Harry Knopp Has Built IDA Development Into An Industry Leader

By Y.A. Teitelbaum

It’s a Monday afternoon, usually a pretty quiet time in the equestrian world, and especially in mid-September. But not for IDA Development owner Harry Knopp. He has been awake since 5 a.m. (his normal time) and is attending a noon meeting at his latest project — the complete renovation of the FEI barns at Wellington International, home to the world-renowned Winter Equestrian Festival.

Under Knopp’s leadership, IDA Development has established a sterling reputation as a top industry leader for equestrian services in just eight years. Their work is visible all around Wellington and across the United States.

They have recently renovated, refurbished and improved a multitude of areas at Wellington International. In addition to renovating and installing 130 Barnwalkers stalls in the FEI barns, IDA has upgraded the walkways throughout the facility for horses and visitors alike with Equitan, a safe, seamless, cushioned flooring that provides anti-slip properties and excellent shock absorption. They will also be building five steel barns with 450 stalls as part of the new development. IDA also specializes in state-of-the-art covered riding arenas, barns, steel buildings and luxury custom homes.

“Harry is great to work with. He is always available and finds solutions to any issue,” said Michael Stone, president of Wellington International. “He has shown outstanding commitment to working with us at Wellington International and continues to do so. Harry is hands-on, easy to contact and wants what’s best for the client, and then delivers.”

Longtime horseman and business leader Murray Kessler, CEO of Wellington International, agreed.

“Harry and IDA have been helping us upgrade the property for many years, and we’ve been able to turbocharge that improvement this year,” Kessler said. “Harry has moved mountains to make a lot of difference in WEF, and I can’t wait for everyone to see the incredible work that IDA Development has done.”

IDA Development also built 12 steel barns with Barnwalkers stalls at the area’s newest polo club, Plyrs, on State Road 7 in Boynton Beach in early 2025. Each barn has 32 stalls, feed storage, four tack rooms, four bathrooms and can accommodate four players per barn.

“My partner, [Realtor] Romain Marteau, introduced IDA to us,” said Juan Sanchez Elia of Plyrs. “We saw what IDA had built at WEF and decided to go with them. They are very competitive and professional. The barns are spacious, fresh and comfortable to work in… Harry and his team are 24×7 available. The barns and infrastructure were built in six months. We are now going into Phase 2 of the project and are looking forward to working together.”

Knopp never planned to be in the equestrian services business when the family relocated to Palm Beach County from Pittsburgh almost 20 years ago.

Harry and his wife, Teresa, moved their family so their daughter, Lauren, could pursue her dressage dreams with more opportunities in Wellington. She caught the riding bug from her mother, who still currently rides.

Now, Lauren is an accomplished Grand Prix dressage rider and trainer, based at IDA Farm in Wellington’s Little Ranches. Shane, their 24-year-old son, never had an interest in horses, just like his father. He graduated from Colgate University with a degree in computer science, where he served as student body president, and now works as a software and data engineer for TurboDebt.

After relocating, the family purchased IDA Farm and oversaw a major renovation. When IDA Farm was expanding and running smoothly, Harry pivoted and started IDA Development on May 1, 2017.

“People come here [to IDA Farm] from all over the world,” said Knopp, who worked as vice president of sales and operations for Bolttech Mannings for almost 30 years, focusing on critical maintenance for oil refineries and major commercial companies.

“Everyone instantly feels the culture here and the sense of community, the sense that there’s no stress. They like the way things are built and laid out — horses and people alike,” Knopp said. “They would ask, ‘Who built that ring? Who built that covered arena?’ I would tell them that I built that. Everybody has a friend and a friend of a friend. And that’s how IDA [Development] was built. The birth of IDA Development was because of what I did at IDA Farm.”

It’s quite a change from where he started.

“I thought I would spend my whole career in oil and gas,” Harry said. “I never had a vision to own a farm like IDA Farm. It was never in my plans to be in the equestrian services business.”

IDA Development has also done major work with Equitan rubber flooring at the World Equestrian Center in Ocala and Ohio and the Desert International Horse Park in California.

The Knopps are very community-minded, supporting various local charities, including the Vinceremos Therapeutic Riding Center, Southeast Florida Honor Flight and the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office Mounted Unit, while also sponsoring events at major horse shows around the country.

In addition to IDA Development, Knopp has partnered with Bart Kenis in creating Barnwalkers, which allows IDA Development to offer top-of-the-line barn products, such as beautifully designed European stalls, De Sutter Naturally fencing, walkers, as well as accessories, all focusing on horse safety and durability.

“It’s very natural for me to cross-sell,” Harry said. “It’s almost second nature for me. Expanding product lines, cross-training your people, comes very natural for me.”

He manages a variety of clients at IDA Farm, and they often hire IDA Development.

“I bring a lot of value and expertise as a builder, so that separates us from other companies,” Harry said. “When I exited the oil and gas services business, everything I learned the first 35 years, I used those skills to develop a nationwide equestrian services business… Due to my background servicing oil and power plants, I was always at their beck and call. So, I’m used to getting calls 24 hours a day. It doesn’t matter what day it is and when my clients ask for something, I have that skill set to deliver.”

His business philosophy is simple and effective.

“One job at a time. One day at a time. We’re a company of integrity,” Harry said. “Provide high-quality products and take care of your people. And your people take care of your clients. And really, it’s one day, one week, one month. That turns into one year, and you just build it from there.”

Learn more about IDA Development at www.idadevelops.com.