1/25/05: Barn Roof Completed

The guys building the barn came out last Friday and have been working hard every day since. The roof is 100% completed, the gutters are all on, and they are now working on minor structural details. I anticipate the barn being completed by tomorrow or Thursday. Here are some pics of the roof going on...

1/20/05: Barn Still Unfinished

I haven't seen the guys from Texas Metal buildings in a week. They left last week after it rained and was too wet to work with the lift but it has been dry all this week and they have not made it back. At this point, I can only guess that the building will be completed sometime in February.

1/18/05: Breeding Season and Training

Our stallion Cito is back from eight months of professional cutting training and will continue training at our facility and D-Talk Ranch alternatively. The primary reason for bringing Cito home was to have him around for breeding season. Several locals have already expressed an interest in breeding him to their mares and I expect to have more inquiries throughout the coming months. In addition to breeding inquiries, I have also been asked if we can train horses outside of the Turley Ranch herd. On a limited basis, we can, and I have already taken in one horse from Spring, Texas (Rhapsody) who will be with us for a while focusing on ground work and straightening out some minor riding issues. I am presently working out details on several other training opportunities like this one. Training details relating to horses brought in by our customers will also appear in our training log.

1/14/05: Barn Progress

I don't like calling it a barn anymore - it looks more like an arena! great progress has been made and there are only two more trusses to put up. Then, all bottom truss support is put in, then the top (26 gauge galvalume sheeting). I', also bringing Cito home from cutting training today. Here are recent pics of the ARENA...

First Truss Going in

1/7/05: Barn Pics & White Christmas

Here are some new barn/arena pics...

1/6/05: Barn Supports Are In

Today the barn supports were concreted in - this is a milestone in the project. Seven more days of good weather and the barn should be completed. Pics will soon be posted.

1/4/05: New Year Goals

For 2005 we have several goals at the ranch - at the top of the list is to breed our mares. Tazz will foal in June with a blue roan "Joe Hancock" baby and Fancy will be bred to a HYPP N/H halter horse in Denham Springs, Louisiana owned by Dr. Hugh Leggett. This leaves Kings Poco King who will be bred to Cito. This of course means that I plan to bring Cito home from cutting training in January - Saturday the 15th to be exact. Tazz will not be bred back in 2005 which will give her some nice recovery time.

Continued, intensive training for Cito, June Bug and Fancy always ranks high on my list of goals since I see great potential in these horses. Donnie Gertson at D-Talk Ranch continues to assist me in my training so I can be effective in this task. For June Bug, I would like to get her entered into a few non-halter competitions this year. Cutting? Reining? Not sure...

Since horse goals always come first, the next set of priorities centers around building ranch infrastructure -we have done a good job of this in 2004. The completion of our main barn and goat barn will only increase the things we need to do to make these structures suitable. Running electricity and water, setting up stalls, and working out hay, feed, and shavings storage logistics will top the list.

Fence - a horrible word. We need more of it and will work on it as time allows. I have another 10 to 15 acres that need fencing.

Lastly, I may try to put in an outdoor arena. I will first have to see how much training I can do under the barn effectively.

All of this in addition to me and Heather's regular 40 hour a week jobs will be sure to keep us busy.