Some of you may have seen a thread in which I mention the "Pony Posse" at the new stable I'm at, and we all sort of joked, etc. Well....
Today I pick up the paper and in the sports I see pretty much a who's who of the Pony Posse???? Pics with their ponies and talk of their accomplishments...One girl qualified for Pony Finals 2010 in Kentucky and USEF 2010 Pony Medals finals. Another rode to the Medium Green ponies championship in Rosco and qualified two other ponies for 2010 Pony Finals. The third states that she's actually a "former" Pony Posse and now president of it and that she went to USDF Region 4 championships last year..
Ok, so.. it seems they are pretty good and our trainers do a great job with these kids and ponies. Most of them are polite and the one going to Finals actually has a sign up that she is "working her way" to finals and lists all the odd jobs she is willing to do to earn money from tack cleaning to babysitting. I even saw her clean out and re-organize someone's tack locker...even leaving a little mint!! I thought it was just darling. So I was somewhat starting to change my opinion of this group of kids....until I saw the stable calendar.
The whole week this week the indoor arena is closed for the specific use of the Pony Posse. Say What???? It was closed last weekend for a clinician that was brought in. ok, so now I'm a little concerned. I pay the same amount of board and yet...all day 24/7 for a week no using the indoor arena...at least I think that is what it was meant when it was blocked off. They didn't put 9-5 or anything like that. We do have a hunt field which Cinny goes nuts in and a dressage arena that is currently just a plowed spot with no rails...which I will do no more than walk Cinny in be because he always eyeballs the adjacent 100 acre cornfield of baby corn and grabs at the bit. I think he seriously contemplates just ditching me and running for it when we are out there lol.
I moved to this stable for 3 reasons...It's an english show stable one of the few in this STATE, there are three great trainers especially with dressage and....an arena I can actually use no matter what the weather. The biggest issue with my last facility was that there was only an outdoor arena and it rains here at least 3 days a week. The arena took at least 2 days to dry and then when it did it was cement until the BO could pull herself away from reading craigslist adds long enough to drag it...and then it turned into a cesspool of large dirt clods. When I toured this facility and asked about the arenas, the clinicians, the lessons, if there were times the indoor arena specifically wouldn't be available I was not told about Pony Posse hostile takeovers...only the 1 clinic a month and the 2-4 shows a year (depending on if/when they decide to include a few of their "casual no dress" shows).
So I'm thinking of writing the BO at the new place an email and asking if there are specific hours and telling her how I think it's unfair to the rest of us boarders...but not sure how to not be a B about it. I really don't want to move because IMHO this is the BEST boarding facility within an hours drive. But...if I can't work Cinny consistently I am afraid it will be a two steps forward/one step back sort of thing with him. And I really really do NOT want to make any waves here.
What do you guys think??? Oh, and a few pounds of carrots to all of you who read my lil novel....
Today I pick up the paper and in the sports I see pretty much a who's who of the Pony Posse???? Pics with their ponies and talk of their accomplishments...One girl qualified for Pony Finals 2010 in Kentucky and USEF 2010 Pony Medals finals. Another rode to the Medium Green ponies championship in Rosco and qualified two other ponies for 2010 Pony Finals. The third states that she's actually a "former" Pony Posse and now president of it and that she went to USDF Region 4 championships last year..
Ok, so.. it seems they are pretty good and our trainers do a great job with these kids and ponies. Most of them are polite and the one going to Finals actually has a sign up that she is "working her way" to finals and lists all the odd jobs she is willing to do to earn money from tack cleaning to babysitting. I even saw her clean out and re-organize someone's tack locker...even leaving a little mint!! I thought it was just darling. So I was somewhat starting to change my opinion of this group of kids....until I saw the stable calendar.
The whole week this week the indoor arena is closed for the specific use of the Pony Posse. Say What???? It was closed last weekend for a clinician that was brought in. ok, so now I'm a little concerned. I pay the same amount of board and yet...all day 24/7 for a week no using the indoor arena...at least I think that is what it was meant when it was blocked off. They didn't put 9-5 or anything like that. We do have a hunt field which Cinny goes nuts in and a dressage arena that is currently just a plowed spot with no rails...which I will do no more than walk Cinny in be because he always eyeballs the adjacent 100 acre cornfield of baby corn and grabs at the bit. I think he seriously contemplates just ditching me and running for it when we are out there lol.
I moved to this stable for 3 reasons...It's an english show stable one of the few in this STATE, there are three great trainers especially with dressage and....an arena I can actually use no matter what the weather. The biggest issue with my last facility was that there was only an outdoor arena and it rains here at least 3 days a week. The arena took at least 2 days to dry and then when it did it was cement until the BO could pull herself away from reading craigslist adds long enough to drag it...and then it turned into a cesspool of large dirt clods. When I toured this facility and asked about the arenas, the clinicians, the lessons, if there were times the indoor arena specifically wouldn't be available I was not told about Pony Posse hostile takeovers...only the 1 clinic a month and the 2-4 shows a year (depending on if/when they decide to include a few of their "casual no dress" shows).
So I'm thinking of writing the BO at the new place an email and asking if there are specific hours and telling her how I think it's unfair to the rest of us boarders...but not sure how to not be a B about it. I really don't want to move because IMHO this is the BEST boarding facility within an hours drive. But...if I can't work Cinny consistently I am afraid it will be a two steps forward/one step back sort of thing with him. And I really really do NOT want to make any waves here.
What do you guys think??? Oh, and a few pounds of carrots to all of you who read my lil novel....