Distance to boarding

[fatappy]

I’m in the ‘45 mins is too long’ camp. It’s very draining to know you have an hour and half in the car to get a 30 min ride.

It’s what i have been doing for 5 years and it’s gotten a little bit better working from home now, but still there are some days where it’s so nice out and while I would LOVE to ride, i dont want to waste a beautiful afternoon in the car.

Good luck!

[Mukluk]

Reading all these posts makes me feel empathic towards those who have a long drive. I’m very happy that mine live in my backyard (past four years, before that I boarded and it was very sucky!!!). We love our “apple time” in the mornings. And right now it’s time for a bath with medicated shampoo. On the down side I am solely responsible for feeding, watering, and poop removal!!!

[foursocks]

I’ve never boarded at a barn closer than 30 minutes, and most are around 40-50, because I live in a large city. It’s just what I am used to, but the barns I’ve been at with good care and facilities are worth the 5-6 days a week drive I make. I’ve been at a couple of horrible barns and the distance was always too long. One place was relatively close to my house but I dreaded going there; I pay too much money and love the sport too much to be making excuses not to go ride because of a bad barn environment/care/training/whatever.

There are must-haves for me and that means I’m willing to put in the driving time to get them.

[LetRed]

I drive just over an hour to my barn and while I wish it was closer it’s worth the 100 mile round trip because the facility and training are both excellent and there is the change of scenery that’s refreshing- or so I tell myself while sitting in traffic (which makes it over an hour). There are barns that are much closer that are not nearly as good and yet charge much more. It’s a trade-off, as others have said.

[Linny]

I just started an “in barn” lease on a horse, meaning I have to go to him. He’s about 20/25 minutes beyond my work, which is about 20 minutes from home. It’s not ideal for me and if I could, I’d move him to a very nice place closer to home but it isn’t an option. Part of the issue is that the barn is in a direction that I wouldn’t ever go otherwise, I have no friends or anything out that way etc. I do have a friend who boards there and I’m friends with the BO so I feel at home there. It is a drag getting done at the barn at 7:30 or 8 and having a 40 or so minute drive home but I really like the horse. Willingness to drive a long way is a personal decision. For some, who live in metro areas, there’s almost an assumption that “everything is 45 minutes away” while I live in a small city and can easily get to several nice and reputable barns within 15/20 minutes. If the commute is mostly quiet roads it is less stressful that wrestling 10 miles in 30 minutes to escape an urban center. I have friends who drive well over an hour even in my area in order to get the training they prefer. Another friend boards 15 minutes from home but trailers to a trainer over an hour away weekly for lessons. She works from home and can be more flexible.