This winter (and "spring") has made me yearn, both for warmer days and an indoor riding arena. During my ride on Sunday, we were working on turning on the hindquarters while his fore feet were in a square of poles on the ground, and it started to sleet nasty wintry mix. As I huddled in the barn glaring at the sky, I wished for an indoor arena where our work would have remained uninterrupted by inconveniences like the weather.
If you are a horse person, at some point I can pretty much guarantee you have daydreamed about your perfect horse property. At this point it's pretty obvious mine includes an indoor arena, but there is oh so much more I would snatch up if I could. So let's dream a bit together, shall we?
First, I want a barn with stall doors that slide like butter on a hot pan. The flooring would be these amazing recycled rubber bricks, you can hose it off, sweep it, and it looks fabulous. Plus, it's just the right blend of firm and gentle support to stand on. My tack room would be lightly heated and completely enclosed so no floating dust gets in. I'd have a lounge room overlooking the indoor, with plush couches, a refrigerator, microwave, and an old fashioned Coke machine. Then there would be a bathroom large enough to change in, with real running water and everything! (Right now our barn has a porta-potty. It works, but it does leave something to be desired.)
I would have a wash stall with a drain in the middle and overhanging hose on a spring so when you let go, it bounces gently in place in the air without having to drag a dirty hose around on the ground. Sounds lovely, right?
Okay, so, the barn would have a covered aisle leading to the arena, which would be both air conditioned and heated. The indoor would have mirrors along one side and seating on the other, with two large doors leading out each end. It would also have a built in hydration system to keep the dust down.
Then I would have at least three large (5 plus acre) pastures and one sacrificial pasture for spring. Then there would be the outdoor arena and 50 foot round pen. Of course, the property would have mature oaks and maples throughout, as well as some pines and poplar trees. Grass would be thick and green, with no need to supplement hay through the summer. Each pasture would have a shelter with two open ends and a roof.
What do you think, am I missing anything? Apart from the house (Southern style with wraparound covered porch, hardwood floors and a glossy open kitchen with granite counters and a center island....).
A girl can always dream, right? What would your place look like?
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