Hi I am currently moving back to the US from overseas with my family, I am a competitive jumper here in Thailand. But I wanted to know about barn life in the US. Everything from rated shows, finding a trainer, to supplements. I have yet to get a horse, but summer of 2016 I will be flying with my current trainer (she’s german), to Germany to get my first horse! So anything about boarding. Oh and anything about winter (blankets, riding wear, and riding in general would be great 
All of that is going to mainly vary by location. Of course, it’s going to vary by type of barn and showing situations too. Feed and supplements will vary by horse.
Where are you looking at moving?
Hi bellannreed, welcome to the US. I do jumpers as well, and I must say I love it. I’m not sure about the differences between here and Thailand, or really how anything works over there, so could you tell us a little bit about it and we will note the differences? But I do know about winter, and some supplements. My baby is on Platinum Performance, which is an all around kind of thing. It helps his hooves, coat, digestion, joints, and just makes him overall healthier. I also keep him body clipped in the winter to save time cooling down. There fore, he has three blankets-light, medium, and heavy. He also has a hood to help with rubs. You will want either winter riding boots or boots slightly to large, so you can double up your socks. A light but warm jacket and gloves are also a good idea. As for riding, you will want to spend more time warming up and stretching, and learn to look for ice spots. It can also get really hard in the arenas in winter. But I live in a colder area. Where will you be moving to? Do you know what kind of horse yet? What level will you be showing at?
Sorry I was very vague in my question, haha. I will be moving to Huntsville, AL this December. So here in Thailand we import all school horses from around Europe and the farang (expat people) don’t really have something to work towards, like a festival/games, only the asian people can go to the SEA Games (South East Asian Games). Jumpers in the same so time faults etc. The horses I will be looking at in Germany next summer will probably be Holsteiners and Hanoverians for the most part. I am currently jumping around a meter and hope to be jumping 110 before I leave Thailand so my goal is to show 110 to 130 with my new horsie!<3
Well, in that height range, you’re probably looking at the Child/Adult jumpers (are you a jr or adult?), which are 1.0 to 1.15. The USHJA does have some kind of zone/regional championship for that, which may be of interest if you’re looking to make some kind of big/championship show a goal. I’d think in Alabama it wouldn’t be too big of a stretch, if it’s in your budget, to do a bit of showing (or at least go spectate this year!) at one of the big winter circuits. Gulfport (MS) would be closest to you, but the bigger ones are Ocala and Wellington (FL).
What is the turnout situation like for horses in Thailand? Here on the east coast of the US (and I’d guess Alabama as well) it’s pretty normal for horses to be out on grass for several hours a day, even the show horses. Type of hay fed varies a bit by region, not sure of what they feed in AL. For supplements, you can always look at Smartpak, but what the individual horse needs is going to vary.
In Northern Thailand the horses get out alot, but in the city they are mostly worked everyday and put back in the box :’(. And I am 14 turning 15 in March so juniors I think, right? I am so clueless, like I try and read posts, but I can’t even understand standing wraps for in the stall… Where I ride a lesson day goes like this: drive to the barn, groom and tack (my choice usually the grooms do that), ride, give the horse to the groom to wash, ride a few ponies, and leave. Grooms do it all, what is the groom system like in the US (generally)?
Will you be looking to lease a horse until next summer? Take lessons?
You’ll want to visit a few barns in your area, possibly even take lessons with a few that you like, and then decide what would be the best fit for you.
Out of curiosity- how much is board in Thailand? You said you were up north- Chang Mai/Rai?
I’m not sure what you’re confused about in regards to standing wraps in the stall- why they have them? How to wrap them?
Every barn will be different, so some barns will have ‘full service’ where the groom hands you the horse and you hand it right back, down to self-care where you do everything including mucking/feeding- it will depend on your budget and availability in your area plus what you prefer as to what kind of situation you end up in.
Haha, how do you know where Changmai/rai is? From what I have heard from past friends Americans mix up Taiwan and Thailand. I live in Bangkok I just know about Changrai/mai. The board is like ALOT I just texted my friend with a horse so I will update you on board. But in regards to standing wraps what do you use them for and how often/when do you use them?
