We have several riders in the family. Our youngest daughter and granddaughter ride dressage and are still in Florida. The old barn was in sad shape and needed expansion. This was before I started:
While I tore down the old bad parts, we brought in clay/sand and had some ground work done. We also added about 200’ of fencing and an 8’ gate to create a yard within the 3 acre paddock.
I would be taking those boards down too in short order. I had my fence guy drill holes so I could sink posts.
There’s an expansion to the original stall and a new, larger second stall. The roof rafters on the new stall are PT 2”X8”X16’. Nothing from the Bigbox stores are dry. I hired an experienced carpenter to assist me. Those suckers are heavy!
The metal roof went up pretty quickly. But, I couldn’t find help, so I would push one piece up, get up on the roof, screw it down and repeat the process.
Then, adding boards and T1-11 to create strength in the structure.
We bought 6 900 lb bags of sand which goes into the stalls and breezeway. We hired someone to spread it.
This week. I’ll be putting up battens on the T1-11 seams. We’re hiring someone to pressure wash and paint the barn. We’ve got new European yoke doors which get hung after the painting.
It’s been a lot of work and a long road but the end is in sight.
I'd have loved helping 50 years ago. I needed to go take a nap half way through looking at the pics. It looks like you are kicking it's bottom Gary, nice work, and the Horses will appreciate it.
That row of trees just behind the barn make me think there is water right back there?
Thanks y’all. George, Behind the barn is a limerock driveway and the property line. There’s a drainage swale which runs along the line and about 5 acres of undeveloped property on the neighbor’s side leading up to their place in the woods. Also, the land to that side of our property is at a higher elevation so water drains across our property. In fact, when we built in 1999, it was a La Nina year and it rained constantly. There was a lot of washout. When we finished construction, we had to bring in 21 truckloads of 20 tons each of limerock to repair the roughly 1000 foot driveway—but that included some to complete the circle.
It’s gorgeous here. Our other home in Sebastian is nice but I personally think this is paradise.
I don’t think I’ve posted this here. The majestic Live Oak here has a 200’+ canopy. She’s gotta be several centuries old. I’m not sure 3 grown men hand-to-hand can fully reach around her base.
