The story behind our location search --'[96-'98]
Our beginning location --as a non profit org.
The POSITIVE: October 1, 1996 to March 1998. Along I-83 just south of town, a seemingly good opportunity to start this program. 11 acres, a great barn with 10 stalls, and a bathroom. An indoor arena, with a glass front observation room, --large enough to turn into an office. The house on the property, was already rented. We decided to stay in that observation room to watch over the horses, and due to the 12-18 hour days I worked, -to pull the program all together.
We received our 501-C3 status at this York Pa. facility, for January 1,1997.
The NOT-SO POSITIVE: At the bottom or end of the property, there was a tunnel under I-83, just high enough to walk through on foot. To get to the lakeside park, we had to use the tunnel, or cross I-83 on a bridge. Riders and the horses were at no risk, as our horses were charm, and went through quietly, trusting me fully. The 'fun' turned into nervous energy for some 'clients' who feared the dark tunnel length, to the opening at the end. We then limited our riding to a small area.
The outside arena was quite small, used for ponies. The INSIDE arena had 1/3rd of the roof off, due to a previous winter storm. It would fill with water, and leave mud 6" deep for weeks! I had to cancel many sessions. At this facility we did get much 'recognition' for our programs, and we were just getting started! We just needed a proper facility!
The ground wire was broken, as a load of sawdust was delivered. This created a short circuit, and we lost ALL hard work, that was transferred to a donated computer. We lost that computer, and all contents, a fax machine, color TV and more. I had to re-do a lot of work by hand, for months, until we got another donated computer. Again, that had to be re-done to place on that computer. I was self taught, and did not know about back-ups, even though failed at their attempt to do so. We depended on that, but that was also lost!
During our stay at this location we barely survived the winter of 1996-97. Being in a new territory, and not having or knowing dependable hay deliveryman, we were forced to purchase hay that was very poor quality. Under those devastating conditions, of that almost unbearable winter, with over 54" of snow that started the first part of November, and did not thaw until April '97. Hind sight is 20-20! We should have used all 'complete' feed instead, and fed no hay! It was worthless anyway, at $170.00 a ton, every 7-10 days. There were heart wrenching decisions to make. There was a solution presented, and it turned out to not be 'as stated'. Their intentions were NOT honorable, or they would have refrained from telling an un-truth! Instead, we were forced to swallow the bullet for the care of some of our family. We were slandered! Sorrowfully, those who did not know us, did NOT ASK for the truth! Not ONE PERSON, asked --"what happened?" OH YES! ONE DID!
We found a location in the park in Lancaster Pa, however red-tape meant we would have to wait many months.
We found a facility on 40 acres with 22 stalls, that we planned to move to until the park was ready for us. I admit, We were anxious for a better facility, and made some mistakes. I needed HELP! The 40 acres FLOPPED the week we planned the move, -as we were told we would not be there long enough. This was at the last minute before moving! We did NOT want a lease at that questionable situation. In the process, we 'lost our lease' to the York location. It was already re-rented! We had to find a location, --fast!
The ONE person who did ask what happened, called me 2 weeks later. She and her husband wanted to purchase a 44 acre facility that we could have rented from them. It was also right along I-83, just north of York, Pa. They made the first offer, and would have paid in full within 16-18 months.
We finally found a 'three' acre pasture with a barn that had 4 stalls, for the needed 45 days, to stay until that deal was completed. The owners were most gracious, as we had 22 horses. This was definitely a temporary situation.
The families at the 44 acres, loved our program, wanted it for their families also.
To the surprise of ALL of us, the property owner took another offer to get his money up front! and still went for the instant money! That later fell through!
Now, again, we had to search for another location, since the offer was rejected..
The search was CONSTANT from '1994', (when I heard, -"Against All Odds'). (That story will soon be told!)
We were getting desperate! We searched several counties in S Central. PA. We spoke to realtors.
The POSITIVE: Then a particular realtor suggested we try to purchase his home and ground. NOT possible! Later he suggested we could rent the 10 acres he had, with the makings of a barn, if we would work on the barn. We agreed to put $400.00 a month into expense to be used for that barn, with no sides. We were given 2 months for the work. We had no other choice. We had lost our phone number, and were out of business since March of 1998, not having a facility we could work from.
This acreage was next to a park, and riding would be convenient. We had to put up fence, make stalls, put some sort of sides on this building as the weather started to change, make a Tack room to protect the equipment. We got a donated trailer for the office, --which was 'agreed' on, by the property owner, or, -- we would have continued to search, and NOT taken this acreage, even temporarily, to give us the needed time to find a proper facility. At least this would give us more time!
The NOT SO POSITIVE! The NEGATIVE: There was no water or electric or sewage. This was also to be taken care of by the landowner ASAP! AS soon, as we got to the point that we could start some kind of business, this 'person' SOLD THE PROPERTY! He had stated he would NOT sell, as he loved it there! We took him on his word! The paperwork was in the making, but he kept putting it off, with the promise of signing. AGAIN, we DID NOT WANT a lease, because of continuing to seek a better facility. This is what we had to do temporarily! SIX WEEKS of extremely hard labor, with no income, no telephone for 10 weeks there, and now, the property is SOLD! This was devastating! We continued the search, and could NOT promote business for a needed income, although we did do some business there.
At this point and time we had NO HELP, other than a few donations, and a wonderful hay man we found. This held us together for the next few months of searching.
Before we could find another location, the water and electricity (a cord from his home) was TURNED OFF! We had to go to a stream, about a mile away, to DAILY bucket water into huge garbage cans, and water the 22 horses!
Then there was a real hard RAIN! It came rig ht into the barn, and the stalls now had 6 inches of mud in them. The barn was built on a slope, and was very difficult to put these stalls in, due to the bad structure. NOW! I realized this was even worse than I originally imagined!
All this was very difficult on the founder who now ---'broke her foot' ----during all of this! She strapped on her shoes tightly, as she could not even consider the added difficulties of the cast they wanted her to wear. Extremely difficult situation now, as time was getting short!
Weather was now changing to fall, and then winter set in!
No location was found YET!
HOW could we make it into and through winter?
This was a time of near collapse! All we could think about were the clients we served, and how much they benefited from the program. We desperately needed a facility! Again, we were without a telephone at THIS location for 10 weeks! The pole and wiring had to be put up.
From March to September, --no phone.
That day came, when the founder almost dropped in absolute exhaustion, walked across the field, and stopped! She knew! 'Something' told her, --from 'within' that all would be okay --because she did NOT give up, and she still persevered through 'the Toughest Test of Faith'.
How could we be living like this? Would anyone even understand what we were doing here?
This was a temporary situation that went sour, at the worst timing possible!
She looked back at that barn, and saw those colored tarps that were put up to keep out the wind and the rain. It looked like 'The Coat of Many Colors'. Somehow, she 'knew' that everything was going to be fine! Faith persisted!
How could we get through all of this, and be starting a 'Cutting Edge' program, -in a country community that is not progressive?
