Trailer parking at boarding barn

[Natalie]

So I’m in a bit of a conundrum. I board at a small private farm that is pretty close to perfect for my current needs from a care perspective–nice big pastures with high quality grass, a very small group of compatible horses go out together for at least 10 hours per day, barn is clean and well maintained, hay and feed are high quality.

BUT–there’s no trainer on site, the ring is small and footing isn’t maintained consistently (though it’s still decent), there are no ring lights, there’s no trail access or anything else of the sort. I’m on the hunt for a trailer so I can easily take my horse off-site for lessons/shows/trail riding, but the owner just told me that she doesn’t really “have room” for another trailer (they currently have just their personal two horse on site). When I first moved there, bringing a trailer was an option.

She suggested calling around to other barns in the area to see if I could park it on their property, which I already felt was a long shot, a hunch now being confirmed as numerous places have given me a pretty quick “no”, many of them not altogether nicely either. I’m now more than a bit annoyed at this whole situation.

Am I out of line in feeling like this is a more than reasonable request to make? To me, offering trailer parking is more or less a given, especially at a farm so lacking in amenities and services. Edited to add that I would expect to pay a bit extra for trailer parking, so that’s not the issue. Or, is there an alternate parking option I’m overlooking? Keeping it at home isn’t one, as I live in a neighborhood with an HOA that expressly forbids that sort of thing.

[CHT]

Find an RV storage yard and park it there.

I would never assume trailer parking is a given. Many barns charge for it, and many just don’t allow it, particularly smaller barns that don’t have extra space.

We offer some trailer parking, but if somehow every single boarder wanted to have a trailer and park it here, we would have no parking lot left!

[4LeafCloverFarm]

At the last barn where I boarded, trailer parking was first-come. first-served and $50 a month (back in 2001) at a private barn. Not all public or private barns offer this service and everywhere I am familiar with charged pretty penny for it. If the owners really don’t want trailers parked there (which is fine, it is their farm), then you need to find somewhere that rents space for a trailer (some storage places do this) or move to a barn with trailer parking as an amenity.

[mmeqcenter]

Sure it’s annoying they made it seem like trailer parking was available, then took it away, but stuff happens. Maybe they found out from their insurance it would be an extra fee. Maybe they decided they don’t want to deal with the liability after all. Either way, yes I think it’s a bit much for you to feel it’s something they’re obligated to provide. I’ve boarded at far more barns that don’t offer it than those that do, it really isn’t tied to what other amenities the barn offers.
I agree an RV storage facility is your best bet.

[Groom_amp_Taxi]

You might try posting an ISO for trailer parking on local FB groups if your area has them - even non horsey groups might work. Maybe someone near your barn has extra space and wouldn’t mind making a little extra cash every month for letting you park there and come and go as needed. You might have to come up with some kind of agreement to sign releasing liability, etc. I don’t know if I’d go this route for a high end trailer, but for your typical two horse bumper pull starter type, I’d probably take the risk.

You could also tell your barn owner that you took her suggestion but aren’t having any luck and then ask her to reconsider while offering to pay her something comparable to the going rate at RV storage places.

[clanter]

around here retirees who once had motor homes have pads they rent to others for parking trailers

[js]

You can’t keep it parked at your home?

[tabula_rashah]

I’d say look into moving barns or an RV storage place or friends with farms that might want to make a couple extra bucks a month. I will say I’ve kept my trailer at a friend’s before and it was a major PIA not to have it at the barn or my house. My area seems pretty normal that most barns have plenty of space for trailers (I keep one at home and one at the barn) and I’ve never had to pay extra to keep it there.

[awaywego]

I would think boarding at a “small private farm” would not mean that trailer parking is “more or less a given.” In fact, I would think completely the opposite at that kind of place. I can’t think of any small private farms in my area that have trailer parking, to be honest.

Please try to remember it’s their home first

[2tempe]

Sounds to me like you either stay boarding where you are and find separate home for trailer or you look for different boarding situation where you can park trailer on site. Owner decisions are what they are, but unfortunate that there was a change of mind.
Having it at some offsite location will almost certainly impact the number of times you use it unless it is close by either home or barn.
All of the barns I’ve boarded at over the years allowed trailer parking, and only the first one actually charged for it.

[soloudinhere]

I have to park my trailer at a paid lot. It’s an old warehouse building that is secured. Thankfully it is on my way to the barn now so not that much of a hassle, but before that it was forever away from the barn and that really sucked.

[longlanefarm]

This^^^ @awaywego

I ride at a very nice small private barn. If/when I board at this facility, I would certainly not expect it to be a given to keep my trailer onsite. I think it’s more annoying to you since apparently they reneged on their previous offer. However, it’s not unreasonable. It also probably wouldn’t be that annoying if you didn’t live somewhere with an HOA that dictates your trailer parking needs.

[Pennywell_Bay]

At my old farm, I had plenty of parking so boarders keeping their trailers was a non-issue (and I didn’t charge).

At my new place, I barely have room for my trailer. I do not have boarders, but I wouldn’t be able to have them park and everyone be happy. My set-up just does not make it conducive for turning around, parking etc multiple trailers.

If I ever upsize my trailer- I will have to pay to store it elsewhere. A good turn into my driveway is blocked by an electric box and a telephone pole. My ground gets extremely wet. Sigh.

Sometimes it just doesn’t work.

[trubandloki]

@Natalie

So I’m in a bit of a conundrum. I board at a small private farm that is pretty close to perfect for my current needs from a care perspective–nice big pastures with high quality grass, a very small group of compatible horses go out together for at least 10 hours per day, barn is clean and well maintained, hay and feed are high quality.

