To move or not to move

[kupeski]

While I like my current farm, a lot of little things are starting to pile up which makes being at the barn not a happy time. I have the option to move to a different barn next month but I’m so indecisive I need some help making decisions

Current barn:
PROS
Trainer in my discipline on site (eventing/dressage)
Friends at the barn
Cheaper at 350/month/horse (700 a month)
Competitive show team
Two arenas
Some trails
Hills
Largish turnouts
Bathroom on site
Wash stall inside
Tackroom
CONS
Lots of kids working unsupervised
Robust lesson program
Working at barn makes for stress/I never get my lesson from working
Arena is always busy
I do my own stalls/chores
I pay for hay/shavings/grain
Farm maintainance is not done
Friends are typically the barn moms/older teens
Not turned out in bad weather
Hills (limit turn out/flooding)
Limited grass turn out
Water doesnt always work/no hot water
Tack room is kid hangout/very crowded
No outside trainers
Lessons are never on time/trainer distracted
Not well supplied (always short on hay or shavings, hence why I just do rough and buy my own)

Other barn:
PROS
Quieter lesson program (just Saturdays)
Friends at barn
Can ride other horses including the 4yo ottb I trained
Turned out more
Grass option for turnout
Good farm maintainance
2 arenas
Some trails
No flooding
Hay and shavings provided
Outside trainers welcome
CONS
Smaller paddocks
“Friend” at barn
End up staying later due to riding more horses
Portapotty
Outside wash stall
More expensive at 600/horse/month (1200 a month) but owner may work with me on that
Trainers are hunter/jumper and western pleasure

Any other input I should look at going into this decision?

[RedHorses]

When you say you are working at the barn do you mean doing your own horses or that you work for the barn for money/reduced board.

When you say you never get your lesson because you are working, does that mean you have to get work done before riding or you just don’t schedule your tasks very well.

When you do get a lesson, is it helpful? Are you learning anything? Have you had lessons with the trainers at the other barn? How was it?

Do you really feel that staying late at the other barn because you are riding other horses is a con, or is it that you don’t schedule your tasks very well?

When you say the other barn might work with you on price, what does that mean? Will you be working off part of the board (and find yourself not riding because of your self scheduling issue)?

The “friend” at the other barn in your con list - will they be easier to take/avoid than the horde of kids at the current barn?

Is a smaller paddock that they get out into more often really a con? Are they over crowded?

Can you afford the more expensive barn?

How often do you use the washstall in the winter?

How often do you need the bathroom?

How willing/able are you to go to competitions by yourself? How important is competing? How many competitions are you planning on going to? Would that change if your board went up?
”‹
”‹”‹”‹Don’t answer if you don’t want to, these are questions to make you think about your priorities.

[2tempe]

If the possible new place does the care, I’d want to know about their overall process - how often do they feed? Do you have a choice of grains and will they work for you? Do they make judgement calls on bad weather turnout or do they go no matter what? Do you have to change farriers/vets? If so, is that an issue for you? Are they observant and do they catch problems - ie cuts/scrapes? horse NQR?

IMO, the crowded situation would be difficult for me - I’m not much of a “kid” person. But I’d hate the portapotty situation and outdoor wash stall at option B…Especially up north!

[IPEsq]

Does the 350/month price at barn one include the fact you are buying your own hay, feed and shavings?

A barn that is overcrowded at the hours you need to be there is a drag, especially if turnout is limited. But not every horse handles that the same.

[kupeski]

When you say you are working at the barn do you mean doing your own horses or that you work for the barn for money/reduced board.

Both .I do my own stalls and I do am chores on sunday for a free riding lesson

When you say you never get your lesson because you are working, does that mean you have to get work done before riding or you just don’t schedule your tasks very well.

We don’t have a regular date and time- I fit in where she has a gap .I do work 2 jobs so sometimes I cant lesson on a day she has available

When you do get a lesson, is it helpful? Are you learning anything? Have you had lessons with the trainers at the other barn? How was it?

