« Back to News List
Lady Luck's Tackroom Makeover
August 12, 2009
Those who know her would say that Sara Clark is a success in many different ways, but winning any of the numerous contests and sweepstakes that she’s entered over the years hasn’t been one of them–until now. Clark, of Milton, Fla., was selected as the Grand Prize winner and recipient of the $5,000 Lucky U Tackroom Makeover, sponsored by Farm Credit. Farm Credit is a nationwide network of agricultural and rural lending institutions cooperatively owned by their borrowers.
Farm Credit began advertising the contest in August 2007, and received almost 4,000 eligible entries. A random drawing was held to narrow the entries down to five finalists, and they were required to write a short essay on why his or her tackroom should be considered for the makeover. Based on the content of those essays, one Grand Prize winner and four runners-up were chosen. Once the winner had been selected, contest organizers secured a tackroom contractor in the same geographic location as the makeover winner. In this case, Farm Credit hired Tony Happel of Crestview Equine Equipment in Crestview, Fla., to handle the actual hands-on project construction, and the $5,000 Grand Prize “check” was presented to Clark on July 17, 2008 by Jay Baker, local branch manager for Farm Credit of Northwest Florida, located in Milton.
Winning Isn’t (Always) Everything
By her own admission, Sara Clark “never wins anything,” even after several entries into various contests. But, that one shortcoming is in no way a reflection of the life she has today.
By her own admission, Sara Clark “never wins anything.” Until now.
As the oldest child of a Maryland farming family, Clark had always taken care of many different types of animals–everything from sheep and cows to horses and multiple family pets. At a very young age, she already knew that she would eventually find her calling in some type of animal-care field. And that’s exactly what she did.
After earning a bachelor’s degree from Virginia Tech, Clark went on to obtain a veterinary degree from Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine in Blacksburg, Va. She then furthered her education at Options for Animals College of Animal Chiropractic in Wellsville, Kan. Clark soon met her future husband, Mike St.Jean, a U.S. Navy pilot instructor, at her sister’s wedding. In October 2007, the Navy transferred St.Jean from San Diego, Calif., to Pensacola, Fla. After the move, Clark began working at the Northwest Florida Animal Clinic in Pace, Fla., where she became one of only a handful of veterinarians in the region to offer animal chiropractic services.
As the newlyweds searched for homes in Florida’s panhandle, Clark knew that “lots of acreage” would be a major deciding factor. She already owned two male Geldings, whom she had adopted two years ago from her former veterinary school, and she really wanted to be able to keep them on her own property instead of continuing to board them on someone else’s. Not to mention the fact that after leaving behind a tiny 600-square-foot apartment in California, the couple yearned for a large open space in which to settle down. Their search ended when they purchased 4.7 acres in the little town of Milton, Fla., located just east of Pensacola. The land, along with a beautiful three-bedroom, three-bath brick home, provides the perfect setting for Clark’s continuing dream of large animal ownership.
Today, Clark’s two male horses, Ivan, a 15-year-old Dutch Warmblood, and Francis, a 7-year-old Cleveland Bay Arabian Thoroughbred, reside on the property with Clark, her husband and newly-adopted yellow Labrador, Calif. (Coincidentally, the horses were named long before the massive hurricanes of the same names ravaged the Northwest Florida area.) They all appear to be happy and well-adjusted in their new digs, on the acreage that was purchased just for them. Their daily care consists of the usual feeding, watering, exercising and grooming, all of which is based out of a single barn-like structure. Clark speaks to the inefficiency of that building in her qualifying essay as having “no organization, rhyme or reason.”
“The extra money has gone to pasture management (trying to get good grass to grow) and putting up safe fencing,” she wrote. “We wanted things safe and livable for the horses, and the tackroom has just been on the back burner.”
“We really needed to address the tackroom situation,” said Clark.
That’s why she entered the Lucky U Tackroom Makeover contest. “I’ve never won anything, so I was pretty sure I wouldn’t win that one either, but we really needed to address the tackroom situation,” said Clark. “Being chosen was very surprising!”
Tack-fully Hers
Now that she has the winning-of-the-contest behind her, all that is left to be done is the actual design and reconstruction of her current tackroom. With the expertise of tackroom contractor, Tony Happel, the existing disorganized structure will be transformed into the most enviable tackroom around.
After Happel surveyed the current situation, he made several suggestions to Clark that he believes will have the most impact on the efficiency of Clark’s tackroom:
- Six stack saddle rack
- Large rubber container feed box
- Boot cleaner
- Single wooden saddle rack
- Wardrobe and mirror (for riding attire)
- Dehumidifier (to dry out horse blankets, etc.)
- Bridle hooks
- Removable saddle racks (to carry along when needed)
- Dorm-size refrigerator (for storing medications)
- Wall units with multiple shelves
- Aesthetic additions, such as painting the floor, installing window treatments and adding a mirror with curtains that will look like another window
Once the project is underway, more changes may be added to the list, but for now, the intended renovations have made one small-town veterinarian continue to remark with surprise, “I still can’t believe I won!”
Don’t Put The Cart Before The Horse!
Sage advice from Sara Clark, D.V.M.
Caring for large animals–particularly horses–is not for the faint of heart. It takes responsibility, dedication and disposable income, almost rivaling the art of child-rearing. When considering the purchase of one, Clark makes two suggestions: spend a lot of time at a riding stable and seek out a company that leases horses so that you can have a real-time idea of what is involved in its care.
Habitat for Horses holds horse auctions at various locations, with some going for only $50.
Once you’ve determined that owning a horse is the right decision for you, start researching ways in which you can purchase one of your own. Habitat for Horses holds horse auctions at various locations, with some going for only $50. Local owners who are in need of downsizing will place ads in newspapers, equestrian magazines and on internet websites. Veterinary schools will often use horses in their training and then offer the animals up for adoption. Most large animal hospitals will have bulletin boards in their offices for buyers and sellers to post their information.
Most importantly, make absolutely certain that you are aware of everything that goes into owning and maintaining a horse for the long haul. A lot of new owners take on the responsibility without knowing what they are really taking on. Talk with your veterinarian or horse-knowledgeable friends about tips for the day-to-day care and routine maintenance of your new horse. Arming yourself with as much information as possible can make for a healthy, lifelong relationship between a man (or woman) and his (or her) horse.
« Back to News List
