For years, Petra Gazzola tried to beat the odds in the competitive field of equestrian "dressage," the training and showing of horses.

She spent much of her life trying to train world-class riders and show horses in the unforgiving climate of Deerfield , New Hampshire .

"Most of the really competitive riders train year-round in places like Florida ," Petra says. "We're at a big disadvantage when we try to train horses in our cold winters."

So Petra did something about it: she built her own indoor training facility. After researching her options, and considering tent-like shelters, wood buildings and steel structures, she says a colleague recommended Allied Steel .

It was a great choice, Petra says.

"I know horses, I don't know buildings," she says. "But I got the idea I could do it all myself, from buying the building to putting it up. I didn't know how little I knew. Allied helped me every step of the way."

Petra bought the 80- by 100-foot building in the Fall of 2003. She had it delivered to the 25 acres in southern New Hampshire where she raises 11 horses and trains riders from across the state. She got permits to chop down trees and level the ground to make room for the building.

"I learned a lot during this process, and Allied was great to help me when they could," she says.

Petra laid out the interior of the building to have a 20-meter circle in the middle where riders can put their horses through their paces. She also put white panels on the walls to give the space a bright, open feeling.

"I have a nice open space where they can run," Petra says. "I had to arrange the interior so that riders would not hit their knees on the walls - or hit their heads on the beams."

Petra says Allied Steel assisted her when needed in the building's construction. She says there were some things she didn't anticipate needing because she had never bought or erected a building before.

Because of the special footing required for her horses, the building could not have the traditional concrete slab foundation. Instead, Allied Steel helped Petra with getting a full perimeter frost wall to keep the ground firm, but soft.

Petra said a big part of the process involves getting the floor consistency right.

She diligently created the riding grounds using a combination of stone dust, sawdust and dirt to give the horses the footing they require.

Her riders approve of the new facility, she says.

"I've had a great response so far, and the riders love being able to get in good training during the winter without having to go down to Florida," she says. "I'm very happy I went with Allied Steel."