American businessman wants a Wanaka horse farm

American Mike Mountz says he wants the farm to be a "very top-notch place for some really good horses". Photo: Supplied

An American who made his fortune washing cars in Pennsylvania is setting up in a new business on the outskirts of Wanaka.

Mike Mountz is establishing a $4 million "exclusive horse farm" along State Highway 6.

"I just want it to be a very top-notch place for some really good horses," Mr Mountz told the Otago Daily Times.

"I visualise it almost like a golf course when you go in."

Mr Mountz does not ride and is no expert on horses.

"I tell everybody I'm so dyslexic I can't even spell the word."

However, he does know how to grow a business.

In 1984 at the age of 31 he and his wife Rhoda bought a small business called Cloister Car Wash in the town of Ephrata.

When he sold his chain of car washes and lube centres in 2012 — to Mister Hotshine Car Wash & Lube Centre no less — it had a staff of 400 people handling a million cars a year and producing annual revenue of $US14 million.

The business was strong on customer service, and every November 11 it would wash the cars of 5000 armed forces veterans for free.

In 2010, Mr Mountz's innovative approach to business gained him a place in the International Carwash Association's Hall of Fame.

Mr Mountz, who "fell in love" with New Zealand 12 years ago and became a resident four years ago, has now turned his attention to 28ha of rolling hills near Wanaka.

He recalls buying the land without knowing what he would do with it, but soon ruled out growing lucerne, or grazing sheep, cattle or deer.

"I felt it was better that the area could have an exclusive horse farm, not to hold a lot of horses but hopefully to hold some really top-quality horses."

He is now in the middle of creating 10 half-hectare paddocks — each equipped with a tack room, and hot and cold running water for washing down and grooming 10 valuable horses.

There are also two arenas for exercising and training the horses, and a building with stables is likely and an indoor arena possible, if all goes well.He has also erected 27km of plastic fence-rail.

"It's a totally horse-friendly fence.

"A horse can get spooked and run into it and they will bounce off it and not get injured by it."

Mr Mountz says he is more a visionary than a manager.

"The reason I'm a little bit successful is because I have surrounded myself with smart, talented people and that's what I plan on doing again, and hiring a top-quality person who knows how to run the farm."

He expects to employ a farm manager and three or four other people to look after the property.

Asked if there was a market for such a farm, Mr Mountz said he went on "gut feeling".

"I'm totally dyslexic.

"I've never read a page in a book in my life and so a lot of my life has been based on gut feel.

"I just feel with Wanaka growing the way it is, the money coming into Wanaka, higher-end homes and such things, that there will be a demand for it."

Horsewoman Emma Pledger, who is helping establish the farm, called Grace Farm, said grazing for horses in Wanaka was "in very short supply".

"And an equine facility where you can have your horse grazing is in very short supply too.

"So definitely, if Mike builds it, there will be people come."

She said there were similar facilities in Cambridge and Canterbury and "quite a few" in Australia.

Mr Mountz says he "just refuses to have a horse standing in mud" and won't be taking bookings until he has the grass well established, probably around Christmas.

"I just want it to be right on the money when I open the doors."

mark.price@odt.co.nz