I’m in a bit of a pickle with the barn situation and wanted some advice

[Jesstherider]

I was a very successful rider as a kid showing all the way up to the national level and helping a lot of pony’s gets the start in green. All the way up until my mom died when I was 16 and I had to step away. That was over 20 years ago.

I decided about 7 or 8 years ago to get back into it and after a little bit of searching I found the right barn and trainer. I’ve been deeply involved in the program there when I have time; leasing and helping her with some of her training projects a long with doing lessons and clinics. Last year I decided I wanted to purchase my own horses again because I wanted something I could start and bring a long.

Most of the barns in my area exploded during Covid and there is a waitlist. Well most of the places I deem good enough. So I knew I needed to do some planning ahead of time. I talked to the owner of the stable I was with and she said that she did have an opening coming up as one of her clients was planning on moving and I started looking. I found nothing and told her to go ahead and rent the stall knowing if I did find the right horse I could board them in the field. But I still was not finding the right horse.

Right after Christmas I took some time off to visit some friends down south and enjoy some warmer weather and while down there I went to look at some horses.

Side note: I went to look at a beautiful bay TB mare that needed a new career. She was not right but they were starting this small chestnut mare in a round pen while I was there and I fell in love with her. Mentally she is everything I wanted. But she is small very refined. Never been a big fan of chestnuts but color does not matter that much. She was not what I was looking for and at the same time everything I was looking for. Can you relate?

I made the payment on her today after a PPE came back. And I told them ahead of time I could not move her right away and sent them board for this month and Feb.

Now to my actual problems. One of the local farms closed down and the stable I am currently at had an opportunity to pick up a few of their horses so they are maxed out. Everyone is maxed out.

So I started looking further away and I found a small “boutique” stable (that’s what they call themselves) whatever that means. I checked it out and it is fine. She would have a stall for bad weather but mostly they keep the horses outside which is fine with me. They bring them in to feed. It all seems okay except for the drive and I don’t really like the owner. It’s just personal things that make my skin crawl but I am a weird person and have been dealing with this all my life.

Now I am hoping to be able to move my mare as soon as something opens up at my stable. I originally asked if I could do month to month but she said no I would need to sign a 6 month agreement. I hesitated because what if there is an issue or problem and I really can’t do this stable. I asked if we could do a 30 day trial. They said no. Then she came back the other day and said it would have to be a year. I don’t want to be there a year but there is no guarantee that I will also be able to move.

For the same price a 15 minute drive away from home I could be at a very large stable. They do not have any pasture. But I could get there everyday to exercise her and for extra they have students that will hand walk her. The stalls are big and I would pay extra for extra bedding. They will do month to month with me. And my trainer can come do lessons there. I would need to trailer her over at the boutique stable. It’s really busy there and that stresses me out. Also currently my mare is in a stall all the time but the owner is going to move her back to breeding facility until I come to get her. So she knows both lives.

I let my anxieties rule me sometimes and I do not know what the best answer is for her. What would you do?

[endlessclimb]

I’d never sign a contract that was longer than monthly for boarding. I’d move her to the close busy place and make sure she got out every day.

[JanM]

I would go with the larger, closer stable that will do month-to-month.

The first BO doesn’t sound reasonable, and with the changes in what they told you, I wouldn’t board there. if you dislike anything, you would be stuck.

[Paint_Party]

Trust your spider sense with the boutique barn. If you feel uneasy now, imagine how you’ll feel being obligated to a 6 month or year-long lease. Do they think they’re leasing you an apartment?

Go with the busy month-to-month place. It sounds like you can make it work.

Congrats on the horse and welcome to COTH!

[dmveventer]

100% hard pass on the year-long contract. There’s no way I would sign that agreement even with my current barn that I love, you just never know what might happen and that’s a lot of money on the line.

I would expand your search radius and see if you can find something more suitable for the short-term even if it’s a long drive. No turnout would also be a deal-breaker for me for the second place, especially with a young, green horse you don’t know yet, but it may work temporarily if you think your barn will have an opening soon.

[tabula_rashah]

Hard pass on both the year contract and the no turnout. Keep looking
Can you post an ISO on FB? Maybe just find someone with extra field space for now even?

[PamnReba]

I would go with the closer no turn out month to month place and see how she does. If she’s good there, great, but if not you can keep looking. But, you have until the end of next month to decide, correct?

ETA - sorry, just reread your post and see the part where the busy place stresses you out. What do you find stressful about it? Your mare may love all the activity and it could be great for getting her used to lots of sights and sounds. Unless that is not important to you.

[fledermaus]

Even if the big stable is too busy for you to feel completely comfortable there, with a month to month you can look for a more suitable place (get on some waitlists) while you are there.

[BWP]

Neither sounds suitable at all. I’d keep looking.

