World Class Friesian Breeders and National Pleasure Driving Champion (currently under construction)
This 53 acre property across from the banks of Lake Ontario is the pride and joy of Owners Lorie Washuta and Rick Butts, who have earned the title of Friesian Breeder of the Year for three consecutive years. They have beautiful horses, beautiful stables, beautiful indoor arenas and paddocks, but the rest of their property looked like a free for all. Rick is an accomplished national pleasure driving champion, so their desire was to not only develop beautiful grounds to showcase their horses, but to also develop show grounds for future Pleasure Driving events. We developed a plan to showcase their beautiful, contemporary barns and downplay their huge mixed-use storage structure. Using cross axis to organize the property we developed multiple show rings and schooling areas, a cross-country course layout that encompasses the full 53 acres, vendor area, a parking area for large horse trailers, carriage trailers, and campers for driving competitions. We organized the miscellaneous clutter in screened in storage yards, and tucked the new manure management system out of sight. An entry court with a large horse sculpture will greet visitors to the main office, and a courtyard for viewing potential purchases overlooks the mare and foal pastures. At the main show ring, a berm allows spectators to either lay a blanket out on the sloped lawn or sit on the reclaimed granite slab bleacher seating. Another berm allows spectators an overview of the vendor area conveniently located between the show facilities and parking areas. A central axes leads from the front office entry court to the mounded parade circle from which the water hazard and covered bridge hazard radiate. Stay tuned for photographs of the new construction.