Wednesday, January 26, 2011

So What Exactly Have I been Up To?

Well....  I hinted awhile back that I was working on something that if it became reality it would change my little family's lives... for the better in my mind.

I finally had to put a name to this... thing, if you will, to complete a proposal to purchase.   Well, not purchase exactly, going to try the good old fashion Lease with Option to begin with.  Only because of the extreme risk, and current economy is not complaint to small time Jen's goals/dreams.

At the time when I was heavily stressing over naming my dream I discovered this new to me blog, and the very first post I read fit my current topic of thought.  It helped.  I was thinking of "Heavenly Acres" or something equally fairytale-ish... Ms. Kimmel had a point.. "Would I board my horse at some place that infers 'after death'?"  or winged creatures?  Most likely not...

I guess now proverbial cat is out of the bag.

J&J Stables has been born... at least on paper.   Putting a name to something attaches an amount of emotion.  Putting YOUR name on something really makes it yours... makes that dream almost, with-in reach of your fingertips, reality.

The Profit/expense reports are created.  The projected Profit/expense reports are created.  The market research and comparison has been documented.  Everyone who has read it says my "proposal" falls into the "fair value" range.

I've figured out how form an LLC, and I've prayed really hard.   I've priced tractors, hay baling equipment, lawnmowers, and trucks.  I've thought of every possible expense and then some...  I've had nightmares about every possible catastrophe.. including dragons and giants.

I've set 1 year, 5 year and 10 year goals.. all obtainable with good hard work.

I'm waiting on insurance quotes for Property, Commercial Liability and Care, Custody and Control (scary)!  These are the last bits then we present...   praying.. hard.

My husband is creating a web based application with a database backend for tracking and accountability in the daily care of an equine (or in my case +31).  I have design plans for website which includes a boarder portal.

Jodie will be joining my husband and I in this adventure as trainer/teacher and little bit of everything.

So what exactly am I talking about?  Well heck.. it's just a 65 acre 31 stall established boarding facility with indoor/outdoor arena.  It's full to capacity with a waiting list.  There is a beautiful house on the property which over looks a large paddock with run-in-shed for four.  Or one cob, and one super sized mare..   Oh and it produces enough hay to feed +31 year round with extra to sell.

Will I get rich doing this?  NO!  Will it support itself?  It already does.   Can I add value to this - oh hell yah.  I have a life time of equine husbandry behind me.  I have nearly 10 years in customer service, and 6 years in Management.   Will I quit Corporate America?  Not until I retire from it.   My husband has 20 years experience in procurement of commodities which will be a huge asset in this venture.

Did I mention I've prayed hard?

20 comments:

  1. WOW! I am so excited for you and your husband!
    What an adventure you are about to begin. I have never owned that big of operation. Boarded horses on my own. Worked as barn mgr and breeding mgr at a few HUGE showbarns, but never had the guts to take on anything this big! You go Girl :)
    I am so excited to watch this unfold. Cannot wait to see the new website!

    I always have extra prayers to offer up. You will both be included :)
    xo, misha

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  2. Oh, how EXCITING for you all!!! Good thoughts and best wishes to you can't wait to see how all this unfolds! WOOOHOOOO!!!!!
    hugs....
    jane

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  3. I got shivers ! I am sooo excited for you !

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  4. This is quite exciting! :-) Congrats!

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  5. This is soooo exciting! Wow, you must be just wired with excitement. I hope it all works out - it sounds like you've done really solid planning so I'm sure it will. I'm looking forward to hearing more. I hope you blog your way through the process :)
    Good luck and update soon!

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  6. oh wow.How exciting!!!!!!.Look forward to hearing more

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  7. Whooeee! You make me all sweaty and clammy reading this. Such a HUGE step! But so exciting to imagine your dreams coming true!

    My mentor, Colleen is retiring from Walkin in Circles Horse Rescue (where I volunteer) this summer and she and her husband are in the process of buying Cedar Hill Farms (where I first rode Apache and participated in several rides and ACTHA events). It was never a boarding barn, but does have everything turn-key for it, including 3 26 stall barns, move than 10 paddocks, a round pen, an indoor arena, two guest houses, a storage barn with all the equipment included, and a main house, all on ovder 400 acres.

    Her husband will be retiring from his museum job and will be building an airstrip and mini airport on the property in a few years, and my friend, Colleen will be managing the business, including lessons, horse training, and organized rides.

    I'm actually planning on boarding Apache there this summer or late spring so I can have the ability to ride more often on those 400 plus acres.

    So it's kind of ironic that you're doing this, considering I just found out about Colleen's plans last month. lol!

    The biggest issue they are dealing with right now is the exhoribant cost of insurance (and hay....there is no possibility to grow their own, due to the soil and lack of rain). But the insurance alone is going to cost them well over $5,000 a year. Yipes!

    I wish you the best of luck and success on your venture and I can't wait to read/hear more about it as your plans unfold and become reality.

    Congrats!!!

    ~Lisa

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  8. OH HOLY COW~!!!! I am SOOO excited for you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I know how badly you have wanted this and I am so glad it has come to fruition for you!! Can't wait to see pics and hear the progress!!

    ps~ Praying is good and I'll join you!!

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  9. @ Lisa - Hay and Insurance the two biggest expenses. I'm still waiting on insurance quotes and am SCARED to see what it's going to be.

    @ Sally and Karen - Welcome to my blog!!! I've waited a long time to write about this because it adds more emotion to it.

    @ Everyone- THANK YOU for your thoughts and prayers! We are going to need them !! This is bigger than my dream but even though it scares the hell out of me, it doesn't scare me. (that probably doesn't make any sense)

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  10. Wow, that is super exciting! Congrats and good luck on the new venture. Wish I lived closer:)

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  11. It sounds wonderful and I wish you that best of luck with your new place. Now you're living the dream and it's very exciting. The indoor will be a big plus.

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  12. @ Grey Horse... It's not a done deal yet.. I just had to write about it, you know to get it out of my head? We've got the proposel done just waiting on insurance quotes before we present to the owner.

    @ Jen Thank you!

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  13. What an adventure. I admire you for following your dreams and stepping up in a time when so many people are backing off from starting small businesses. You're on the right track. Good luck.

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  14. That is so exciting! Good for you for just going for it!

    (On the leading - you already know not to try to train with the chain. I'd be interested in seeing you and her leading in a video - just curiosity I guess and I'd be glad to give you any comments I have.)

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  15. I think I understand what you mean about "it scares the hell out of me, it doesn't scare me".

    I'm thinking that the dream and all the plans don't scare you. It's all the legal and financial details that are scaring the hell out of you. Those woul scare me, too!

    :)

    ~Lisa

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  16. A Dream Come True!!! That certainly is BIG news! I wish you all the best!! Sounds FANTASTIC!

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  17. City Girl stole my "Holy Cow" opening phrase...so, Holy Horses! This is so damn exciting! I don't know how you can keep your feet on the ground. I can see that this is a dream come true - it was my dream, too and I'm thrilled to know someone who is doing it. Congrats!!!!

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  18. thanks John, Regina, and Dreaming... Again it's not "reality" yet.. praying hard that it does become that.

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  19. How exciting, and then some!! Can't wait to hear more!

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  20. That's fantastic news! I'm so happy for you. Sounds like you've got a great plan.

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Happy Trails!

~Jeni