The Evolution of Bay Creek Stables
Bob and Connie Esker packed up their 2 children and moved from Jacksonville, FL to Cicero, NY, in 1991. Bob had served 21 years in the United States Navy, and was to begin a new career.
Both were raised in Southern Illinois, where farming was the #1 business, and the thought of moving to New York was not too appealing. However, they soon learned Central New York was like going home, maybe better! The lay of the land, farms with silos, corn and hay fields, small towns, and especially the people, all reminded them of home. After spending so many years in the Navy, with families constantly moving, this was their first real chance to form permanent, long lasting relationships. Bob feels the wonderful friendships they have made are a direct result of their equine involvement.
Bob & Connie both had horses as kids, so after they settled down, they explored the possibility of getting back into recreational riding, so they took lessons, and Connie even attended horse-related adult education classes. They went to horse shows, equine fairs and other events to learn all they could. They got the bug! Both were amazed to learn how much they didn’t know or remember. When they were kids, the horses ran in a pasture day and night and all they did was catch them, knock off the dirt, saddle up, go riding and have fun. Sometimes a blacksmith was called for trimming and shoeing, but most times their parents or brothers did the trimming. They only called the veterinarian if the animal was sick. So the formal equine education and information learned at other equine activities was a real eye opener. They decided they wanted to have their own horses and provide the best and most proper care possible.
The Eskers leased a horse from the stable where they took lessons for a short while, but they wanted to have their own, so they started the search.
Being most familiar with Quarter Horses, that is where they focused their search. Prospects were tried, and Connie took a few “rodeo rides,” eventually purchasing a big muscled mare called Josie. Bob thought she was just right for him. However, she has become Connie’s best friend and the matriarch of Bay Creek Stables.
Now the Esker had a horse, but no place to keep her. Near their Cicero home, they had often admired the horses running in a pasture. Bob decided to ask the farm’s owner if he boarded horses. The elderly gentleman said yes, but he only had a standing stall available. They took it! Eventually, a larger stall would be built for Josie, as well as one for a gelding Bob purchased for himself.
The farm owner’s name was Bob Diffin, who became a dear friend and mentor to the Eskers. They thought they were back home. Diffin was more like a parent, sharing his experience and knowledge, and encouraging them to fulfill their horse related dreams.
Diffindale Farms was a great place, and horses were always priority number one with Diffin, no matter the time of day or weather. His love of the animals and dedicated care and philosophy “let a horse be a horse” is the example that is followed today at Bay Creek Stables. Diffin always was willing to help or advise, whether it was to breed Josie and raise a colt, or purchase tack. He was there supporting Connie during Josie’s giving birth, imprinting the filly and the following days and months of training and handling the filly. The days at Diffin’s really enforced the Eskers’ desire to own their own farm.
Connie had shared with a friend, Lisa “Hopper” Brunner, what she thought would be the perfect place to live. In December 1995, Lisa told Connie about a place near Mallory, NY, that had a big barn, acreage, running creek, a house with a walk out basement, exactly as if it were made to order. By May 1996, the Eskers bought the farm and moved in, a dream come true.
The farm has a 120-year-old barn that originally house a dairy operations, situated on 75 acres with “Big Bay Creek” (hence the stable name) running through the middle. It even had its own sawmill pond at one time. A good portion of the dam still exists. The barn is post & beam constructed, “L” shape configured, that had a 18-stall milking parlor with high ceilings (not typical of a dairy barn), two loose hay mound areas, two oxen stalls and numerous standing stalls for work horses, and lots of windows to take advantage of natural sunlight. Previous owners tore down a portion of the barn that housed the work horse stalls and a second hayloft. The trolley cable, freestanding wall ladders and pulley system that was used to do loose hay operation with draft horses is still intact, a good conversation piece. The barn sat idle for 27 years before the Eskers purchased the property. They immediately built three stalls in one of the loose hay mound areas to stable their horses (Josie and her baby Brandee, and Donnie) and put up fencing for pastures. During the initial four years, they replaced rotten exterior boards, repaired/replaced all window sashes (19) and painted the exterior which hadn’t had a coat of paint in 30 years or more. The farm was an eye catcher; beautiful from all aspects, house, barns and hay fields with waving stalks of grass.
