

Margaux was riding semi-pro in France before she came to the United States 15 years ago. She still had her own horse and needed a career here. She bought a horse that was going to the kill pen and trained him. After some time, Margaux sold him for a profit. “I thought there was a niche there and started buying horses off the racetrack, re-training, and then selling them,” she says. “Then, I imported my first horse and have grown Papillon Sales from there.”

Her father is an internationally known sports agent, and there are parallels between Margaux’s career and his, with the relationships built and dedication to finding the best match for her clients. Margaux works with equestrian professionals in France that she’s known for her whole life, they are her eyes in Europe. She knows she can trust them. This network of professionals sends her videos and prospective horses daily, when she finds one that she likes, she gets more information, and sends them to try the horse.

Papillon Sales Horses

Papillon means butterfly in French, the name was chosen because of one simple fact: “We needed something that was French but that could easily be pronounced by Americans, plus butterflies have a silly/positive vibe to them, so, Voila!”

Patience is a skill that every horse person needs and is highly valuable in brokers. It can take time to find the best match. Margaux always tells people if it isn’t the right horse. “I would rather wait and feel 100% about a match instead of taking a shortcut. I need to be confident in my gut that they are making the right purchase, it’s always better to wait and find the right horse.” Her ability to find the perfect horse to match a rider at any skill and level has earned her an impeccable reputation in the industry.

Horses are imported or brought to Papillon Sales on consignment and evaluated. She and her team work with the horses and then find the right buyer. Margaux has built a team of professionals at Papillion Sales Horses to help her provide the best experience possible for her clients. She has two riders; Jen Williams of The Yard in Temecula rides hunters and equitation horses and Angel Karolyi rides the upper-level jumpers.

Margaux’s team includes a marketing professional that handles the website and social media, allowing her to focus on the horses and her clients. Her fiancé owns two restaurants and is skilled at marketing; he jumps in and helps with marketing as needed, editing videos and ensuring content and data is available for the Social Media platform. Margaux’s own life has shifted a bit this year, as she and her fiancé welcomed their son Liam on Mother’s Day – May 9^th. The strength of the team she built allowed the business to continue as usual.

Margaux, her fiancé Julian and their children. Photo: Meagan Armstrong Photography

The Horses

All the horses Margaux works with are special and unique in their own way, but as with all of us, a few stand out in her memory. “Nick Haness and I went to France on a buying trip two years ago and he purchased Crowd Pleaser. This horse always brings a smile to my face, Nick was able to win a lot with him right off the plane, and Crowd Pleaser helped him become the 2019 US Equestrian National Equestrian of the Year. I’m very lucky to work with Nick and we’ve developed a good relationship as friends and professionals.”

Shawn Casidy Riding Cortechico owned by Tiffany Sullivan in the Rider's cup GP. Photo: Photography by Julia B

Another memorable horse is Cortechico, a chestnut with chrome. Three years ago, Margaux sent a video of the scopy but green six-year-old to Tiffany Sullivan, who shared the video with her trainer Allen Clarke, and they bought the horse. “Cortechico was a diamond in the rough, they polished him, and are collecting on their hard work; he just won his first Grand Prix, and Shawn Casady is competing with him as well,” Margaux says.

“One challenge facing the entire industry is that pre-purchase exams are so thorough now with the technology available that we’re seeing things we didn’t see before,” Margaux says. “Too much information is killing the usefulness of the information. We need to focus on what can potentially happen with a horse down the road instead of all the data. Even prospective amateur horses that have proven themselves in bigger rings are so thoroughly dissected in a pre-purchase exam that we are now seeing a real shortage of horses, and it will make the prices go up even more.

“Veterinary checks aren’t always proportional to the use of the horses,” she continues. “Amateur horses shouldn’t need perfect x-rays, especially if they are going from 1.60m to 1.20m; you can overlook some information on a horse that has been successfully competing. It’s important to discuss the information you receive in a pre-purchase exam before dismissing a horse completely.”

Equestrian sports bring a sense of joy, connection with the horse, and accomplishment. Those of us within the sport understand – and keep striving to find that special horse and chase our dreams. Margaux and her team at Papillon Sales help riders satisfy the quest by finding the perfect horse and living their dreams.

“The best reward is when I am referred to someone looking to purchase or sell a horse,” she says. “I’ve worked really hard and created a lot of good connections. I’m really proud of my work and want to continue focusing on my integrity and making people happy.”

Margaux is also starting a new venture to help talented professionals gather the finances required to acquire upper-level horses. She is creating a syndicate of owners, all participation towards the investment horse is a tax-deductible donation, and will allow access to anyone interested to the elite closed circle of upper-level show jumping. “The new venture is launching this fall,” she says. “Lane Clarke will be our head rider and we are in the process of finding him a proven Grand Prix Horse to compete on the California Grand Prix scene.”