What should I do? / What did you do? (college bound)

What did you do with your horse while you were in college? This is my first time living on campus

This Saturday I'm leaving for college. It's not far away at all, about two hours, and I get my Fridays and weekends off. I plan on driving down every Friday until Sunday. Not only to come home and ride, but I have other commitments like my dogs, fiance, work, eta..

I'm still on the lookout for a reigning trainer. I would hire someone to work him out for me while I'm away but I don't have money to spare on things like that. :/ I'm afraid of what Gunther will become, haha, without being worked.

I brought the horse with me to uni but was lucky in that it was a college with its own stable. However, home was Colorado and uni was in Massachusetts, so it wasn't as if going home on weekends was an option. Anyway I never had any bother finding time to ride. Not having a commute helped with that. I also brought the horse to grad school and now have a hassle of a commute, as I live in the middle of Glasgow and the horse is half an hour away. Still, it's worth it.

Personally I would bring my horse with me . I wouldn't be able to not have her with me , she helps me through alot of things and means alot to me. I see her everday. If you are unable to afford to bring her with you then leaving him/her at home would have to be the only thing you could do . You could look for someone to lease your horse while you are in school that way you know your horse is getting the attention he/she deserves.

I agree with leasing, or finding a way to move your horse with you. Maybe to a closer stable if possible.

You could even do a partial lease (if that's what I'm thinking of). Someone could ride your horse during the week and then you could check in and mess around with him on your off time.

I am fortunate in that I am living at home during my foray into the master's degree/have a horsey parent who can continue to ride/train in my place, but if I were in your position, that is what I would consider.

I'm starting college in 2 weeks I refused to live in a dorm room because they wouldn't let us have our cars as freshmen...I explained to them that I rode in shows and stuff and they still wouldn't make an exception.....Luckily(Thank goodness) my dad was in the market for renting a house so we rented a place that was 6 mins from college and 15 mins from my horse I'm totally loving it....next year he wants to see about renting a little farmette type thing close to college so I could have Phantom with me and I'm looking into my friend's gelding who is trained in reining......funny thing is we are both looking into reining haha.

I'd look into a half lease if I could or simply leave my horse be. It's what I've been doing since being pregnant. A friend of the family borrowed my horse and pony for 3 weeks, but really if they aren't going to be worked consistantly I'd rather leave them be until I can. They are less demonic that way.

I would bring him with me, but I get free board (saving me $350+) a month. So I have to take advantage of that. Not to mention my college doesn't have a stable, but they do have some close.

All of my friends who brought their horses to college with them all agree that they didn't spend as much time with their horses as they thought they would of. Because they were always so busy. I know if I brought him with me, I would feel stressed out because of trying to get hw done/studying and then worrying that I wasn't spending enough time with him.

D; No one I know is interested in doing a half lease. And I don't want someone who doesn't know how to ride, ride him either. The people I know are looking for a nice fancy hunter/jumper horse. And my boy, just isn't that.

Gahh I don't know. Thanks everyone.

Is it possible to have your trainer or a trainer at the barn where you keep your horse ride him while your away?Or maybe even a friend of yours ride him for you so he can get some exercise?

Is there any way you could find a barn that would let you work off your board?

I just moved from Kansas to Kentucky to my college and I found a barn that would let me work off BOTH of my horse's board while I still have two here (I'm selling one). It might be worth asking!

I'm going to disagree with the majority on that I didn't bring my horse to college, but I can't tell you what to do, just explain my position.

First of all, I have two horses - one that I ride and show, and one that's old and retired. My old & retired gelding didn't need the stress of losing his friend, and my flighty Arab didn't need the stress of a move.

I live 1500 miles from home.

My horses live at home and my dad is happy to care for them, free of charge.

My horse enjoyed the 8 months off. He was fat, happy, and well rested, and it didn't take me a very long time to fit him back up to what I needed him to be. Four months of the year is what we needed to be together for - any more than this and we start driving each other nuts, any less and we get little done.

University, also, is a time for you to be young. I partied my first year, but I worked really hard too, made a lot of new friends and don't remember at any point being bored or saying "look at my over abundance of free time!". I think if I had brought my horse, I would have gone to the barn every weekend and not really made many friends.

I have the opportunity to bring my horse this year but I won't be taking him. He needs his alone time and I need mine. When I come back in the summer, we both have a fresh mindset and are ready to work. We have made more progress this year then in many other years combined, I have tons of new friends at university, and my dad has his ponies to hang out with for the winter.

Whatever you decide, make sure its the right decision for you. Is it possible that you could go for a month without the horse, then bring him? Or bring him, then send him back if you change your mind?