I’ve learned a lot, even if I don’t 100% agree with some of the techniques I’ve seen her use with other riders and horses (I dont like to force a headset by tying my horse’s head down, for example) havent ridden with this other trainer, who used to be at my current barn

Do you really feel that staying late at the other barn because you are riding other horses is a con, or is it that you don’t schedule your tasks very well?

I definitly am scrappy at time management. I know if the option to ride is there, I’ll take it/cant say no lol

When you say the other barn might work with you on price, what does that mean? Will you be working off part of the board (and find yourself not riding because of your self scheduling issue)?

I do not want to work- I tell myself this every time I change barns (normally moving because of a job relocation ) I dont mind doing my own stalls though. I dont mins providing my own grain as I like to bag up each feeding to make it easier (again .Too many people feeding and not know = more mistakes)

The “friend” at the other barn in your con list - will they be easier to take/avoid than the horde of kids at the current barn?

Friend is easier to take than the kids in the barn. Shes just a little uneducated on horses sometimes and does what I deem to be unsafe and it stresses me out- my problem and I need to let it go

Is a smaller paddock that they get out into more often really a con? Are they over crowded?

Turn out is currently just my two together. And will continue if I move barns

Can you afford the more expensive barn?

Barely .

How often do you use the washstall in the winter?

Hahaha hahaha. I live in maine. Brr

How often do you need the bathroom?

Rarely but I like the option

How willing/able are you to go to competitions by yourself? How important is competing? How many competitions are you planning on going to? Would that change if your board went up?
”‹
One of my friends at the new barn has a rig and would happily haul me. Competing isn’t too important. New barn does some shows as well .

”‹”‹”‹Don’t answer if you don’t want to, these are questions to make you think about your priorities.

this helped a lot

[TCA_Arabians]

If “wiling to work with you” at the new barn means you can reduce your board costs by doing work and want to do so - move.
If your friend at the new barn is feeding/handling your horse - tell her what to do and not to do.
If you’re there at night - take a flashlight for the porta-potty. Trust me on that one.

[JB]

Staying later due to riding more horses isn’t a con - that’s a choice

The “con” of not having your discipline trainer at the barn is negated by being able to bring your Eventing/Dressage trainer in. But, it’s also not a bad idea to take some lessons from a H/J trainer IF they are a good one with a solid foundation in proper flatwork, not just hacking around on the buckle with jumps in the way.

The “friend” at barn 2 is part of life. We can’t always choose the people who are around us, but learning how to manage that relationship is always something we can do. If she’s doing things that are TRULY unsafe, it’s ok to try to educate her, politely and objectively, on how to be more safe. She has to learn, and preferably not the hard way.

Why is an outside wash stall a con? I see you said you’re in Maine, so how often do you bathe when it’s cold outside anyway?

Portapotty’s aren’t the end of the world. They’re better than a stall :winkgrin:

How many hours are you working at the current barn, and how much were you spending to provide your own hay/shavings/grain on a regular basis? Take that cost out of the $600 and see how it looks then.

The potential new barn sounds a lot better for the horses. Many of the “cons” are choices, or just differences that mean a bit of a change in how you do things, but also, that is part of life, having a mindset that change is something we have a choice to adapt to

[kupeski]

@IPEsq

Does the 350/month price at barn one include the fact you are buying your own hay, feed and shavings?

A barn that is overcrowded at the hours you need to be there is a drag, especially if turnout is limited. But not every horse handles that the same.

Overall I pay about 1050 a month now with my grain hay and shavings

[RedHorses]

:lol: I live further north than you - which is why I asked about the wash stall! I’ve had an indoor wash stall at two barns here. All the others were outdoor - some just had a hose without anything to tie to, or a drained area. The indoor wash stall is nice if there is a wound needing washing, but it’s not that hard to do it in a stall or grooming area. Even with the wash stall I don’t think I ever bathed my horse at a time I couldn’t have done it outside.

