Trailering in for lessons vs boarding at training facility

[tinyrider]

I’m starting to shop around for a new trainer and I’m having a hard time. I was hoping to find a trainer that would come to my boarding facility and give me lessons there, but none of the trainers I like do that. I would have to either move to their facility or trailer in for lessons. I really don’t want to move my pony, I LOVE the facility that I’m at right now. I remember about 10 years ago, I tried boarding at a fancy training stable, and I ended up leaving because I never fit in. It was just too persnickety for me, I am much happier at a smaller backyard barn. On the flip side, trailering in for lessons is such a hassle, not to mention the added expense of gas and ‘trailer in’ fees, I’m not sure I even want to bother. It’s supposed to be fun, not a chore…

If you board your horse and take lessons, what do you do and why? Are you completely content doing one versus the other, or are you like me where both arrangements seem to have a negative side?

[HappyTalk]

I own my own barn and I have done both. I rather like trailering in because it is good experience for my horse and I like associating with the other lesson people (we have instructor/judge come into our area monthly and we all trailer in to one barn). It can get lonely riding by myself.

[Mallard]

I have my own private barn here with only 4 horses but I trailer out for weekly lessons. Occasionally we’ll trailer over there to go for a hack with others.
We’ve been doing this for over a year. It’s only 15 minutes from home.

It’s great for the little guy to get out and about… we ride all alone here at home.
Right now he’s been boarding there since November 1st, but he is coming back home here right after Christmas. I was just lucky she had a stall for a couple of months.

Once he’s home he’ll have the next couple of months off, unless the footing is suitable for a bit of hacking in our fields. I won’t trailer at all if there’s snow on the roads and my ring is already icy.

It has been nice to be able to use the indoor almost every day, but most of the boarders are much younger … and there is some drama. Thankfully, I can ride during the day and miss 95% of it.

We’ll start trailering back over for weekly lessons in March.

[Highflyer]

I do think it’s educational for the horse to haul out. My trainer teaches at a number of different facilities each week and I’m lucky enough to be roughly in the middle of the area geographically, which means I can choose to jump in a field or a ring or an indoor or school xc based on the weather, footing, and on what we need to work on most.

[CindyCRNA]

I agree with the above posters. While is is time consuming to haul out, if you plan to show, it is great experience for the horse. I like where I board but haul out twice a week for lessons. We are trying to get a dressage trainer to come in though as it would be nice to just saddle up and go. I say if you are happy at your barn, haul out.

[GrayCatFarm]

Ditto CindyCRNA. We haul out 2 times each week. He is a pro at it, and going to shows is not stressful at all. I tack up at trailer, and he ties great.

[sporthorseconnect]

Trailering your horse to lessons can be a great experience. (Depending on the horses personality.) Some get really nervous before trailering, and there is the added expense of ulcer prevention. If your horse is steady and loves to go places I say go for it.

[JRG]

I do it. It was at the beginning a great learning experience for both the horse (I intended on showing) and for me driving a gooseneck.
Now, I do it a couple of times a month and my horse is nice and close to home for daily riding.
When the next horse comes along, I will do the same thing as the first because it makes being away from home so much more relaxed.

[copper1]

If a trainer has their own facility and program, travelling around to other barns to teach can be a losing proposition. Travel time and waiting for rider to get on can involve much more time than teaching a lesson at home. I used to do it and would charge travel time but often times riders were not ready when I got there so more time spent. I did tell one rider that I would not return unless she was ready to ride. More time spent also if you are working on an issue and just about to make a break thru and the hour is up and you need to leave for the next lesson. Far better from a trainer’s point of view and more than likely cheaper for the rider to haul in.

[Flash44]

I do it, horses ship great and settle in great at competitions. They have to “practice” shipping, tying, waiting in the trailer, etc just like they “practice” collection, lead changes, jumping, etc. If you are going to have any big issues at a competition, you will ususally get a heads up if you haul around a bit before hand.

[SuckerForHorses]

I haul out to take lessons, because my horses are kept at home, and I cannot afford to board AND pay for lessons. So, in order to afford lessons, I trailer to them. I would LOVE to pay board and take lessons for the sake of not having to deal with trailering, especially in nasty Vermont winters, but I just can’t afford to do both.

