changing barns again
After fugly's post yesterday I took the call to action and took steps to change barns. I had been thinking about it and after reading the comments in the post I made a few phone calls. It looks like I will be moving to a barn that I visited in August of 07 and was really impressed with, but it didn’t have the training program that I wanted at the time. I went and checked it out again last night to see if anything had changed and aside from a few mud puddles here and there it looked exactly the same.
Current Barn -
Small training barn. Most of the horses are either owned by the B.O/Trainer or are in training for shows.
Pluses
Fantastic care and attention
Trainer that I really respect and seems to care about me and my horse
Wonderful billing system - never have to worry about scheduling farriers, vets, worming as all handled by the B.O.
Free use of any of the B.O./Trainer's equipment
Usually have the place to myself
Minuses
No outdoor arena
Small indoor arena (Tiny!) that you can't turn out in because of set-up
Limited number of small paddocks
I am taking a year or two off of showing so my horse is no longer in full or partial training. Due to the lack of turnout/paddocks the only time my horse gets out of his stall is when I come out to visit. I can't make it out everyday, on a GOOD week I am out three times a week. It has only been a month since he has been out of training and already the barn employees and I are noticing a difference in behavior. He just isn't happy anymore.
So.. New barn.
It is 8 miles from the old barn (4 miles closer to me!)
HUGE indoor arena, HUGE outdoor all weather arena and a full sized outdoor dressage arena
Captain will get a stall with a run and doors are usually closed about 2 weeks a year due to weather.
Individual tack rooms with each stall.
They have winter turn out pens (Still bigger then the current barn) and summer pastures - turn out for 4 hours a day unless stormy as there is no shelter in any of them.
67 acres of trails
Minuses
Increased boarding cost but still less than I was paying with training
No water in winter turnouts - which is why turnout is limited to four hours.
No huge tack room with equipment to raid
Need to arrange for own vet/farrier appointments and worming
Have only met the BO/trainer and his wife - here is hoping everyone else is as nice.
Busier.. I won't be the only one there in the evenings
The place will be more work for me but Captain should be happier there though and that is what is really important. Still only 4 hours of turnout a day but that is SO much better than where he is now. The new barn has a waiting list but there should be an opening around Feb 1st, possibly earlier if a horse is sold. Here is hoping that this barn is as nice as it looks!
Current Barn -
Small training barn. Most of the horses are either owned by the B.O/Trainer or are in training for shows.
Pluses
Fantastic care and attention
Trainer that I really respect and seems to care about me and my horse
Wonderful billing system - never have to worry about scheduling farriers, vets, worming as all handled by the B.O.
Free use of any of the B.O./Trainer's equipment
Usually have the place to myself
Minuses
No outdoor arena
Small indoor arena (Tiny!) that you can't turn out in because of set-up
Limited number of small paddocks
I am taking a year or two off of showing so my horse is no longer in full or partial training. Due to the lack of turnout/paddocks the only time my horse gets out of his stall is when I come out to visit. I can't make it out everyday, on a GOOD week I am out three times a week. It has only been a month since he has been out of training and already the barn employees and I are noticing a difference in behavior. He just isn't happy anymore.
So.. New barn.
It is 8 miles from the old barn (4 miles closer to me!)
HUGE indoor arena, HUGE outdoor all weather arena and a full sized outdoor dressage arena
Captain will get a stall with a run and doors are usually closed about 2 weeks a year due to weather.
Individual tack rooms with each stall.
They have winter turn out pens (Still bigger then the current barn) and summer pastures - turn out for 4 hours a day unless stormy as there is no shelter in any of them.
67 acres of trails
Minuses
Increased boarding cost but still less than I was paying with training
No water in winter turnouts - which is why turnout is limited to four hours.
No huge tack room with equipment to raid
Need to arrange for own vet/farrier appointments and worming
Have only met the BO/trainer and his wife - here is hoping everyone else is as nice.
Busier.. I won't be the only one there in the evenings
The place will be more work for me but Captain should be happier there though and that is what is really important. Still only 4 hours of turnout a day but that is SO much better than where he is now. The new barn has a waiting list but there should be an opening around Feb 1st, possibly earlier if a horse is sold. Here is hoping that this barn is as nice as it looks!