Oct 22, 2007 4:24 pm US/Central
Equestrian Center Recovers From Devastating Storm
Grand Opening Scheduled For November 3
HOBART, Ind. (CBS) ―
More than two months after a storm devastated an equestrian center in Northwest Indiana, the owners are set to reopen.
CBS 2 Northwest Indiana Bureau Chief Pamela Jones reports on the rebuilding effort.
High winds tore through the Excelsior Equestrian Center on August 16, tossing trusses to a brand new indoor arena and scattering other debris everywhere.
"I was numb. My heart was just so heavy," owner Elizabeth Gagliardi said. "Our property is over a thousand feet long. We had things across the street. Big pieces of steel that took off my neighbor's chimney."
The indoor arena has been rebuilt, this time with thicker studs to support it, and the horses are visibly happy to be training there again.
"And to see that in just two and a half months that we were able to get this back up is so thrilling," Gagliardi said.
The winds took out the facility's budget somewhat, too. All the horses that were boarded there were moved out during construction. Fifteen of those horses are back, and there's room for five more.
Insurance covered most of the replacement costs.
The center was up and running for just less than a year and in that time storms have left serious damage there twice.
Gagliardi says it makes each dark sky just a little scarier. "A little bit of panic. But I just have to believe that, you know, this was something that was just a freak accident, you know. Just something that we pray won't happen again," she said.
You can get a look at the Excelsior Equestrian Center during a grand opening November 3 from 1pm to 4pm. The event will help raise funds for two local horse charities, County 4-H Horse and Pony Club and Exceptional Equestrians handicapped riding program. The Excelsior Equestrian Center, 6780 Lincolnway Street, Hobart, teaches riders how to communicate better with their horses. For more information call the center at 219-942-8195.
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