Boarding near Minneapolis

[pretty_sneaky]

I did a search but most of the related posts are 5+ years old and I imagine things might have changed since then.

I’ll be moving to the Minneapolis area this summer. I’m flexible on where I live - I just need to be able to get to Brooklyn Center once every week or two. I’ve been looking at either Stillwater area or Hastings area. I’m honestly looking for a good cluster of barns and looking at houses in those areas

I have two horses - one largely retired with old man health issues, one mare that I would love to eventually compete, if only locally. I assume my southern horses will prefer stalls. I know my wimpy southern self will need an indoor.

Options? Other areas I should look at? Places to avoid? Anyone want to volunteer to teach me what blankets I’ll actually need for our first real winter?

[rcy]

I’m no help since it’s been too long since I’ve lived there (but Minneaplis is a great city), but regarding blanketing -

Layering is your friend! Especially if your horse is clipped (most barns will have heaters in the cross ties) - I had a heavyweight with neck turnout, that was big enough that I could layer a heavyweight belly band stable blanket underneath. A midweight turnout, that I could layer a stable blanket under, and a regular turnout sheet. And good coolers and quarter sheets. I might also be a wimp, but if it was under 20 I wouldn’t ride either.

[JLK]

Check out TCCTList and CSDEA.org.
Barns seem to cluster west of Minneapolis or in the Stillwater/Grant/Hugo area. Not a lot of dressage barns south. Hastings is south and east - and on the opposite side of the Twin Cities from Brooklyn Center. Whether that drive is a pain depends on time of day and weather - but it will be 45 minute drive on a good day.

And beyond that, there are lots of potential answers depending on how specific your questions are (feel free to PM). Do you want a heated barn? heated indoor? How heated? What level of care? Show barn?
Would you clip? In our unheated barn/indoor, one of our boarders doesn’t clip, has a horse who’s out 24x7, and simply spends more time cooling out. Another is completely clipped, has heavyweight with neck, mediumweight, and lightweight blankets - all waterproof, I’m relieved to report. … I think horses adjust better to our temperatures than people do.

[littleview]

Liz Lund isn’t too far from Minneapolis and I believe she has her Silver Medal. Great program and fun instruction! http://www.lizlund.com/