Conifer Ridge Farm - Training Ring Project

Conifer Ridge Farm has expanded! At the top of the ridge, where a garden once grew, we've cleared land for a large training ring, and posted pictures to show the ongoing construction process...

Trent Archibald of On-Time Excavation handled the creation of the new 100' x 200' sand ring, which combines with our existing 40' and 50' round pens to increase our training space significantly.

"It's a big project", says Leslie, "but it's worth it. Not only does this give me more elbow room for training, but it's a definite benefit to both the horse and prospective owner for the animal to get used to a real ring. That way they perform better when they first begin to compete out in the real world!"

Above is the "before" picture of the new ring area, where cows grazed just above our old garden...


First, we cleared the land and leveled the surface, from the lane at left up to the old pasture fence at right...

Next came the dump trucks with gravel...	While the steam roller waited to get into the act...	Hey look, our very own heavy equipment "convoy"!

Here's the first load of gravel being dumped at our feet...	The construction foreman consults with Leslie & son Michael...	And the laborious leveling process begins with the big blade....
September 2005
Next step was the dumping and spreading of crusher grit followed by sand - stay tuned for more pictures...
Early October 2005

Room to ride - these three shots show the panoramic view from the ring at the top of the Conifer Ridge, looking towards our 50' round pen on a glorious fall day. The new ring now has a finished surface and awaits fence posts...
Late October 2005	Early November 2005

The surface has now settled a bit & the first posts on the west side have been put in place.	Next we installed the posts along the north end next to the 50' round pen, just above the conifer wind break.	And here the posts have been put in place all along the east side; soon we'll be ready to string wire!
	Here's Leslie on a crisp fall day bundled up & armed with treats, training the farm's "brat pack"...