Build a new horse barn

The barn is essentially done. I need to put in the stalls and frame in and finish the tack room and office, but that can all be done over time (stalls of course are first priority). I’m so happy!

This pic was taken yesterday morning. By 3pm the whole roof was done. They should get to the walls today or tomorrow!

The rafters are up, and it’s framed and ready for steel, which should be arriving on Monday or Tuesday. The insurance adjuster should be coming sometime next week or so, so hopefully I can get the money from them, to the mortgage company, and then to the contractor. It’s a mess, but at least I’m getting my barn!

So after arguing with the mortgage company some more ($7000 is not enough to get a barn half built), I finally got enough money to actually get started. The posts went in December 10th, the steel is ordered, the rafters arrived yesterday, the contractor came over today to frame up the building, and is coming back tomorrow to put up the rafters. The windows for the house have been in the shed for a couple of months waiting to be installed, and we need to get the siding for the house yet, but otherwise everything is going well so far. I have to call the insurance inspector tomorrow to come look at the progress, then he can give the okay to give me the rest of the money. It may not be completely paid for yet, but I may have a barn by the end of the year (fingers crossed).

The mortgage company sent out an inspector today to check out how the rebuild is going. The burnt foundation is buried and cleaned up, water and electric lines have been laid, windows for the house have been bought, and materials have been ordered. She determined that we’re about 20% finished and will recommend the mortgage company release the next installment. Yay! Now to get to building. The contractor should be getting started on November 1st, and wants to be done by the opening weekend of deer season, so hopefully I’ll have a finished barn before the snow flies. I’m getting some horse blankets for the geriatric horses just in case.

After months of calling, mailing, faxing, and waiting, the mortgage company is finally sending the first third of the first half of the insurance payment! It’s a little over $7000, but it’s enough to pay the guy who cleaned up the foundation of the old barn, with hopefully enough left over to get the new barn started. I hope I can get this project done before winter…

Well, I get to complete this goal this year, but not how I wanted to. My barn burned down on March 15th. All the horses are safe, but the barn is completely gone, along with my saddles, bridles, halters, lead ropes, hay, feed pans, everything. Even my cars, which were parked about 20-30 feet away, burned up.

It’s been a month, and the remains have been cleared away. I’ve got the checks from the insurance, which I have to send to the mortgage company for them to put in escrow (annoying), but I should be able to get started once the weather clears and the ground dries. I’ve got plans, I just hope that I have enough money to build the barn I want.

I was going through my morning internet routine (first comics, then forums, and finally networking and business related sites), when I came across something that broke my heart. A person on one of the forums (ABlackHorse.com) mentioned a website I had never heard of before: DonateMyHorse.com, the ‘number 1 place to donate or adopt a horse online’. I think it’s great that such a place exists, but sad as well. How many of these horses will truly find a good home, and how many will bounce around from ‘home’ to ‘home’ until they end up in a feed lot? How many of these people really care about their horses, and how many just want to dump their problem onto someone else? It’s heartbreaking to see all the horses that need a home, many are under 10! I really wish I could help, but I just don’t have the money. Someday I will, though. I don’t know how, but somehow this will all work out.

I was quoted $150,000 two years ago for a ‘bare bones’ barn. A large shed really, but big enough to finish the way I want: 30 to 40 stalls (some can be expanded for foaling), arena, wash stalls, tack and feed rooms, office, lounge, and viewing area.

I’d like it for a boarding/training barn, specializing in rescues, lay-ups, and ‘turnarounds’: purchase an untrained, under trained, or poorly trained horse or pony (with decent conformation of course), train it well and get it some show experience (mostly hunter/jumpers and dressage, maybe some western), and resell it (with a contract, of course). While there is an overabundance of horses out there, there is a shortage of good, really well trained horses for trail and show, and very few sport ponies.

I’d also like to be able to offer lessons in riding and husbandry, maybe sponsor the local 4-H clubs and FFA, teach them young how to properly care for a horse.