Brigita McKelvie - Lehigh Valley, PA, Residential, Rural & Horse Properties

Ever since I was a little girl, I have had a passion for horses. I always dreamed ofriding the champion horses in shows and have my wall covered in blue ribbons. I would own my own training stable along with several horses. Maybe even board horses.

Whenever my family went on Sunday drives in the country (gas was only 25 cents per gallon at the time), or we went on vacation, if there was a roadside pony ride (yes, there were such things years ago), we had to stop so I could ride.

I grew up in the Bronx, NY, believe it or not, and moved to Pennsylvania at the age of 23 with my husband. I was determined to fulfill my dream. After moving to the Lehigh Valley, and with extensive searching, I found a wonderful German instructor/trainer. She saw I was serious about learning everything about horses, so, she took me under her wing, taught me English riding, a lot of information on horses, plus lots more. She even helped me find my first horse, break him (he was an unbroken 3 year old ½ Arab, ½ Quarter Horse who only knew how to lunge) and train him. I was ecstatic since I wanted to learn how to break and train horses, too, although this was my first and last time I broke a horse. Now that is a different story in itself, which I'll share with you at another time.

Since my instructor went above and beyond what a regular instructor would do, I wanted to give back to the horse community in some way with sharing my knowledge.

As time went on and my family grew, both my son and daughter enjoyed horses and I ended up getting involved with them. And so my horse family grew, too.

The kids were involved in 4H, the U.S. Pony Club and showing. So, mom (me) ended up volunteering as an assistant 4H leader, District Commissioner of a local chapter of the U.S. Pony Club, helping out at the different events and being a horse show mom. The more I got involved, the more I learned about the horse world.

All during this time I wanted so much to work with horses. When I had my farm, I taught private riding lessons to beginners, which I loved. It was just difficult for me to squeeze this into my busy schedule with the kids. So, I only had a few students because of it.

While continuing my education with horses (there is always something new to learn) by reading books and articles, attending seminars and lectures, clinics and lessons, I continued looking for jobs to keep me in the horse world. Even though my volunteer work kept me in the horse world, it did not pay my bills. I tried my hand at being a stable hand, judging low level and 4H hunter shows, horse appraiser, none of which really worked out for one reason or another. I guess it wasn't my calling.

When I remarried, my new husband suggested I go for my real estate license. I thought about it and decided to try my hand at it. Why not? I tried a lot of other occupations. What's one more?

While attending classes, I thought about it some more. "You know what?" I thought to myself. "With all the horse knowledge I have, I can specialize in horse properties." That made perfect sense to me. I remember when I searched for a horse property for our family, the agent I used had no clue what a horse property was. What I got was: "It's 7 acres and zoned for horses." That did not mean it was horse property. For example, a mountain or a swamp are not horse friendly properties.

There are a lot of things to consider when buying a horse property. Township zoning regulations and the lay of the land are just a couple of things to keep in mind. Lots of research needs to be done.

When I realized there was a need for a horse property specialist in real estate, I found my calling. I am still involved in the horse world with fellow horse people and I am able to help them, also, using my years of horse knowledge, not to mention that I get to see the sturdy architecture of the older barns.

It's a great feeling helping other fellow horse people find the right homes and farms for their individual purposes, and seeing them happy in their new homes and farms.

If you are interested in buying or selling, or even investing, in rural or horse property, large or small, or even if you want to get into the real estate field, contact Brigita McKelvie at Keller Williams.

Happy horses make happy owners, which makes everyone happy.

Last weekend I had the opportunity to attend a rodeo that was held at Shawnee Mountain in the Poconos in Pennsylvania. It was lots of fun.

It had lots of action, such as calf wrestling . . . . .

calf roping . . . . .

clowning . . . . .

bull riding . . . .

barrel racing . . . . .

trick riding . . . . .

and many more events.

There was also lots of food and drink along with tasting chili from the cook-off, and vendors selling western items and cowboy stuff. It was a day of lots of fun and excitement for everyone. Looking forward to going to next year's event.

The Bethlehem Harvest Festival will take place on Saturday, October 3rd, 2009 in Historic Bethlehem from 11AM until 9PM.

Main Street will be bustling with artists and crafters. Blacksmiths will demonstrate the art of iron work at the 1750 Smithy.

How about a walking tour of the Historic Bethlehem? The times for the tours are 12:30, 1:30 and 2:30PM.

Local musicians will perform on Main Street from noon until 3PM. Festivities will then continue from 3 - 9PM at the Sun Inn Courtyard, where there will be food, beer and wine.

Bethlehem restaurants will have a Harvest Soup contest, where you may purchase tickets to sample and vote for your favorite 1 - 3PM. You will even be able to sample imported beers and homebrews.

Children will also have activities like grape stomping, pumpkin painting, plus much more.

Click here for more information.

This Saturday, October 3rd, 2009, will be the 33rd Annual "Old Allentown Preservation Association House Tour". Eleven restored home and properties in some of Allentown's oldest neighborhoods will be on display.

The tour will include 3 center city neighborhoods.

Come see how an old Victorian home was turned into a contemporary showplace with a second floor light well that gives a view of the first floor. Check out how the backyard of a row home was turned into a relaxing retreat.

Also included in the tour is the former General Harry C. Trexler mansion, with its magnificent oak woodwork and sparkling leaded glass.

Two FREE trolleys will transport tour goers between homes.

Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 day fo the tour. Click here for ticket locations and more information.

It will be neat seeing how some of these homes and properties have been transformed.

Yesterday the Bethlehem planners unanimously approved the SteelStacks Performing Arts Center to be built at the former Bethlehem Steel plant site.

Construction is set to begin this fall on the $25 million four-story performing arts center. It will sit just south of the old blast furnaces.

The arts center will include a two-screen cinema that will show independent films, a bistro and an area called the PodZone. The PodZone will feature furniture arranged around flat-screened televisions, which will allow patrons to do everything from sharing Powerpoint presentations to playing Guitar Hero.

The building will also include a cabaret-type Musikfest Cafe, which will host community and educational events.

There will basically be something for everyone.

The performing arts center, and the broadcast center, are expected to open by spring of 2011.

The other parts of the project are to be a festival center, a music pavilion, an outdoor plaza and space for community events. It will provide space for artists and farmers markets and festivals run by ArtsQuest.

The project is part of the redevelopment of the former Steel plant and will have a view of the blast furnaces.