Suit Coats and Breeches

Work hard, play hard, be kind. That is the life philosophy of Jeff Papows, PhD. “Try to be the best person you can, and help anywhere you can, and give back as much as you possibly can,” he adds.

Growing up in Gloucester, MA, Papows always had a passion for animals. As a young adult, he attended Norwich University, went into the United States Marine Corps where he earned an officer’s commission and served on active duty, and attended graduate school before getting into the computer software industry. Starting his career at a time that the industry truly began to transform the way people lived, Papows was very excited about where it would go. “Being part of it from the ground floor up was just fascinating,” he says.

Papows worked his way up to become President and CEO of Lotus Development Corporation and President of Cognos Corporation—during which time he also wrote four books, earned a PhD, and was awarded numerous other doctorate degrees from multiple universities. He then decided it was time to reward himself with that horse he had pined for since childhood. “I went out to the World Cup in Las Vegas, bought one of the horses that was performing particularly well, and took him back to the East Coast,” he says. “He ended up being the horse of a lifetime.”

Not one to do things halfway, Papows committed to the sport, jumping into the deep end of the pool and working his way toward success. “I was 41 or 42 before I sat on a horse,” he says.

“Of all of the things I've done—the Marine Corps, running multibillion-dollar technology companies—I don't think any of them were as difficult as learning to ride at the twilight of my life.”

Papows enlisted the help of top experts with whom he has not only trained but also competed alongside. And, despite the challenge of the sport, his hard work paid off. One of his fondest memories is from the former Syracuse Sport Horse Invitational with Roxett 7: “I did extremely well in the Master’s Grand Prix,” Papows explains. “It was extraordinary and very competitive—I remember every minute of that round like it was yesterday because it was one of those moments where it all just came together.”

He is adamant, however, in pointing out that by any meaningful metric he’s had no notable success and has never entered the Grand Prix ring and in fact never will—but by the same token Papows can remember every double-clear round and is no less gratified by the generosity and love, trust and courage of his horses all these years. “I think whatever level you're at in the sport—from kids with ponies in their backyards to the McClain Wards of the sport, there's so much character building and so much that you can take away from it.”

Deeply involved both riding and business, Papows has come to realize the cosmic parallels between the two. "You learn from the people that have a vast amount of experience, and succeeding at a high level—whether you're writing a book, acquiring a company, or in the show ring—requires the same intangibles," he says.

"It's about commitment, passion, integrity, leadership.”

Papows has not remained solely a competitor in the equestrian industry, however. Born out of frustration with large, commercialized shows, he took on a new business venture and founded the Silver Oak Jumper Tournament. “The big focus of the tournament is on quality—quality of course designers, property, and the competition,” he says.

The weeklong event has delivered that quality to riders of various levels from Juniors to Grand Prix, and Papows hopes to continue to provide a world-class competition for the foreseeable future. From a spectator’s standpoint, there is ample seating and amenities at the event and the Grand Prix is televised on the New England Sports Network, reaching millions of living rooms. It is not just a regional or even national horse show, but every year attracts dozens of Olympians from across the globe. “It’s truly an international affair and your chance to see the best of the best,” says Papows.

Not to be lost in all of the pomp and circumstance of the show is a strong stance on philanthropy. The kindness that Papows has both shown and received from animals throughout his life is what truly drives him. To that end, Silver Oak Jumper Tournament, a 501©3, has supported organizations including animal rescues, therapeutic riding programs, and children’s charities. In 2018, Danny & Ron’s Dog Rescue and The Omega Horse Rescue fund were the beneficiaries and will be again this year. “The animals are what really gives me the greatest joy,” he says.

“If I had to pick just one thing to achieve in 2019 it would be to rescue another thousand animals. I think that would make me very happy.”

A man with many well-known successes, Papows’ philosophy has worked out well for him. In addition to running the Silver Oak Jumper Tournament, he is currently CEO of an important software company and on multiple boards of directors. Outside of business and riding, he and his wife raised three children, all of whom are now grown, has three dogs, and a black belt in Tae Kwon Do to boot. But despite his hectic schedule, Papows makes sure to give back. “I've been fortunate to do very well, but it's kind of a moot point if you're not contributing,” he says. “I've always believed if you can be kind to animals and kind people, regardless of what you have accomplished, then at the end of the day you can look back on your life and feel good about yourself.”

As originally seen in Northeast Equestrian Life