[BurningAmber520]

So i have been riding at my current barn (Lets call it Barn A) for the past 4 years. I absolutely love the barn owner, she has done A LOT for me in the past and i would never want to do anything to hurt her... But I moved my mare to another farm with an indoor (Let's call it Barn B) for the winter so she wouldn't get out of work, and I absolutely love it there! And now I don't know what to do... Im seriously thinking of keeping her at Barn B indefinitely, But I just don't know. I have 2 other horses at Barn A, and its hard running between 2 barns, but I would feel horrible leaving Barn A totally. And I just don't know what to do

Pro's and Con's of each farm

Barn A Pro's:
-All of my friends are there
-I know all of the horses
-I am one of the go-to people there
-Miles of GORGEOUS trails
-Low board
-Good friends with the owner
-Horses are very well taken care of
-Large pastures (3+ acres each)

Barn A Con's:
-No Indoor!
-Gets too icy to ride at all in the winter
-Not a lot of showing opportunities
-Feel like Im not moving forward
-Am only able to ride my horses

Barn B Pro's:
-Indoor!
-Heated Lounge
-Large Pastures
-Can ride all winter
-Trainer who pushes me to move forward
-Am able to ride and work with lots of different horses
-Lots of opportunities to show, my horses and the barn owners horses

Barn B Con's:
-Limited trails
-Expensive board ($200 more then Barn A)
-Horses don't get as much turnout in the winter


I mean all in all I'm really just worried about hurting the Barn A barn owner, as she has helped me out soooo much and I don't want to hurt her by leaving!! Advice please!

 

[GandRPaints]

If shes a good friend she will understand the move. It is to hard to do two different barns as well. The only downfall with your new barn that I see is the turn out. But if you are able to ride your horses to keep them fit then going out as much isnt as bad. Personally Id go with barn B. You will make new friends and advancing is a big plus. Good luck!

 

[LoveMyDrummerBoy]

^^ I agree with GandRPaints

I'm sure everyone will understand and if they don't, you did what you needed to do.

 

[sunshineo0o]

I personally would wait it out and see if you really like Barn B. See if you get along with the other boarders and if it is something you think you will enjoy.

In my opinion riding is much more fun when you have your friends there with you...so what if you end up leaving all your friends and those beautiful trails that you were talking about and then end up disliking Barn B?

 

[Becca93]

It depends entirely on what you want to get out of your. If you want to take your riding to a new level (and by that I mean showing etc and your riding ability) then maybe Barn B is the way to go but can you afford the difference in price and you have to make the decision whether it is worth the different/extra facilities.

 

[mls]

I have 2 other horses at Barn A, and its hard running between 2 barns, but I would feel horrible leaving Barn A totally.

We have a rule in place for this. I can't have folks running back and forth between barns.

#1 - the germs. I would not want you bringing something back with you from the other barn and as a BO, I would not want fingers pointed at me if horses at the other barn suddenly turned up ill.

#2 - Rules and mannerisms. I am sure each barn has their set of rules and generally acceptable behavior.

#3 - It IS hard on both BO's and your barn mates whether they say anything or not.

Due to riding at Barn B - what are your horses at Barn A doing?

 

[sillybunny11486]

Feel like Im not moving forward

That should be a deal breaker for barn A. Barn B has less turnout but you can ride more right? That might not be a bad trade off.

We have a rule in place for this. I can't have folks running back and forth between barns.

MLS- what did you mean by this?

I wouldnt board at a place were they made me keep all my horses there or none at all. I have a retired mare, I wont board her at a barn that charges more because they have a nice ring or an indoor, she dosnet need it. My weanling will need ground training soon, I might be looking to board him at a place with an indoor so our training is uninterupted in the face of bad weather.

 

[Alwaysbehind]

It is $200/month/horse more? So that is $600/month more for three horses?

You do not ride your little one, right? So no real reason to move that one over to a barn that is set up more for showing and riding. The more back yard lots of turn out environment is better suited for that horse.
Your other horse is partially retired, right? Will it do OK in a set up where it gets less turn out?