[Training_Cupid]

Even busy places often have “off hours”, like early mornings. I used to ride before work and usually had the place to myself, I’m sure many boarders thought I was an absentee owner because I never even met them

[candyappy]

I would go with the one close to home . No turn out is doable for a while especially since you can get her out daily. Hopefully your barn of choice will have a spot opening up soon.

[trubandloki]

Add me to the crowd that would start at the one where you can be month to month.

Sure it is less than optimal with no turn out and being busy, but you don’t have to stay there forever. It is just a good place to start while you look for a better option.

The six month contract did not bother me too much at the other place. Think about it, you will get there and you know it will be at least a month before the barn you want to be at will have an opening, so that month with a month’s notice gets you to two months. So worse case you would be paying board at two places for four months. But likely the six month time would be about what it would take to get a spot where you want to be.
The change to one year is not OK and I would not sign that.

[shiloh]

Skip that lease. If their response to your request is to come back playing hardball, then no. Esp if you have a bad vibe. What if you want to leave or they turn out to be creeps or whatever? Now you’re stuck. And why are they playing hardball? MY spidey sense says run away run away. Do the month to month.

[LilRanger]

Whatever you do, do not go with the boutique barn.

I can’t say whether you’re weird, but she sounds horrible. Stay away.

[fivestrideline]

@LilRanger

Whatever you do, do not go with the boutique barn.

I can’t say whether you’re weird, but she sounds horrible. Stay away.

Ditto. I’m pretty staunchly pro-turnout (24-7 if possible), but in a pinch I’d do the stall and get her out a ton vs dealing with crazy. Horse people crazy is a WHOLE different level!

(While waiting for your spot and/or actively looking for a better solution, of course)

[CHT]

Good luck with your new mare! Do the month to month and keep looking for a better option. Knowing it’s temporary may make it less stressful?

[Warmblood1]

@Jesstherider

It all seems okay except for the drive and I don’t really like the owner. It’s just personal things that make my skin crawl

Always trust your gut.

Please do NOT sign a lease with this barn. They know all the area barns are full and are trying to take advantage of that. Offering a 6 month lease and then doubling the time to 12 months is a huge red flag. You can be taken advantage of with this lease in so many ways.

Ask the seller of this horse if they could provide boarding until the most suitable option opens up.

Remember, a terrible barn can suck the joy out of horses and riding. You can’t get that time back.

[trubandloki]

@Warmblood1

Ask the seller of this horse if they could provide boarding until the most suitable option opens up.

It sounds like the horse is no where near the OP at the seller’s place (she travelled down south to get some nicer weather and found the horse), so that would mean not seeing the horse at all until a stall opened up.

[AnastasiaBeaverhousen]

Congrats on your new horse. It is so exciting.
Now, take a deep breath and relax.
Some of your stress probably comes from finding your mare a good place to board.

Nothing is set on in stone.
Agree with the others about not signing a year lease.
I get that having to drive a long distance can be stressful but I had my horses at two different places at one point and one was a 40 minute drive one way, and the other was 30 minutes one way and they about 40 minutes away from each other. And that was when traffic was good.
I burned a lot of gas but I didn’t care because I had my horses and they were worth it.

Good luck and let us know how it goes.
If you post your location a fellow COTHer might know of some places you haven’t heard of.

You might also try your vets office. Sometimes they know of private boarding situations.

[Jesstherider]

I’m really hoping my barn has an opening soon. I’m not totally out of options, but a quick over view of some of the others.

1. Had nails sticking out in barn and a barb wire back fence.

2 and 3. For my area full service board is between $800-$1000. The next two start at $1500 before added services and she’s a TB she will need blanketing, she needs to put on some pounds. She will get hurt. Etc.

4. I kinda took pasture board off the table for now. We have a mild climate but there are some very cold days and she is coming from a warm climate and has no coat. Until I see how she handles the winter.

5. Has a reputation of being very difficult. For example their starting board is $500 but you pay extra for everything. Per barrel of sawdust; per flake of hay; you have to book the arena and can not ride while someone else is riding. And at first it’s kinda cool because with your board you also get a spot to keep shavings and hay you purchase. This would be great for a horse with allergies. But the owner is known to be so difficult.

6. 1.5 away is a stable I like but I know myself and 3 hours in the car. I will let my brain win and not be motivated.

Which brings me to my real problem. My anxiety rules my life and there are days that are so bad. Getting back into horses has helped so much. It makes me leave my house. It makes me interact and have a community. It has been the best thing for me. So I could bring her home and adopt a horse that needs a home to be her buddy. But then I will never leave my house again. I will go backwards. Bringing my horses home for the first time years ago was a huge mistake.

Part of this is for her and part for me. I am still looking and talking to people. Plus I have some time because she does not come here until the end of February.