Questioning: time to move barns?

[widge]

I’m growing more unhappy with a number of things at the barn I’m not 2 months into boarding at. Are these reasons to leave?:

1. Turnout situation not what I was led to believe. I knew it was less than at my previous barn (which was overnight in summer/out during daylight in winter), but it’s even less than I thought. They make it outside into grass paddocks only every couple days, not even dependent on weather. The time is just as long as it takes to do the barn stalls, so roughly 3 hours. On days with no turnout, they get tossed into the arena in small groups for as long as it takes to clean the group’s stalls, the the next group rotates in. So max ~3 hours turned out but usually less than an hour.
2. My horse has gone from thin in a “needs to fill out” way (young TB) to ribby even under his winter fluff. BM said he had a growth spurt (height) and stretched out which is why he looks thinner. This is not necessarily untrue (he doesn’t look taller to me but I didn’t stick him) but he’s still underweight NOW. Then she informed me that she already started him on a supplement to help with this. I was dumbstruck and didn’t even ask why she didn’t consult me (or at least tell me) before she started it, how long ago she started it (at breakfast today? A week ago?), or how much she’s charging me for it. Or why he can’t have more FOOD. Again the time frame mentioned above… would this growth spurt to the point of ribbiness happen in a matter of weeks? Honest question - I don’t know.
3. The final straw. We’ve been having unseasonably warm days but my horse’s sheet remained on. He was sweaty under it and the sheet was wet. BM was on premises and didn’t know I was coming out so no reason to think “Widge will be here in 20 minutes so she can handle this while I start my lesson.” Not that that would be reasonable but maybe forgivable.
   I’m new to ownership so trying to find the line between “this is less than ideal” and “we can’t stay here anymore.” I don’t even know another place I can move to within reasonable driving distance, or if a place with excellent care in unreasonable driving distance will take us. Last straw occurred today. Giving my former trainer a call tomorrow but thought I’d throw this one out to the crowd.
   There are other pros/cons but they’re not care-related, so trying to keep those out of the calculus for now.

[blue_heron]

Yup. Your horse, your standard of care. If you think the care isn’t up to snuff, spend your money elsewhere. (It sounds like it’s not up to your standard of care. It isn’t up to mine either. I would move.)

[SharonA1]

Leave. The BM is completely jerking you around and has no intention of doing anything any differently. This place is not a good fit for your horse. It is our job to protect the horse, and you can’t do that, at this barn.

[phantomhorse]

#1 would be enough to have me looking for another place, so #2 and #3 just reinforce that decision. Good luck finding a place that better suits your horse’s needs.

[lenapesadie]

@widge

Are these reasons to leave?:

1. Turnout situation not what I was led to believe.

This is.

The weight loss in the first two months would have me moving on its own even if turnout was as advertised.

Sweating under blankets pisses me off, but if it was the only problem (and the first offense) I might be willing to try a bit longer.

[Bebe_Falcon1]

@phantomhorse

#1 would be enough to have me looking for another place, so #2 and #3 just reinforce that decision. Good luck finding a place that better suits your horse’s needs.

Same. If my horse isn’t being provided the things he needs to be a HORSE, then it’s not a good fit. Lots of turnout and something to do (i.e. eat, socialize). I’d be looking elsewhere.

[Horselove5]

@widge

I’m new to ownership so trying to find the line between “this is less than ideal” and “we can’t stay here anymore.”

Start looking for other options in the area, it’s always good to have an alternative.
Have a deep talk with your BM and explain friendly that any change in your horse’s feeding routine should absolutely be discussed prior with you - the owner and payer of bills. It’s your horse, if something happens to him, you’re the one on the line - financially and emotionally, not the BM, not the grooms, not the property owner. You trust them with your animal and fulfill your side of the contract, make sure they do the same with theirs.
It sadly seems that you’re being taken advantage of.

[Equkelly]

1 and 3 by themselves are enough for me to pack up and leave and not look back and #2 is a pretty good warning sign IMO.

Just start looking ASAP. Check facebook ads, Craigslist, local classifieds. There’s plenty of good places that are word of mouth/ private facilities that will not show up on a google search.

I also do not recommend trying to get them to change things. Yes, they should, but no, they will not. It’s not worth the drama and not worth nuking the relationship even though this barn isn’t somewhere you want to end up again. You just never know. If you ever get into a bind 5 years from now and need something temporary you’ll be glad you left on good terms.

[widge]

Thanks to all for the wisdom. There were some things that others pointed out that I had already been thinking, so nice to know I’m not being unreasonable or too impatient. I think this is just “the program” at this barn; asking for special treatment will just make me or my horse the bad guys. Better to leave on friendly terms as to not burn a bridge and just seek greener (accessible!) pastures.