Anyway, don’t let the “nice to have” items on your list outweigh the things that are most important.

[Spud_amp_Saf]

What is the difference in the travel time between the two? You’re pretty close in terms of cost as it is, and does that number factor in the work you are currently doing yourself? If it doesn’t you’re probably out more in your current situation than you realize. If budget is the issue, could you work off the $150 difference at the new barn?

If the care is better at the new place, I would take better more consistent care and turnout over your current situation. What if you get sick or injured and can’t care for your horses your self at your current situation?

I have boarded at a lot of “cheaper” places because they were either very close to home and/or I was willing to do the majority of my own care and provide my own supplies. In hindsight, it was never really a good deal for me, especially when I had 2 horses, because I also worked 2 jobs and I ended up spending the majority of the time at the barn doing chores and not actually riding or interacting with my guys too much because that’s all I had time for. I was burnt out, and starting to resent the horses, as they were all work an no enjoyment. Also, what I was supplying ended up being the same cost as, or in excess of, what all-inclusive board would have cost me at the end of the day. I

Now, I am down to one horse after losing one to EPM, so my circumstances have changed a bit. At first, I was close to quitting horses/riding and sending my remaining horse to a retirement situation. I ended up moving to a different barn where the care is good and consistent, and it is still close to home I am happily paying fa flat board rate and enjoying letting someone else be responsible for the day to day basics. Nowt when I go to the barn, I actually get to ride and bond with my horse and am enjoying being a horse owner again. It is costing me about the same (maybe even less) than what I was paying before for the 2, and I have so much more free time.

Just some food for thought.

[JB]

@kupeski

Overall I pay about 1050 a month now with my grain hay and shavings

So right here you’re only spending $150 more a month, and you’re getting back some time with having to get your hay/shavings/ grain.

What is the distance difference between the 2? If #2 is closer, then figure out the average gas cost savings and if farther, figure out that addition, all so you can get a better handle on the total cost increase.

[Scribbler]

I find the pro and con list rather hard to compare/contrast usefully, so will just offer my thoughts.

My first requirement for horses, is that I need to be able to afford my basic horse care comfortably within my income so that I have a margin of fun money left over for other horse and life costs. My second requirement is that my horse needs to fit into my free time frame and that it is easy for me to ride. My third requirement is that the horse get exemplary care. At the moment I’m able to achieve all this through self board at a recreational barn close to my house. If my job hours became more pressing I might need to go to full board elsewhere or hire someone to caretake my horse several days a week,

My other requirements about facilities, etc., are individual to me, so may not apply: I want my particular coach to visit, I want trails access as well as arenas, I want space to do attended turnout and ground work, etc.

I’ve also observed my coach’s own barn, where she typically has several teens or young adults doing chores for lessons or reduction in board. I see why it’s necessary on both sides, but honestly I don’t think it works very well for the workers, because they are too tired to ride, and because (just like in your scenario) the coach tends to want to tuck them into times there aren’t any nonpaying students. And those might be moments when the worker is still scrubbing buckets, or is exhausted, or even isn’t a day they are coming down at all.

Anyhow, my thoughts. OP you say you are financially overextended with having two horses, and the way you are making ends meet, by doing barn chores, is counterproductive if your goal is more saddle time. I would suggest that you figure out a way to reduce your costs, which could be doing a half lease on one of your horses (probably the more solid citizen of the two). Alternatively, you might consider selling one of the horses, or if the horse is retirement age, putting him on low cost pasture board.

I am currently riding and caring for one horse every day, two horses most days, and for the past six month was caring for three (and doing ground work or longeing the third). Two horses takes up twice as much time as one horse if you are really focusing on both!

You also say that you take lessons from a coach that you feel you’ve personally made progress with, but you don’t like her training methods on other horses. That’s a red flag, because it means that eventually she will want to use those methods on you, or else that she is not able to teach correct basics, and then needs to resort to short cuts to get past the holes in her own skill set.