I think for your horses sake (the two you are not trying to advance with) it is best they stay where they get good turn out, etc. If you are not able to go between barns easily then I say move your show horse back to Barn A and truck out for lessons.

 

[paintsrule]

Why dont you just do what you are doing now and keep all the horses at barn a in the spring/summer/fall then move your one horse to barn b in the winter to ride and you will have the best of both worlds?

 

[mls]

That should be a deal breaker for barn A. Barn B has less turnout but you can ride more right? That might not be a bad trade off.


MLS- what did you mean by this?

I wouldnt board at a place were they made me keep all my horses there or none at all. I have a retired mare, I wont board her at a barn that charges more because they have a nice ring or an indoor, she dosnet need it. My weanling will need ground training soon, I might be looking to board him at a place with an indoor so our training is uninterupted in the face of bad weather.

Exactly what I said. Our rules do not allow for boarding at two different barns. Breeding, training, etc are special circumstances and typically short term.

And seriously - if you have horses at multiple barns - what kind of quality time are you spending with them?

 

[sillybunny11486]

Most of the people I know use different barns. I've honestly never herd of someone saying that to a boarder. I understand about contageous stuff, but if the horses are all staying were they're kept I dont see too much of a problem. How do you enforce a rule like that?? If I really wanted to board a horse at a farm that said that to me, well I wouldnt tell them about my other horse.

 

[Alwaysbehind]

And seriously - if you have horses at multiple barns - what kind of quality time are you spending with them?

What about people who have one horse in serious training and one horse semi-retired? The quality time thing is not a big deal then. Or a person that has one horse at home and one horse boarded?

 

[justsambam08]

We have a rule in place for this. I can't have folks running back and forth between barns.

#1 - the germs. I would not want you bringing something back with you from the other barn and as a BO, I would not want fingers pointed at me if horses at the other barn suddenly turned up ill.

As long as its in the same state, it should have the same immunization requirements....so the only germs would be people ones. If a horse did get sick, there'd be no way for you to say definititively "Yes, your horse is sick because {insert name here} has her horses boarded in more than one place. go blame her for your vet bill." That is finger pointing. Unless you run a barn that works with a vet hospital, nothing is going to be sterile 100% of the time (if ever, around horses) and germs/sickness happen.

 

[fourtwentyam]

Exactly what I said. Our rules do not allow for boarding at two different barns. Breeding, training, etc are special circumstances and typically short term.

And seriously - if you have horses at multiple barns - what kind of quality time are you spending with them?

How do you even enforce that? Like, how would you ever know if someone had another horse elsewhere? Just curious. [=

Honestly, I don't think how much quality time I spend with my horse is the BO's business. Neither is where I keep my other horses.

And the germs reason is BS. You can pick up germs ANYWHERE - a tack store, a horse show, the mall, school, work - and transfer them to the horses. Do you require people to become sterlized before walking into your barn? All your vets and farriers that come from different barns all the time, they aren't carrying germs?

 

[ridergirl23]

If i were you i would move barns, you will probably be very welcome to visit your old barn anytime since they know you really well. i think they will understand, just tell them how you feel and stuff. good luck!

 

[mls]

How do you even enforce that? Like, how would you ever know if someone had another horse elsewhere? Just curious. [=

Honestly, I don't think how much quality time I spend with my horse is the BO's business. Neither is where I keep my other horses.

And the germs reason is BS. You can pick up germs ANYWHERE - a tack store, a horse show, the mall, school, work - and transfer them to the horses. Do you require people to become sterlized before walking into your barn? All your vets and farriers that come from different barns all the time, they aren't carrying germs?

Germs reason is BS? Spoken like someone who has never been quaratined.

Our farrier does our barn first that day.

I am a vet tech at the clinic where our doctors are from. I know how often they change clothes and disinfect the truck, equipment, etc.