On June 1, 2001 the renovation for what was to become Bristol Equestrian Estates began. It was nothing more than a run down dairy farm. With over 6,000 bails of hay to clear out, five silos and two buildings to knock down, and over 3,000 yards of concrete to remove on the entire property we had our work cut out. We completely gutted out the main barn, all that was left was 4 concrete walls, no floor, and a roof. In May of 2003 Bristol Equestrian Estates was up and running.
Bristol consists of 43, 12×12 stalls, 2 wash stalls with both hot and cold water along with a 135×73 indoor arena, 2 outdoor arenas, and over 300 acres of riding trails. We also have a heated and air conditioned lounge and tack room which consists of private tack closets. All of this is maintained and overseen daily by our onsite barn manager.
This facility is a dream come true, not only to my family but also to all of those who are apart of the Bristol Family. We began our adventure in the horse business nine years ago with a single riding lesson. My kids Nichole (then 12) and Jason (then 8) had their very first riding lesson on July 4th of 1996 and from there it just escalated. By December of 1997 we had our first two horses, Gunner (then 3, Nichole’s first horse) and Amber (then 4, Jason’s first horse). The following summer brought Pirate into our family and the next two summers after that Amber gave us two healthy but very different fillies, Lilly (who is my son Chad’s horse) and Lea.
If that wasn’t enough we weren’t done yet, in the fall of 1999 I finally got my first very own horse, Missy. Sure we had 5 horses already but none that was mine. In March of 2000 Missy gave us a very rambunctious gelding, Sye. In the fall of 2003 my daughter Nichole bought her first horse (that is, with her own money and not mine), Stretch. In the summer of 2004 we welcomed 3 more horses into our family, Lady Bug, Jazzimine, and Serenade. So that brings the total to 11, that’s right ELEVEN. With Eleven horses there is always something to do.
Amber who is now 13 has proved to all that she has what it takes She is excelling on the Morgan Class “A” circuit with my daughter Nichole in both English Pleasure and Pleasure Driving. In 2004 we competed for our first time at the National level placing in all of our classes. My family and I have discovered our love for the Morgan breed and are looking forward to expanding our horizons.
Always Dream Big,
Tammy Knaus
Facility owner
