For several years, Mark Remley did very well as a San Diego businessman, starting and growing small businesses and raising their value impressively. He entered into the world of show business when he decided to produce a horse show through his company Equustria, and his accomplishments in this new field have been impressive. As a first time producer of a horse show, Mark Remley embarked upon one of the most ambitious projects the equestrian show world has ever seen.

Valitar was a show that sought to combine the grace and power of horses with the athleticism and daring of acrobats. The show was a bold mixture of aerial maneuvers and horsemanship, free flying acrobatic stunts, and coordinated, precise routines the horses performed unfailingly. The set pieces and props were similarly impressive. Included were a 9 foot tall iron horse sculpture and a 20 foot tall trampoline wall, both used by contortionists and acrobats to remarkable effect.

To make all of this possible Mark Remley had to travel across the world, meeting with and learning from professional horsemen and women in dozens of countries. Throughout the process of planning and producing Valitar, Mark Remley displayed several of the characteristics which made him successful in show business, and for which he is being recognized.

Mark Remley showed vision. He had a dream he wanted to make a reality, and was willing to go to extremes to create his vision. Mark Remley showed wisdom in seeking out professionals who were older and more experienced than he was. Where many amateurs and newcomers try to strike out on their own, Mark Remley instead decided to trust in those around him. As he put it: “I could learn more about horses in a day from the people I met then I could hope to learn in ten years by myself.”

Mark Remley showed courage and a willingness to take risks which has become almost a trademark of show business. Without people like Mark Remley taking risks and striking forth to explore new land, show business would not move forward or experience any innovations. Mark Remley followed in the footsteps of entertainers and producers before him by pushing forth into uncharted territory. For that alone, he should be and is recognized.