build-a-barn ~ stalls are up

Earlier this month, I was busy cleaning the endless construction dust in the house and decided to walk over to the barn. I was surprised to find the remaining stalls up, complete with grain doors. Apparently Brad decided not to wait for our sons help, and set the rest of our stalls up himself. Except for the double stall divider, it is super heavy! 

The stalls really change the appearance of the barn!! Our barn is starting to look like a horse barn! 

March 31

Our son came up in the morning to help his dad install the heavy divider. It swings against the back wall, and will be secured. I think it will come in handy, and be put to good use. Harmony & Koda seem to be prone to injuries/bouts of lameness. It could be a roomier daytime option for Nemo, when affected with allergies. Brad also wants to eventually breed Cierra. It could even be used for temporary storage. Lot's of options.

Double stall on the left, with divider.
Looks the same as the other stalls.

The very next day, Brad cut & installed Douglas Fir tongue & grove wooden side panels on the six single stalls. I got to help with the very last top pieces. Now I can say I helped build the stalls :)

April 1

view from the back end of the barn

If you are sick of barn updates, feel free to scroll on by. I want our dream documented. To relive, and better remember what got us to where we are. 

Two weeks later, our barn still looks like the above. It's a long long process when you do the building yourself. Last weekend Brad rode in a Ranch Clinic, and I photographed it (post to come) we had zero time for anything else. I wish we could progress faster, but good things come to those that wait.

build-a-barn ~ two months later

It's been two months since my last barn update, and one day if you want to get technical ;)

It feels like we haven't made much progress lately. Looking back at my updates, I'm happy to see that we have. I love that about blogs!! 

I left off with the arrival of stall parts, and soon discovered a snaffu...the doors were suppose to alternate opening sides, so that the stalls could share one water pipe and have front waterers back-to-back. The openings were all on the right side, which doesn't work with our water plan. Crap!

With custom building, something will go wrong. It's guaranteed. Brad took a good hard look at past communications. He discovered we were charged for feed doors. They were not installed, and not on the final drawing. Unfortunately, the alternating doors were also not on the final drawing that Brad signed off on. Many communications indicated the doors alternate, with no feed doors - but shit happens. 

This is were working with a good company pays off. They want to make it right, and Brad feels partially to blame for signing off on the final drawing, so they worked out a solution... 

Brad set up the first test stall

they sent one feed door
he cut out the bars (laying lower right of photo)
and attached the feed door & used touched up paint they sent

I am not thrilled he is cutting up our expensive stalls, and has to do the work. However he is happy with the solution, and the company, and to be honest - you cannot tell when you look at the stalls. Brad assured me the stalls are just as sturdy. I hope he is right.

The good news is we have feed doors now lol! As for the waterers, the horses water will need to move towards the back, instead of the front. Still back-to-back, with piping in the middle of two stalls. Our horses won't care one way or the other. Guess what this means? More digging! 

The rest of the feed doors arrived yesterday. Brad is hoping our son can help him get the other stalls set up this weekend. Window grates have already been installed. 

There is still a lot of work left!! Human rooms need panel/trim work, bathroom stuff needs to be ordered & installed, waterers need to be ordered & hooked up, fans have to be installed, not to mention fencing pastures etc. Wish I could take some of this off Brads plate!! What can I say, we've been focusing on the house and just got our occupancy permit! Our house is not completely finished either, but it means I better start sorting & packing! 

Inside of the barn currently looks like this:

we have lights!

the saloon is nice and toasty
we found a good use for our freebie fan

Outside of barn hasn't changed much:

crates with stone for the columns waiting for our mason
& the truss/posts still need to be finished

We've come up against our fair share of building mistakes/challenges, and have learned to think outside of the box, not get all worked up and just resolve them. Some things just didn't occur to us, and others are just plain errors. In the end, everything gets worked out, many times for the better.

first outdoor 2018 ride

Hi, remember me?! I am finally finding my way back to my blog.

2018 is turning out to be a trying year for us, and not necessarily the way we expected. Among other things, sickness of one form or another has kept it's ugly grip on both Brad & I for most of the year. We aren't completely out of the woods, but *finally* feeling more like ourselves and getting some much needed energy back.

