Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Weddings happen every day. In churches. In homes. In yards.
But how about in a boarding/training facility for horses?
On Aug. 4, Jason and Sheila Conley took their vows of matrimony in their newly built barn before approximately 200 family members and friends.
"It was beautiful. It was the most ideal setting. Everything was great," said Jason. He said it was a mutual decision between the two of them to get married in the barn.
Sheila said she liked the idea of marrying in the barn because "it was going to be a lot more fun and relaxed, informal." She said she didn't want a lot of stress for the big day as they had just finished building the facility.
"Everyone had a good time ... and that was what was important to me," she said.
As the newlyweds make their life together, they also have undertaken a new business together.
"This (boarding/training facility) is brand new," said Jason. "We're only in our third weekend. It's an all-new facility."
Also to be offered at the new business, The Winning Edge Performance Horses, CR 375S, Warsaw, he said, are riding lessons and horse sales. There are 15 stalls for boarding, which is limited. The barn also offers a 30-foot by 72-foot heated tack area, and a heated and air conditioned viewing lounge to watch the 72-foot by 160-foot indoor riding arena. Outside the barn is a 90-foot by 220-foot arena.
Jason said he is just the "maintenance man" for the business. Sheila, he said, runs the daily operations of the facility.
"I built this for her. All I do is the repair and help her out any way I can," Jason said. "It was kind of a new beginning. We worked hard on it. She designed it, actually," and J.W. Stookey Construction built the barn. "It's a big project. It's a big building, but I did it all for my wife."
Sheila, 34, said, "I've been riding horses for people professionally since I was 15 years old."
She has shown horses, too. In 1992, she moved to Texas to show quarter horses for big-name trainers. She also worked for the American Quarter Horse Association's past president for a year before striking out on her own. She moved back to the area three years ago, she said.
As for the barn, she said, "It was Jason's idea. I basically came up with the plan for it." She said while designing it, she wanted it to be nice and comfortable but workable for the clients.
"Everyone so far really likes it," she said. She said she does training for all horses and offers rides and lessons for Western pleasure horses, too.
"Basically," she said, "I want my customers happy and to do well at the horse shows." She said she hopes to keep getting horses in the barn for training. While she wants the business to grow, she also doesn't want it to get so big she can't keep it on a personal level.
Hours are Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Hours Saturday and Sunday are 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information, call 268-0582.
Sheila said, "I do really, really well working with kids and amateurs. I'm pretty good at that."
"It's a seven-day-a-week commitment but it's a choice we took upon ourselves," Jason said, "We welcome anyone to come by and take a look."