[S1969]

Agree with everyone else. I could live with the occasional blanket mishap but noticeable weight loss in the first 2 months is BAD. That means that they really aren’t feeding anywhere near enough and the horse is in calorie deficit all the time. Or, under a lot of stress. Or both.

There are lots of barns with this “program” and you are right - you won’t ever be happy there and you’ll run out of currency with the “special treatment” - (aka, feed my horse please!).

Find another option asap.

[Bluey]

@widge

I’m growing more unhappy with a number of things at the barn I’m not 2 months into boarding at. Are these reasons to leave?:

1. Turnout situation not what I was led to believe. I knew it was less than at my previous barn (which was overnight in summer/out during daylight in winter), but it’s even less than I thought. They make it outside into grass paddocks only every couple days, not even dependent on weather. The time is just as long as it takes to do the barn stalls, so roughly 3 hours. On days with no turnout, they get tossed into the arena in small groups for as long as it takes to clean the group’s stalls, the the next group rotates in. So max ~3 hours turned out but usually less than an hour.
2. My horse has gone from thin in a “needs to fill out” way (young TB) to ribby even under his winter fluff. BM said he had a growth spurt (height) and stretched out which is why he looks thinner. This is not necessarily untrue (he doesn’t look taller to me but I didn’t stick him) but he’s still underweight NOW. Then she informed me that she already started him on a supplement to help with this. I was dumbstruck and didn’t even ask why she didn’t consult me (or at least tell me) before she started it, how long ago she started it (at breakfast today? A week ago?), or how much she’s charging me for it. Or why he can’t have more FOOD. Again the time frame mentioned above… would this growth spurt to the point of ribbiness happen in a matter of weeks? Honest question - I don’t know.
3. The final straw. We’ve been having unseasonably warm days but my horse’s sheet remained on. He was sweaty under it and the sheet was wet. BM was on premises and didn’t know I was coming out so no reason to think “Widge will be here in 20 minutes so she can handle this while I start my lesson.” Not that that would be reasonable but maybe forgivable.
   I’m new to ownership so trying to find the line between “this is less than ideal” and “we can’t stay here anymore.” I don’t even know another place I can move to within reasonable driving distance, or if a place with excellent care in unreasonable driving distance will take us. Last straw occurred today. Giving my former trainer a call tomorrow but thought I’d throw this one out to the crowd.
   There are other pros/cons but they’re not care-related, so trying to keep those out of the calculus for now.

Have you asked your vet, farrier, feed store for places around there?

They may know some you are not aware of, that could be a good fit.
No matter where you go, there will be compromises with what you want and expect and what a barn does or doesn’t do, unless is your own place to run.

Saying that, you should not compromise when it means your horse is not taken care of properly, fed and turned out as is standard and expected, as you found there.

Good luck finding a better fit.

[Pico_Banana]

I would definitely be looking to move under these facts.

Finding a boarding barn that is the right fit can be hard. Also, since you mentioned you are new to horse ownership, I’ll also comment that you’re almost always going to need to compromise on something at a boarding barn. The trick is learning which things you’re willing to compromise on and which ones you absolutely need to stick to. Of the ones you mention, turnout is a big deal for me, along with barn owner not changing feed without checking in with you. In my opinion, blanketing can be a crapshoot even at otherwise super nice places, so that’s one I think you have to be willing to be flexible on.

[widge]

Thanks to all - happy to report we’re moving next week to a known quantity.

[scislandsprite]

Good luck with the move!

[Posting_Trot]

The blanket issue (#3) wouldn’t be enough for me to leave. I think a lot of people tend to over-blanket. Most horses (especially young, fit horses) are going to do just fine for most of the year without a blanket, until you get the freezing rain and howling wind scenario, or, of course, if the horse is clipped. (I’m not anti-blanket, I just think that most horses can go longer into the fall just being naked).

Being misled about the turnout situation would really tick me off, however. Good, safe, adequate turnout is my #1 priority for horse boarding. That would be enough to move by itself for me.

I would not be happy about the BO starting the horse on a supplement without telling me, although that would depend on what the supplement is. If, for example, it’s a fat supplement for your underweight horse, I’d be okay with it although I’d prefer to be informed. But some BOs see the horse’s body condition as being their bailiwick, so that’s something you could just have a conversation with the BO about.

[Red_Barn]

Any one of these things would have me shopping for a new barn.

All three of them? Forget it. I would have been out long ago.

[candyappy]

I was going to have you tell us where you were in case anyone on here knew of a BB in your area but thankfully it sounds like you don’t need it

Good luck at your new barn and I hope both you and your horse thrive there.

[Hayburner]

It’s time to go

[Elliot12]

Turmout - over promised and under delivered. I think that is one of the top issues that many customers face. I am also adamant about any changes in feed should be suggested /discussed with owner before anything is done. Simple communication.
I speak from experience.