Bay Creek Stables grew from there, through word of mouth and/or because of special circumstances, people would ask if they would board their horses. As each situation arose, a stall would be built to accommodate the person or the horse. Usually, it was situations related to “a horse needing to be a horse” or an owner who wanted to enjoy their horse for no other reason than love. Connie has a hard time saying no to a horse or owner with needs.
Today, they have 16 spacious stalls, the results of adding a new six (6) stall wing to the old barn, with three stalls especially built for foaling with 24-7 video/audio monitoring;. All stalls are wired for heated buckets in the winter or fans in the summer. They have turned one oxen stall into a boarder’s tack room and the other into an office/boarder’s lounge with a microwave oven and coffee pot. There are 25 acres of luscious green pastures fenced with Electro Braid safe fencing, a 60 x 104 indoor arena with a heated observation room, a 60 x 100 outdoor arena and 55 acres of hay fields. The horses run together as herds, separated by mares and geldings. All go out every day from sun-up to sun-down unless weather dictates otherwise. Bob and Connie process all their hay (5000 bales), which allows control over the type and quality. Marked trails exist on the property and longer trails go off the property.
Boarders’ horses consist of semi-retired world champions, weanlings, convalescing horses, older horses with special needs and packers (great horses for the young & beginner). Many of their past and present boarders quip that Bay Creek Stables (a.k.a. Fat & Happy Farm) is a horse and owner’s paradise. The total number of boarders is kept small so they can ensure dedicated care to each and every horse. Even so, temporary stalls have been made on occasion in order to help out a friend or a horse in need.
Bay Creek Stable business grew to include selling a horse bedding product called Woody Pet because of the unreliable availability of sawdust, and rising cost, along with the inconvenience of shaving or other like products and their high cost. Apparently, it was a problem experienced by lots of horse owners as Woody Pet sales flourished
Also, in the last three years Connie has turned her attention to a breeding operation with a select group of mares she owns. The mare’s bloodlines are notable and their foals’ sires have been top of the line producers i.e. “French Accent”, “Pana Dude” and “A Dynamic Invitation”. The quality of the foal crops has been extremely rewarding.
As one thing leads to another, the evolution of Bay Creek Stables did not end at the farm. In 2004 Connie & Bob purchased the Agway feed store operation in Central Square, NY. Bob always wanted to own his own business and why not stay with a business that you know and love, equine and farming. Besides, Connie could immediately be one of the store’s best Customers. Also, it was an opportunity to preserve a recognize icon that supported the local equine and small farm enthusiast that included area home owners. The store’s name is Central Square Farm & Equine Supply and after operating a year in its original location in down town Central Square it was moved to 1759 County Route 37, West Monroe, to accommodate expansion in product types and quantities. The new location offered easy highway access and door front parking. The store offers a full range of large and small animal feeds (Agway, Blue Seal, JJ Feeds & Nutrena) and accessories; lawn & garden products; farm supplies and more. They pride themselves for being “Locally Owned and Operated - Providing Good Neighbor Service”.
During the past ten years Bob & Connie have done a lot because of their horse interests. They have taken the horses and camped at ranch rodeos, Otter Creek and other overnight trail riding excursions. They have team penned and showed at open shows, rated shows, and the State Fair. Connie has nursed and tended to numerous horse ailments at home and away. They have experienced the joy associated with the birth of foals and sadness to see them leave. They have been blessed with the rewards of Friends and Boarders being more like family and customers being more like close friends and neighbors. Bob & Connie live horses day in and day out!
Connie manages Bay Creek Stables on a full time basis and advises the Store Managers with regards to equine products. She is not employed anywhere else. Her love of horses just happens to be a business as well. Bob works a full time job; however, it’s just a stepping stone until retirement when he can spend full time working the farm or the store. Bob & Connie are living their dreams! This is what Bay Creek Stables is all about!
Visitors are always welcome to Bay Creek Stables. Give them a call at (315) 676-5723.