[KitKat987]

I’ve been trailering in for lessons for years. I have my horses at home. I would say it’s worth it to keep them where you like them and go elsewhere for lessons if that’s what you want to do. That way you get the best of both worlds.

It’s GREAT of your for your horse. I trailer multiple times a week and they don’t blink an eye at it. There is a lot to be said for a well travelled horse. They are super loaders and haulers, and adjust very easily to new environments. I swear they can be spooky and silly at home just to play with me, but take them somewhere new, show grounds wherever, and they don’t bat an eye.

I also like it because i don’t get sucked into any barn drama and don’t have to worry about the care my horses are getting.

[Invested1]

I’m on the other side of the coin. I work a full time job and my barn is already an hour + away in traffic.
I’m fine hauling out for an occasional lesson but just don’t have the time to do it every week. LOVE that my trainer comes to us every week…

[findeight]

If your discipline requires specific equipment like jumps or Trail class obstacles? Trailering out is about the only way you can get exposure to show style courses over show style equipment. Known Eventers who haul to school cross country as well as show jumping.

Theres no way 99.99% of owners who keep at home and even boarders at smaller barns can afford to obtain and build what the big barns can closer to what you actually face at your competition venue.

Its worth the additional cost. That’s also why many trainers don’t free lance, they like their home set up and equipment to teach with.

[netg]

Board at the location which is the best fit for you and your horse (where you are now sounds like that place.) Ride with the trainer who is the best fit for you and your horse.

If they aren’t at the same place, trailer in. It’s not a big deal to do, and as everyone mentioned it is good for them. My trainer’s an hour away so I trailer out every Saturday for lessons. He also travels to teach and once we work it out I’ll end up taking lessons at home during the week as well - those will cost more for travel time.

[tinyrider]

I appreciate the feedback. I will likely try trailering in for a while, and if I’m finding it to be too much hassle, then reconsider moving. It unfortunately will not be less expensive to trailer in for me, because all the trainers I’m interested in train at facilities that have ‘trailer-in’ fees, which range from $25-$40. So if I take a lesson per week, that’s at minimum an extra $100 a month, not to mention the cost of gas to haul there. That will actually turn out to be more expensive than just going to board there. Regardless, I do have to consider my day-to-day life, and in that respect, I think I will be much happier remaining boarding at my little backyard barn. My other concern about boarding at the same facility as my trainer is that I’ll never be able to relax, I’ll feel like I’m being watched and judged all the time. If you board at the same facility where you train, do you find that to be the case?

[Ladylexie]

It is so much better to keep the horse at the trainers barn.

[UrbanHennery]

On the haul-in fee, ask about a cost for the whole month. Every barn/trainer I’ve ever taken lessons at that had a per lesson haul-in fee also offered a monthly, unlimited rides, haul-in option. Usually it’s equivalent to 5-6 lesson haul-ins. For instance, current instructor charges $15 per lesson to haul-in and $80 for the month (unlimited rides during barn hours). The last trainer I rode with was $15 per lesson or $65 per month.

As several others up thread, I keep mine at home and haul for every ride (lessons and schooling). My horses have all been very very good haulers. It doesn’t always translate to not being spooky the first ride somewhere new (current gelding), but they don’t bat an eye at loading and standing around and then being tied or cross-tied somewhere they’ve never been.

It also helps me keep my tack and such pared down to what I really need as I keep it all in the fairly small tack room of my 2 horse trailer.

[Ladylexie]

I’m surprised that almost everybody says to haul in. I rode Saddle Seat and almost NOBODY hauls in. It just isn’t done:lol:

[saddleup]

I’ve done both. It’s more convenient to have my horse at the trainer’s barn, but I miss having the daily interactions with him. I bought him and kept him at her barn for three years before an injury sidelined him and I temporarily brought him home for six weeks. Even though I’d been riding him three times a week as well as at shows I didn’t really like him that much…until I got him home and really got to know him.

I take him back to her place in January through April, when the weather’s crummy and hauling in snow is difficult. But now I keep him home the rest of the year and haul in.