We failed miserably at our attempt to get back to riding our horses on a regular basis. Somehow a month flew by without even seeing them :( The only thing that kept my mind at ease is knowing who they live with. I've said it before, and I'll say it again - if our horses can't live with us, then we would want them to live with our trainer. 

Besides our building project and being sick, I left for a Northern Lights photography trip to Alaska for 9 days. Conditions were not favorable, we only saw the lights once briefly. I've been dreaming forever of seeing them dance overhead in color, so I'm pretty disappointed. The saving grace is all the other amazing things I saw & photographed during the day, including Dalton Highway views (featured in the TV show Ice Road Truckers), moose, caribou and the Iditarod. I've done a series of posts on my Facebook Photography page. It's open/public if interested, link on sidebar. Alaska was absolutely stunning, and I can't wait to go back someday and try again! 

I'm happy to report we started back to riding on Tuesday. Koda is a little tender on his left front, so we are keeping it at a walk. We also took advantage of a beautiful Spring day last weekend, and rode outside for the first time this year! It felt wonderful!!

Walking Koda in to tack, from their turnout pasture

I clipped his mohawk & brushed, and brushed and brushed, until I couldn't brush anymore. It's an endless job in the Spring! 

See Nemo underneath the gate at the far end of the arena?
Poor guy, he just stood there watching while we rode

Nemo was pouting, and wouldn't let Brad pet him while he was on Cierra. He is sooo jealous and wants Brad to spend all his time with him! Kinda funny tho that Koda and I were allowed to give him some love.

After riding in the outdoor, we went on a field ride

Brad has a ranch clinic coming up in a few weeks, and needs to focus on Cierra. He spent some one-on-one with Nemo after our ride, brushing his fine flyaway white hair - and that made Nemo happier.

Just when I think Koda could care less,
he does stuff like this.

Cierra & Nemo had walked off to roll and/or graze, but Koda hung by the gate. I went back into the pasture to give him more hugs, before heading back home.

winter "just do it" rides

We are doing our bestest to get up to the barn twice a week to ride our horses. It makes us feel so much better to "just do it" even if in less then ideal conditions. Like Tuesday, when we were in the single digits. My winter comfort riding level typically stays above 20F, for both me and Koda. I feel frozen & guilty otherwise. With the sun shining, and no wind we decided to make the trip anyways. For some odd reason 7F felt warm earlier in the day. It was a balmy 11F by the time we got to the barn.

We never know what type of weather to expect up there, seems it's always slightly different then ours. The indoor can frequently feel colder then it is outside. Just depends. 

Koda and I don't really do much, or ride that long, but I think it makes a huge difference to just be together. Our cold winter rides go something like this: 

If it's not too slippery, Brad and I bring Koda and Nemo in from their turn out pasture. I like walking Koda in. It gives us more together time and an idea of what kinda horse I'll be working with. On icy days, I miss out to baby my shoulder...

Koda goes into his stall for a little while. For some reason, it makes me think he is warming up. I like the transition vs yanking him out of the pasture in the cold and tacking up.

On the days I've remembered to bring the Showsheen inside the house to thaw, I brush Koda's beautiful Fabio-like mane and tail. By this time, Brad is frequently already riding either Nemo or Cierra.

I awkwardly hoist the saddle up, and hope I get it close to right. Otherwise I have to ask for help... 

Once inside the arena, we walk in-hand both directions-ish and go down by the scary end. On Brads lesson days, I'm pretty sure our trainer thinks I'm nuts. Koda doesn't remotely need this, but I like how it feels. This gives us more warm-up in the winter, and allows me to tighten the saddle easier.

Depending on who is in the arena, we mostly walk, work on softening, do a little trotting, a couple turns, backs, sometimes figure 8's etc. I haven't loped Koda for a while. It's been too cold, and I like working up to it after spending more time with him. He honestly would be fine hitting the floor running, it's more for me.

Koda has been a good boy since my accident, altho I know he knows I'm weaker. It's more for my head to get out of my way, but I continue working on doing what I can.

When we just go ride, regardless of life circumstances, I am always so glad afterwards!! The big lug always leaves his hay and comes to greet us. It melts my heart, even in 11F.

Koda walking towards us
Nemo chose to stay at the feeder