[QUOTE=bellannreed;8321087]
In Northern Thailand the horses get out alot, but in the city they are mostly worked everyday and put back in the box :’(. And I am 14 turning 15 in March so juniors I think, right? I am so clueless, like I try and read posts, but I can’t even understand standing wraps for in the stall… Where I ride a lesson day goes like this: drive to the barn, groom and tack (my choice usually the grooms do that), ride, give the horse to the groom to wash, ride a few ponies, and leave. Grooms do it all, what is the groom system like in the US (generally)?[/QUOTE]
Children’s jumpers go from 1.0 to 1.10 -1.15. Junior jumpers start at 1.20 for low juniors and 1.40 for high juniors. It’s not uncommon for someone moving up to go back and forth between high childrens and low juniors while they transition and improve. Of course the scope of your horse will help decide that. Tons of scope can make up for bad distances and inaccurate riding. Good luck
I’ve spent a lot of time in SE Asia, and Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai are rather well known to those who travel in that part of the world. Not sure how you could mix Thailand and Taiwan up, they’re so different, (and Thailand is much better known in the US than Taiwan from what I can gather) but I guess the names are somewhat similar…
I use standing wraps after hard workouts/long jumping sessions if the horses will be in a stall- so at a horse show, or if I have a late lesson and they aren’t going to be turned out until the next morning. I use them to keep swelling down/prevent them from stocking up. I always use them with a liniment to assist- like witch hazel, alcohol or bigeloil. Think of it this way- if you had a hard workout and knew your muscles would be sore, you’d put IcyHot or something similar on to help you feel better the next morning, right?
I’ll also use them on horses who aren’t great about shipping, to protect their legs. I’m not personally a fan of shipping boots.
A badly wrapped standing wrap (or polo) can be more harmful than helpful, so not something you’ll want to do without supervision.
Standing wraps are ysed for protection and may add a little support, horses sometimes wear them in their stalls and sometimes when traveling. But not everybody uses them and many horses may not really need them. I only used them overnight after heavy work or when traveling.
Ummm, you might want to Goggle Huntsville before making plans. It’s pretty, hilly and green, lots of trees. Atlanta, Gulfport, Nashville and the Kentucky Horse Park all have lots of shows and are within a day’s drive (KHP being the longest day). Your board and training will be pretty reasonable compared to some areas but also not as cheap as some others.
Another thing Google will turn up is the average high temp in winter is between 50-60f with lows 35-40f with very few dips below freezing (32f) and snowfall
averaging an inch a year. So I dont think you need any arctic gear, heavy winter boots or multiple heavy blankets for the horse. Summers are hot, humid and can be wet, they do get the odd tornado but they are not common.
Might suggest you think about buying a horse in the US, save you 10k in shipping and a horse suitable for your level already showing there will be easy to find for less then buying a prospect in Germany then shipping and paying more to train it up.
Most board barns in the U.S. do not have grooms. You can find some that do, just have to search. I suspect that grooms in the U.S. will be much more expensive than they are in Thailand. 
I would suggest that you find the state and local clubs for hunter/jumpers where you are going. They will help direct you to what is available closest to where you’ll be living. Do you know your new address yet?
Ditto findeight.
I googled and found a few A/AA hunter jumper barns around Huntsville. If you want full care board and training, you are probably looking about $1k-ish. If you are wanting full service groom care, probably over $1k-ish. The price is going to vary by trainer, type of facilities, etc. How far would you be willing to drive? That is another thing to consider.
I agree, you aren’t going to need a million blankets and cold weather boots. When I lived in the mountains (below zero temps) with body clipped horses, they didn’t get more than two blankets at a time. It might be nice to have two, if you want, a thinner stable blanket and a thicker turnout, but it isn’t necessary by any means. If you just want to buy a bunch of fluffy jackets and winter riding boots, go ahead. I doubt you will need them. I generally layer up under a jacket, and then I wind up shedding a layer once riding. A quarter sheet might be nice to warm up in during the winter months, but again it isn’t probably going to be necessary.
Your horses diet should be discussed and assessed once you have him. It doesn’t matter the breed, they are all different. Your trainer should be able to help you with that! As far as showing, you should have a decent amount of choices (especially if you are with a barn). One barn I saw near Huntsville went to Brownland for almost all the series, along with Gulfport and even a week at WEF.
http://www.alabamahunterjumpers.org/
There is a hunter jumper association in Alabama. Of course, this encompasses all of Alabama. However, it could be a great place to start.