BUT–there’s no trainer on site, the ring is small and footing isn’t maintained consistently (though it’s still decent), there are no ring lights, there’s no trail access or anything else of the sort. I’m on the hunt for a trailer so I can easily take my horse off-site for lessons/shows/trail riding, but the owner just told me that she doesn’t really “have room” for another trailer (they currently have just their personal two horse on site). When I first moved there, bringing a trailer was an option.

She suggested calling around to other barns in the area to see if I could park it on their property, which I already felt was a long shot, a hunch now being confirmed as numerous places have given me a pretty quick “no”, many of them not altogether nicely either. I’m now more than a bit annoyed at this whole situation.

Am I out of line in feeling like this is a more than reasonable request to make? To me, offering trailer parking is more or less a given, especially at a farm so lacking in amenities and services. Edited to add that I would expect to pay a bit extra for trailer parking, so that’s not the issue. Or, is there an alternate parking option I’m overlooking? Keeping it at home isn’t one, as I live in a neighborhood with an HOA that expressly forbids that sort of thing.

I do think you are out of line feeling that this is a more than reasonable request to make. Trailer parking is not a given. Only one of the barns I boarded at had anyplace to park a trailer, and that was very limited.

When I could not fit my trailer at home I simply rented a spot at a facility that offered outside storage (RVs, boats, car trailers, etc.). It was cheap. I picked a place that was not totally out of my way and allowed access at any time. Worked out fine.

I am curious about your comment that when you first moved there bringing a trailer was an option. Did you specifically ask if trailer parking was included or allowed?

[CupOJavaa]

Eh, I would not say that you are “out of line.” I get it: You are frustrated and feeling a bit hopeless right now. I would find it pretty annoying having to keep my trailer at a different location than my horse; although, I would have clarified trailer parking rules before moving to a new barn.

When I built my barn and pastures I considered trailer parking for my boarders. It was one of the things that I had planned in my designs and blueprints. It never seemed like just an additional add on during planning, it was always part of the big picture. Horses require trailers for transport and I always want my boarders to have easy access to them, especially in case of emergencies. Because this is what I would want. And I do not charge extra for trailer parking. Something like 360 days of the year they literally just sit there. And I like the sight of a pretty row of horse trailers, for one.

I live in a rural area and if no farms nearby allowed my boarders to park their trailers then they would have to literally drive miles and miles out of their way to find a storage/RV/or other space to park. Now to me that does sound unreasonable. A big, fancy dressage barn down the road set up a deal with their neighbors so that boarders with trailers can park next door for a relatively small fee. I think this is a fair gesture.

When you first moved to that barn are you sure that the owner said you could park a trailer there? THAT is what would have me annoyed about your particular situation. It is their property and their choice and I would fully respect that BUT if I moved my horse expecting to park my trailer there but then they changed their mind and said no, well, I would be frustrated too.

[TheJenners]

Been there! Frustrating. And paying $$$ for trailer parking sucks (around here it’s anywhere from $40-$110 for trailer spot, esp if it’s RV length).

[Equisis]

It’s not unreasonable to ask, but there are a myriad of reasons that the owners may not want trailers parked there. Space, liability, mud, logistical issues like moving trailers to mow, etc. Frustraing for you, but if they say no, there isn’t much you can do.

If the lack of amenities is the reason you need a trailer, perhaps you may want to explore other boarding options. I can relate- my horses are in a pretty ideal location for me in terms of proximity, grass, distance to my coach, etc. However, I have no indoor space (tack and feed storage is a portable container), hacking is difficult, and I have no arena (I have co-opted a section of the property as my grass arena, with the owner’s approval). I have a constant internal struggle with wanting to move somewhere with facilities, but it’s hard to sacrifice the great turnout and the price.

[Narleta]

I used to board and did not offer trailer parking as space was at a premium. I assume there is room for a trailer where you board since you feel they are being unreasonable? I would move my horse to where the trailer could stay on site. It is a pain to have to go get a trailer from storage before use.

[Dutchmare433]

As others have said, I don’t think it’s a given. At my current place trailer parking is free, but the property is large and pretty much flat, the trailers are all out behind the indoor ring, so no one has to look at all of the either. At my last place (just moved), trailer parking was very limited, only 2 spots for boarders and I happened to snag one of them, but I did pay a monthly rate. Wouldn’t have worked if I had anything larger than I do (2H Gooseneck). The property was a similar acreage to where I am now, but the layout was difficult.

[CanteringCarrot]

I don’t ever expect trailer parking at a stable. For me it’s an added bonus. Sometimes it will cost a bit of money, other times it is free for boarders. At my current stable there is trailer parking, albeit limited (maybe half a dozen spots, but there aren’t many boarders so it works). However, with the exception of the occasional horse box/van/transporter, but even then, our trailers are small. Some of the transporters are not even as long as an American pick up with a trailer. We all own 2 horse Böckmann trailers or a similar style of another make. Nothing like what is found in North America. I don’t know how a boarding stable would accommodate a bunch of large trailers, so I could see that people a problem.

Liability may be an issue, as well as it being in the way depending on the property layout. For me, if I knew it was only going to be a few people, I’d try to make it work. Especially here where people don’t have very large driveways or parking spaces and storage for such a thing is hard to find.

If they absolutely cannot allow it, I’d look for a secured storage facility. A family member or friend or some other arrangement with a private individual can get tricky.