I have been struggling to find a boarding situation that fits both me and my horse. In my area, most of the nicer barns require training with the resident trainer. I have tried this arrangement and when it goes south, its a huge problem. Other boarding options are a free for all, which I find very stressful, and the facilities tend to have less amenities like an indoor or indoor plumbing.
My horse needs a specific type of situation - not going to get into details here as I dont want to “out” myself. I am probably not the easiest either as I have strong feelings about not wanting dogs running loose, kids running loose, inconsistent care.
Here is what I want - good care, an indoor, indoor plumbing would be GREAT, like-minded people, ability to be bring in my own trainer, less than an hour drive 1 way. Not sure why this is so hard to find.
What I’ve seen is consistent with your observation - the places where you want to board require you to use the in-house trainer. It’s an incredibly lucky find otherwise. They do exist, but I know of exactly one in my area.
I boarded for 2 months this summer in the middle of our move, after 10 years of horses at home… you have my sympathies. It was a source of constant frustration, and my horses are simple creatures with no special needs beyond food/water/turnout (preferably on somewhat of a schedule, which was too much to ask).
If you figure out a magic locator of this arrangement, please share it with COTH, this is such a common conundrum. I also desperately need an answer. There are so many COTH threads about what people can live with an not with board care.
In my area is that where such places do exist, they rarely advertise. They stay full on word of mouth and don’t want to field dozens of phone calls when they can’t accommodate them anyway.
Keep the word out about what you are looking for and hopefully it will find you. Although I know it can be tricky when you don’t want to alert your current BO or cause gossip if word gets out that you are looking. When you might not find anything soon.
One of the trickiest things I ever did in the horse world was underground-search for a new board situation in a small tight-knit horse community. I was trying to find out about other barns without letting even the new prospective BO know who I was, because everyone knew everyone and they knew my current BO. I would tell them “I’m not ready to make a firm decision so I’m not alerting my current BO yet”. They were copacetic … but they were also saying “I think I recognize your voice - I won’t tell”. They didn’t. But eek.
Same here BUT I will say that if everything else is acceptable, sometimes one has to grow blinders and ear stops on the points of dogs & kids. Because there is no other option that has the same amenities and care – so in that case I won’t let a lax barn atmosphere stand between me, my horse and our needs being met.
So long as they are not touching my horse and my stuff, I have to ignore the rest. Also ignore barn stories going around about ‘what happened’ when a kid and/or dog ran amuck.
I have to ignore the safety issues I observe happening for other people. The dog running full tilt down the barn aisle through feet of a horses in crossties; the youngster reaching for random things in the tack room. I’ve been known to groom and tack up in my stall to stay out of the carnival. Just keep my stuff and my horse safe. Maybe re-organize to keep everything out of the reach of the new puppy or the toddler.
Even if something is said, even if the BM agrees with it, almost always any newly imposed limitations will be relaxed and it will all go back to the ‘old normal’.
[I left “inconsistent care” out of the quote as of course that is a different level of concern.]
That’s what I always think as well. I’m out at the barn frequently, I’ll do the rest.
BUT … really, there needs to be a set of eyes on the horses several times daily that will recognize a colic or a gushing wound. That will let me know promptly that my horse isn’t eating, or has a swollen body part, or seems to be having some other problem.
Honestly that’s the biggest challenge in my area. That set of eyes that is paying attention and will communicate.
So true and in my part of country the last couple of years have been ridiculous in terms of real estate sales/growth. And a barn that requires training with the resident trainer is maximizing their financial potential. I also get that it keeps riders aligned - to a certain extent - and also puts the trainer in the position of managing the people.
kids running thru the arena screaming, dogs peeing on my stuff - UGH
Recently one of the boarders dropped a plastic bag and just let it blow, into the arena and under my horse and then laughed about it. Luckily I was more worried than my horse.
Ask your trainer where else she drives to teach. Move there.
I had some version of this issue. I ended up boarding with one of her clients at an adorable barn. Granted, the indoor was not immaculate and there was no bathroom in the barn (but one in the mudroom we were allowed to use), but the care was perfect and I really enjoyed being there. I wanted there to be people in the barn when I showed up. This is not always true.
Even 10 years ago in my area wanting a barn with:
-an indoor
-great care with adequate turnout
-no requirement to take lessons in-house or place horse in training
-a bathroom
…would have been impossible, because there is no profit for the barn. The one exception is if the horse was part-leased to someone who took lessons with the trainer.
