I just moved to Lewisville, TX and was excited that my horse had a place to stay for the summer so that I could get everything ready for him. But now his move is two months away and I have found NOTHING I can afford and fits our lifestyle.
It sounds crazy, but I don’t just want to pick a random barn that I won’t be happy with. We do Dressage, and the thought of going to the several trail only, slightly crazy, pseudo natural horsemanship places that are relatively close by makes me sad.
Is it too much to ask. I probably am being picky, but my horse doesn’t travel well so the less he does the better and I need to book a shipper asap!
Bleck.
I feel for you. I’ve been through the same thing when I’ve moved.
I don’t think you are being picky at all 
the more I look around in an effort to find a place, the more I think about just buying a small farm and boarding at home.
Is there a Dressage Club or GMO? Maybe they could help? Or an English tack shop?
No, don’t compromise. You won’t be happy and/or your horse won’t be happy. Call vet clinics in the area for recommendations and also contact some of those stables that aren’t a fit and see if they know of facilities that may be a better fit…I usually go out of my way to make recommendations to people who are moving from out-of-the-area if we aren’t what they are looking for because I can only imagine how difficult it can be-good luck!
COTH can be helpful in times like these! Maybe put your new location in the title?
What is your budget?
I sent you a PM!
I don’t know nothin about nothin in Lewisville, TX, but I will say this, as someone who has lived in the land of relatively backyard horse operations…you’ve got to pick your battles.
You’re NOT going to find a barn that’s 100% perfect. Frankly, I don’t think that’s even possible in a horse mecca sort of place. Boarding = some sort of compromise. Whether that’s on cost or turnout or feed or location or what, there is always something that’s not “perfect.”
So, what do you do? You go look at all those “unsuitable” barns with a hard look at what’s REALLY important to you. For me, that’s feed, turnout, safety and general care. I can compromise on facilities, location, trainers and several other things if I have what’s important. For you, your “core” values might be different.
But you need to think about what you REALLY need, especially when you’ve got slim pickings.
[QUOTE=LawsofMurph;7658541]
I just moved to Lewisville, TX and was excited that my horse had a place to stay for the summer so that I could get everything ready for him. But now his move is two months away and I have found NOTHING I can afford and fits our lifestyle.
It sounds crazy, but I don’t just want to pick a random barn that I won’t be happy with. We do Dressage, and the thought of going to the several trail only, slightly crazy, pseudo natural horsemanship places that are relatively close by makes me sad.
Is it too much to ask. I probably am being picky, but my horse doesn’t travel well so the less he does the better and I need to book a shipper asap!
Bleck.[/QUOTE]
Don’t count on there being a place for you. I had to buy my own farm. Everything else was a complete nightmare.
I had a boarder who got transferred and had to move her Friesian from CT to TX a few years ago and she ran into the same problem; “cultural differences” between the kind of riding people do here and there, and especially the management differences.
Everywhere she went were the little postage-stamp sized pipe corrals with a lean-to; no grass turnout, lots of heat, and the only “Dressage” barns were priced for the Sultan of Dubai.
When in that situation, go with the best place from the horse’s point of view–IOW, the best CARE. Compromise on the “atmosphere,” the training opportunities, the riding facility if you have to–but do NOT compromise on how the horse is fed, watered, supervised, turned out, etc. Be open-minded, though, because many of the “different” practices in that part of the country are done because that’s what WORKS there; check the condition of the horses you see on places you visit, because that’s the best indicator of the care.
It can take MONTHS to find a place that really suits you; my friend finally got a place where she’s very happy, and the price was reasonable. Just get in a place that’s SAFE for your horse first, then network, talk to the Grapevine of farriers, tack store peeps, etc. and see what else is out there. Often the best places take their best clients only by word of mouth anyway.
Good Luck!
Thanks everyone!
And don’t worry, I’ve definitely lessened my expectations for rider amenities. I guess I just struck gold with my barn in North Carolina. I was so sad to leave it 
The important thing is for my boy to be happy! If that means I have to lug tack to and from the barn I’ll do it! He’s worth it.
My priority would be finding a place with decent turnout and a place to get out of the heat/bugs. Anything else would be an “extra”. A lot of areas in Texas do not have the same horsekeeping standards as the east coast. Although there are still a lot of great places!
Don’t worry, I know the perfect barn for you. 
I’ll send you a PM!
Don’t discount the trail barns. I’m a dressage rider and have boarded at some trail barns and was welcomed just fine by the group. They had great care, lots of turnout and lots of great horse people in the mix. You don’t need a fancy ring and an indoor to do dressage. So I say find the barn first then look for a trainer willing to travel if there is not one in house. Craigslist might help you here. I’ve found lots of inexpensive boarding on my local posts. Post what you’re looking for and you’ll be surprised by the responses you may get.
I love my trail only, slightly crazy, pseudo natural horsemanship place. I didn’t initially but after doing a work- around on a deal breaker ( no my horse is not going to live with poop in his over-sized paddock - it’s not large enough for that kind of “system”) it has worked out very well and my horse is extremely happy.
I trailer or ride him over to the eq. center for lessons and shows and do a lot of trail riding myself to get us out of the arena.
The other horses are calm and get along well and there is no drama to speak of which is a welcome relief. My horse has a safely fenced super sized paddock and I can turn him out in a larger pasture with a dry creek bed so he can get a good gallop in.
If he were at any of the show barns he’d be in a tiny stall and turnout would be a tiny pen without shade. Or if I had him in pasture anywhere else, at least part of the fencing would be barbed wire or hot wire fencing.
[QUOTE=spotmenow;7658810]
No, don’t compromise. You won’t be happy and/or your horse won’t be happy. [/QUOTE]
She won’t be happy, but in all likelihood the horse will be happy as clam. Pretty barns are for the owners, not the horses.
Boarding is a compromise. Decide what you can live with if you have to.
Agree, my horse had moved so many times that I could just hear him saying " you figure out how to make this work I’m not leaving"
It is a compromise. I know he wouldn’t be happy cooped up in a tiny stall all day or surrounded by barb wire. I’m not discounting anything at this point, but I can’t handle the comments people make when they disagree with my discipline.
I’m going to visit a place this afternoon! Hopefully it goes well!
