Finding a barn (Southern California)

Hey all, first post so sorry if I say something stupid. I'm a recent Massachusetts transplant looking for a barn in the Pasadena, CA area. The problems: a) I don't have a horse in CA. B) I'm every trainer's worst nightmare: A jumper rider, who's been occasionally hacking around on a pasture ornament for the last two years.

I'm definitely looking to ride English (preferably hunter/jumper), but I'm also concerned about finding a barn that doesn't judge me for things I can't help. The last show barn I was at told me I needed a new horse because my skin tone didn't look good with my grey horse. They also basically banned my partner from even coming to see me ride in shows, even though the girls were allowed to have their boyfriends. I'm not looking to start a morality debate, I just want a barn that isn't going to make my life difficult over it. Having a barn that isn't hostile toward me because of what I am rather than who I am is a big deal. I'm perfectly happy if they hate me because of how I conduct myself because that's something I can change. I can't put myself through that again.

I know this is going to be hard because I don't have a horse to board and I don't have any recent experience seriously riding. I'm willing to lease come September, since I'm going home for the summer, but I haven't heard of any barn back East that would let a random stranger lease and ride there. Thanks in advance.

I would start by looking for trainers/barns in horsetrader, and other horse related publications, call up some trainers, talk to them, get some references, see what type of vibe you get with just the basics, and then if you like a place, go by, talk to some of the boarders/students without the trainer right there, and see what they say. Watch a few lessons, hang around for a little bit, and see how the trainer conducts his/herself, and once you find one that clicks, then start taking lessons, or leasing. Honestly as long as you aren't hugely PDAing at shows with your partner I don't think anyone will have serious enough issues with it to "ban" your partner from coming to support you, and if they do, then they don't deserve your interest and money to show at their facility. I personally do not think that being a homosexual is right, but I still believe that as a homosexual you have the right to your own opinions, and should be allowed to have your partner come support you in what you love to do. Just get out there, and talk to some horse people, find out what shows are going on in the area, and go watch, and talk to some of the competitors, that's another great way to get information about trainers, and who's out there, and feel people out. Good luck, I hope that you find a place that is accepting of you for who you are, where you feel comfortable being yourself.

Pasadena is hard, I'm just about 45 minutes east of where I am in Ontario. I don't know much about stables in the area.

I had thought this was asking about boarding, not training. So the whole post I wrote out doesn't work.

I would suggest what DB said. I am sorry to hear people judging you harshly because of your sexual orientation. That is wrong, and you deserve to be treated as an equal and let your partner support you.

That was uncalled for. This post was not about that, so your opinion did not need to be stated.