ETA: America does have grooms at bigger A/AA show barns. It is not uncommon at all. Just be frank and ask if the barn is full service. A lot of websites will say whether it is or not.
I wasn’t going to buy a prospect :), my current trainer knows a great guy who sells show jumpers and my limit is pretty low to what I am finding in the US. I don’t know my address yet, but if it helps anymore I will be in Madison. Thanks for all the help and support everyone it is really helpful :). If there are an tips for riding and stuff in the US please do share.
Thankyou for all the barn information, I was wondering about board. In the range of board is 1k expensive or no. And I have been researching but I haven’t found many A/AA show barns in the area, you must be good!
Belmont, I think you left out “not” when speaking of needing a million blankets…
Brownland shows are in a lovely and very upscale little town called Franklin just south of Nashville Tn, I loved showing there.
OP, if you Google "Hunter Jumper training/lessons “or"Horse boarding” plus the area you are looking in, you should come up with what you are looking for. And don’t forget to add 10k usd and the price of plane tickets and hotel for you and trainer to the price of the horse in Germany before deciding it’s cheaper. Might be better to wait and see what your new trainer has in mind then pay the commission to old trainer who won’t be working with you or the horse. Most trainers here have contacts both here and in Europe so trying to price horses off internet sites can be really misleading when you consider most sell privately by word of mouth, not off of ads. And ads are the asking price, not what they actually sell for.
BTW, Huntsville is not what you might think. Home of the Redstone Arsenal and quite a bit of research and development in both government and the private sector…Space Camp too. There’s a decent amount of disposable income there for horses hence there are more nicer facilities, competent trainers and higher prices. Still well below the east coast and some of the west coast.
[QUOTE=bellannreed;8321240]
Thankyou for all the barn information, I was wondering about board. In the range of board is 1k expensive or no. And I have been researching but I haven’t found many A/AA show barns in the area, you must be good! :)[/QUOTE]
As to $1k being “expensive” or not, it really depends on the area. In my area of NJ, that is probably on the upper end of most places. There are a few TOP barns with vBNT that charge more but those aren’t the norm.
if you go over to Westchester county, even average barns, ones that are nice but not special, are going to charge $1200-$1500/month just for basic board. That is because property taxes are so high.
In some parts of the country, $1k would be a luxury barn.
[QUOTE=bellannreed;8321240]
Thankyou for all the barn information, I was wondering about board. In the range of board is 1k expensive or no. And I have been researching but I haven’t found many A/AA show barns in the area, you must be good! :)[/QUOTE]
$1k for full board and training is reasonable, IMO. You will find that different areas of the country vary greatly (in Reno, NV full care board and training with a respected A/AA trainer was $1.5k +). Generally it includes lesson and/or training rides, plus your hay, feed, etc. However, if your horse is on special supplements, you will have to pocket those.
Here are a few I found:
http://www.riverrockstables.com/ (has a full care option for extra $$)
http://www.riverpinefarm.com/home.html
http://www.cottonmeadowsfarm.com/index.php (eventer)
If you guys are up to a little drive, Fayetteville, TN maps a little under an hour to get to. There are quite a few very nice H/J barns up that way.
I’d say one difference is that, compared to some other countries, in North America it’s considered a good thing for up and coming young riders to know about horse care and horsemanship generally, not just to get on and ride. Talented young riders sometimes become “working students” or apprentices for trainers and do a lot of horse care and grooming as well as riding. It’s considered a great opportunity.
Even though you will have your horse in full board at a training barn, you can make a point of learning about all the aspects of horse care, feed, first aid, routine vet care, wrapping, clipping, shoeing, etc. There might be one-day workshops on first aid in your area. There is a very good 6 week on-line “coursera” university continuing ed course on basic horse nutrition, which I don’t think would be too difficult for someone who is taking high school science courses. If you find you aren’t comfortable handling strange horses on the ground, there are good “ground work” clinics around, some of which come out of Western (cowboy-style) riding but are helpful for all disciplines. Etc. In other words, lots of resources for hands-on owner/riders, or even people who keep their horses at home.
If you are in a boarding barn, you won’t have much say over how your horse is fed or handled, but knowing the basics will make you feel confident the barn is doing a good job.