Now it would be hard to find all those requirements unless the horse owner (or someone leasing the horse) rode and showed with the in-house trainer.
About five years ago you might have been able to find, with diligent looking, a more backyard barn without an indoor and no bathroom if your horse didn’t require significant special care, and bring in your own trainer. But even then, definitely crazy dogs/cats and friction that arises when you’re boarding so close to someone’s home.
You’re right, I neglected to add that to my list, and it was an issue at the barn I boarded at even though my horses are pretty good at not trying to kill themselves. In addition to the loose dogs, errant children, roaming chickens and ducks that poop everywhere, the BM did not ever feed or turn out (or in) on any sort of schedule and frequently had boarders, friends, etc. do it for her. Thankfully, all but the last 2 weeks of their stay I was still in the area and was going out daily, because one time they got left out all night and twice I found my 7yo in the AM with injuries from the day before that had gone unnoticed. Thankfully, I enlisted a reliable friend and didn’t rely on the flaky BM to meet the shipper for me, she was nowhere to be found when they showed up even though she told me she’d be there to make sure everything went OK.
I seriously considered moving my horses after the first couple weeks but couldn’t find anyone else that would take such a short term client. Way different than OP’s situation, but I wish them the best! I can see both sides of the coin, boarding isn’t a money maker and it’s a ton of labor 7 days a week, which leads to cutting corners - so the pickings are slim for discerning clients.
I moved my horse last year. I had to give up one of the sacred things (24/7 movement in a larger space) for another (decent footing). Feed is good at both barns. No indoor but full care. I am back to riding after several years of being at best pasture sound and I want to ride. The footing was just untenable at the old barn. Going to full care upped the board of course then another increase last spring and now a 75$ surcharge for hay. Oh I get the increases, I really do. I have had horses most of my life and I do know the dollars and cents. But soon, something else may have have to give. No way I could afford any of the barns with indoor arenas and I still have some physical issues and no way, I could keep up with a lesson requirement. Oh, and I am caregiver for my 92yo mother. That type of barn is just not for me. I am sure the owner of the development I live in would not take kindly to me putting her in the garage . The current barn is smaller and quiet with all adult riders and that makes it really nice with none of the problems you are having with kids and dogs. I might have a deer cut through the arena while I am riding but no dogs to deal with .
When this horse is gone…I am done with owning a horse. If I am physically able and still want to ride, I will look to part lease. Mostly because of the difficulty that is boarding.
No big revelations or recommendations - just came to say that I feel your pain. When my husband was active duty, I had to board as we were expected to move every 3 years. I was never totally happy with any boarding barn. Best thing I did was move as soon as I realized I wasn’t happy and try to find the next best place. I was very happy when he finally left active duty and we were able to purchase a farm. Not sure I could ever go back to boarding now but I do miss meeting new people at barns and riding with them. I think that’s about it though.
Ask your vet and farrier (if they’re professional and don’t gossip about clients) if they know of any un-advertised possibilities. If you’re a good client, they could even recommend you to private barns that don’t advertise, or to a good private owner who has an extra stall they would be willing to fill with a sympatico horse owner.
I used to have the same POV. Then, for my horse’s welfare (care going downhill fast) I had to move to a new barn in a hurry. New barn has all the dogs and all the children, stuff that blows around, various construction/destruction projects going on often, and all manner of silliness.
The shit that goes on :o
BUT, now I view it as training opportunities around every corner. My formerly child-afeart horse now loves children, doesn’t bat an eye about mini-bikes zipping everywhere, bicycles down the barn aisles, and may have recently been led back to her stall by a child on a hover board for funsies. “Do it. If you have to let go, let go. She’s knows her dinner is in her stall and how to get there safely by herself.” Hee. No-one who knew my horse before I moved would have expected such a change in demeanour. It’s actually fabulous and I love it. It didn’t take all that long for both of us to adjust.
There’s always going to be some form of compromise. I didn’t think this particular one was going to work out, but it did - marvellously!
That said, if dogs and children set your teeth on edge in the best of circumstances, that shouldn’t be your compromise point, find something else you can compromise on.
I love this! I had my somewhat hot and squirrelly mare at a kind of busy barn for a while, with kids and dogs and all. It was good for both of us. And the little kids loved my horse as much as she loved them.
. The current barn is smaller and quiet with all adult riders and that makes it really nice with none of the problems you are having with kids and dogs. I might have a deer cut through the arena while I am riding but no dogs to deal with 
.