Edited to add: as far as porta potty and washracks, those aren’t deal breakers for me. Our washracks are outdoors, we turn off the hot water to the hose every winter so the pipes don’t freeze, and I have never missed it because I’m not about to get my horse soaking wet in December anyhow. I took lessons for years in a place with a porta potty, no big deal. I like the proper bathroom at my current barn, but that would never be a deal breaker for me in choosing a barn. Lots of the more rural barns here just have a cold water line to the barn for watering, no hot water or plumbing in the barn.

[kupeski]

Thanks all foe giving me things to think about. O definitly think the care seems better at the new barn. Current barn, the trainer leases the property and the actually property owner really doesn’t have a worry about the farm- as we has 3 weeks of no working water this winter. Trainer also wants to be just a trainer, and not do barn work, hence all the ten year olds doing chores. While the new barn has coop options, the don’t seem to be just kids doing work.

other big pro of the new barn is that they have a camera system in the stalls and arena

Current trainer doesn’t get along with this other barn however and would not come over/probably woildnt be welcome

[candyappy]

You are paying $350 per horse in addition to buying hay, grain, bedding and having to clean your own stall. An increase of $150 you may be able to work off would seal the deal if it was me.

Even if you can’t work it off you should be able to find a way to make up the difference with rearranging your budget, unless you are strapped financially?

I would move as long as the horses at the new barn are in optimal weight and are fed large amounts of good hay.

[OverandOnward]

OP, I suspect that there is probably more going on here than just your list of pros & cons. Do your best to be honest with yourself about that, and make sure both now and later that you are treating yourself fairly.

If you are working at the current barn but not getting the benefit specified (lessons) then the current barn is costing you more than you are calculating. Your time is being given away for free, and you could be doing something else to your own benefit instead. Plus any extra amounts that you may be spending on clinics or other instruction to make up for the missed lessons.

It’s the BM’s* job* to make sure you get the compensation agreed on, that is, the lessons, in a timely fashion, and not fall behind. Not doing that is the same as not paying, regardless of the reason. Procrastination on the lessons is not acceptable when you are not procrastinating on the work. Give the current BM a date certain (about a week) by when she needs to have someone else start doing the work you’ve been doing if BM does not give you a schedule for the lessons, as well as giving the actual lessons, AND have a committed plan for catching up on those she owes you.

Don’t fall for the “when there is time” bs, because bs is what that is, unfortunately. You can even give this BM (or the next one) a suggested schedule if she doesn’t have a schedule or her own. Then, if she doesn’t actually give said lessons per the schedule, stop the work, regardless of her excuse. You can say “I am so sorry about your reason for cancelling, I know that was difficult for you! I’ll cancel X date of work and then we will be back even again.” What happens as a result of you stopping your work is her problem, not yours. It’s a business and it’s her responsibility, not yours.

Going forward with this or any barn, keep in mind that if someone is trading your work for their time, but won’t give you a schedule for doing their part, then they will be cheating you as the arrangement goes on. It is what it is. There are people who know how to take advantage and that’s what they do. If you insist on getting your fair share they will be outraged and treat your insistence on a fair exchange as a deplorable deal-breaker, a bridge-burner, and they won’t work with you any more. Because their terms are always to take advantage. They don’t stick with people who insist on a fair exchange. Sad, but that’s how it is.

As you go forward looking for a new barn, don’t be someone who is always getting in to arrangements that take advantage of your willingness and goodwill. Sounds like you want to correct several imbalances in your current barn. So make sure you take care of yourself going forward, however you choose to do that.

I suspect that is what this is really about - the list of pros and cons is really a 360 degree look at how fair to you each option will be. That’s not a choice between barns so much as it is a choice to take a stand for yourself on each point that is important to you, wherever you most want to be. Possibly the hole has become so deep at this barn (including the crowds and kids) that it’s easier to move on, but don’t let a new situation where you are giving more than you are getting emerge once again. Look after yourself.