Hunter barn blues....what's next?

[DawgLady]

I’ve been riding in show hunter/jumper barns for decades. It’s all I’ve ever known. But now I’m middle aged, a full time employee, and a mom. Show barn doesn’t feel like a great fit anymore, especially since I rarely show (and also because my green bean is nowhere near ready). Trainers are constantly gone at shows, and I often feel like persona non grata because I don’t show now. Plus, it’s full of kids, very few adults, and I just don’t enjoy the competitive atmosphere. I want to have fun with adult barn friends!

So, what’s next? I bought this horse to be a hunter, because I enjoy jumping. He definitely needs regular pro rides. I can’t just go to a recreational barn and tool around…the horse needs to be trained.

I’ve toyed with the idea of moving to a respected nearby dressage barn. Their lifestyle is pretty different. When they do go to shows, they’re only gone for the weekend. Plus they have an assistant who stays home to teach/train. I KNOW this would be amazing for my young gelding. But…dressage? Meh.

I’m totally open to suggestion at this point!

[TheDBYC]

So, try jumping or eventing?

[frugalannie]

One of the great things about riding is that you can change disciplines if you choose to. Due to some physical issues, I aged out of eventing and am just riding dressage. But it’s fun in a different way and my horse loves it.

So of course I’m going to suggest an eventing barn if there’s one near you. Eventers are generally laid back and you can sample dressage there while continuing to jump. You don’t have to do cross country, but you might find it a blast if you try it. IMHO the training in different phases is great for young horses too. It really rounds them out, keeps their minds entertained and helps create strong, flexible bodies.

Best of luck in whatever you decide to do. Change is challenging but worth it!

[Foxglove]

The dressage barn sounds perfect! I’ve pursued many disciplines in 57 years of horse-ownership. Some I stayed with longer than others. The one consistent for me has been fox hunting --however, hunting is a winter sport (Oct-April here). In the summer, I’ve done everything else from saddle-seat, reining, driving, dressage, show jumping (much younger then), polo, ranch riding, side-saddle --and my current pursuit Mounted Archery.

One idea to keep in mind, is that with horses, one CAN go back. If the dressage barn isn’t what you hoped, after a year of dabbling, nothing stops you from returning to the hunter world with a horse that has a background in dressage! Or give 3-Day a go --horses there often win on their dressage score.

When I had toddlers, riding wasn’t an option --three in tow --so we trained all the horses to drive, bought a cart and did picnics in the local park driving the horse there. Eventually the kids drove themselves into town to DQ --of course, the roads were gravel and I live in a heavily Amish community, so a gaggle of kids in a cart behind a quiet mare wasn’t unusual.

But as I said, Mounted Archery is my summer sport at 70 --I can practice alone (we require someone on premise for jumping), it is more exciting (for me) than dressage, it suits my horses (older -only have to canter 90 meters at a go) --and I’m competitive against all others as youth or gender gives no advantage. I can shoot a 30# bow with accuracy --so a man shooting a 50# bow has no advantage over me —same with riding —a teenager has no advantage over me – I am the oldest competitor I know --but I do well.

There is even a movement in the club to add a jump or two to the course and see if folks can hit a target O/F —I think I’ll have an advantage there too --my horse is a fox hunter and I’m used to holding a hound whip in one hand and a flask in the other --may be able to shoot my bow and jump at the same time!

[DawgLady]

I would LOVE an eventing barn! The only ones near me don’t have resident trainers (a few different trainers pop in 1-2x/mo), so getting my horse professionally ridden would be really tough. Seems like this is a common model among eventers?

[ghst13]

You don’t have to leave the H/J discipline entirely. Is there anything around you between fancy show barn and recreational barn? I keep my horse at a smaller facility - there’s a trainer on site and you are expected to use $X of services per month, but there are only about a dozen boarders. Most clients only show once a month - some at the local rated shows, some at the local schooling shows. A few clients don’t show at all. We’re all working or retired adults with our own horses - no kids, no lesson program.

If you have local schooling shows, consider attending some and taking a look around at the barns and trainers that attend. You might find a situation with less pressure to attend big competitive rated shows while still having access to a trainer.

[TheDBYC]

@DawgLady

The only ones near me don’t have resident trainers (a few different trainers pop in 1-2x/mo), so getting my horse professionally ridden would be really tough. Seems like this is a common model among eventers?

Not here, it isn’t. I imagine it could vary dramatically from area to area, though.

[trubandloki]

Is it worth selling this horse that needs pro rides and buying something that you can try something else on that might not be as fancy but also might not need pro rides?

[DawgLady]

@trubandloki…
Is it worth it? I dunno…I really like him a lot.

[trubandloki]

@DawgLady

@trubandloki…
Is it worth it? I dunno…I really like him a lot.

If you like him a lot then no reason to sell. Just a thought that I tossed out there.

What is the hunter scene where you are? Any low key adult type barns?

[McGurk]

What about jumper barns? Are there lower level jumper shows/divisions or schooling shows in your area?

It’s a pretty easy transition from hunters to lower level jumpers; the skill set required is very similar. You just have to jump a more challenging course in terms of turns, track and related distances.

When someone started a schooling jumper series in my area, it was a shot in the arm for a lot of my boarders and riders. Inexpensive, one day shows, relaxed dress code, easy to understand judging/placing, the ability to win money…also, it was possible to take a well schooled local quality horse and do pretty well.

[Texarkana]

Can you find a trainer who will come to you? That’s pretty common in my area. Then you can board wherever you are most comfortable but the horse can still receive regular rides from a pro.

[merrygoround]

The dressage barn sounds as though it has possibilites. Dressage traing is extremely interesting, and occupying for your brain. At the same time it will improve your commmunications with your horse, and help him be a very pleasant ride.

It is not at all about riding around in circles. It is about the how and why, and when of riding, and will leave both you and your horse physically fitter…

[hoopoe]

I agree that an eventing barn may be a better fit. Make no mistake, correct Dressage will improve your jumping rounds. You may find that he becomes a better ammy ride and less dependent on pro schooling

Jumping may be a more equitable competition format for a more casual, less frequent show rider.

Eventers are known for their independence. You may find more show opportunity with haul in day shows on the weekend etc.

Keep open to possibilities

[trubandloki]

Another random question to think about - Does your horse need the regular pro rides to stay safe for you to ride or to continue to develop into a good hunter horse?

(This is not a negative, they are pros for a reason.)

If the answer is to keep the horse safe for you to ride, then that makes having a facility where a pro will continue riding more important. If it is to continue to develop the horse then that gives you the ability to stop and think for a bit. See if you can find a barn with an adult crowd that you enjoy the atmosphere, maybe take some lessons in dressage or with some other style trainer to see if something excites you or if some other teaching style clicks with your needs. Then you can make the final decision on which way you want to go with this.

[DawgLady]

I have been unsuccessful in finding a traveling trainer who will do lessons AND training rides. Also, my current barn will not allow outside trainers to come in.

[DawgLady]

That’s a hard question. I have been down this path with a green horse before (many years ago). He wasn’t unsafe at the time, so I didn’t do any training rides. Lo and behold, he became unsafe. I would like to avoid repeating history. I feel like the training rides keep him on the straight and narrow.

As I get older, I become more and more humble about my real riding abilities :).

[trubandloki]

@DawgLady

As I get older, I become more and more humble about my real riding abilities :).

I know all about this.

[2DogsFarm]

@DawgLady

dressage? Meh.

Um…
You realize Dressage (flatwork) will improve your jumping, right?
It’s not like a (good, competent)Dressage trainer will insist you aspire to GP.
IIWM, I would try the barn, see if it’s a fit.
Maybe take a lesson or three, informing trainer your goal is to improve your Greenie.
I actually did this many years ago when the H/J show barn I was at became too Points-focused.
Switched to a Dressage trainer/friend who had also Evented & Hunted.
Come to think of it, an Eventing barn might work for you.

Good Luck wherever you wind up.

[frugalannie]

@DawgLady, check out the Area Eventing website for your part of the world. (Search Area # *Eventing and you might find it.) A lot of them list trainers and barns. Many, if not most, fly under the H/J world radar. Or go on the Eventing forum here on COTH and ask who is near you .

Another thing is that eventing barns tend to have a real mix of rider skills from beginners to re-riders to folks going in the upper levels. Often there will be someone who is considering becoming a pro or just a really good rider who can help out with a green bean horse in consultation with the pro. Just another option to think about.