Trailering in for lessons vs boarding at training facility

[NoSuchPerson]

I keep my equines at home and I think you have to be more highly motivated and/or have more free time than I do for trailering in to work well. The place I used to board one of mine, where I was taking weekly lessons, is only a few miles from my home. Theoretically, trailering over for a lesson on Saturday or Sunday is easy. In reality, I found it very difficult to manage after I moved him home this summer.

I’ve pretty much decided at this point that if I want to be serious about lessons and showing, I’m going to have to go back to boarding at the same place I’m taking lessons.

[coloredhorse]

My horses are on my own property now, but years ago I did board. I chose my trainer based on what my training needs were. I chose my boarding facility based on what my horse’s/my daily riding/care needs were plus budget. This often meant I hauled to lessons either at my trainer’s owned facility or at a public facility or one that allowed haul-ins. It really isn’t that big of a deal when you do it regularly.

[Mtn_trails]

I have to haul in for schooling or lessons, however, I school at a public arena near me and my trainer is 30 minutes away where I haul once sometimes twice a week. I would love to board somewhere with an indoor so I could go directly from work. I hate hauling out all the time. But after reading some of the boarding horror stories I’m kind of glad they’re at home.

[Lady_Eboshi]

[QUOTE=tinyrider;7912136]
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?[/QUOTE]

Several times over the years, and in a couple of different disciplines, I trailered in for lessons. In both cases, it was because I was taking care of my own horse and vastly preferred his situation (attention from me, all-day turnout, my feed and hay, no meds) to what he would likely have gotten in those barns. Plus, they were not too affordable. Great training, but indifferent stable management. They are often NOT the same thing.

Your lessons will be of equal quality to the “home team” in most cases, and you’ll be able to show with the trainer if you want to. However, barns can be as “clique-ish” as high school and if being “one of the gang” is important to you, fair warning that you probably won’t be! It just doesn’t tend to happen when you are not sharing the complete experience of boarding in the trainer’s barn.

But if you’re a self-starter who doesn’t need a lot of external affirmation from a peer group to advance and excel, go for it and enjoy! You’ll have the best of both worlds.

[Sunnyhorse]

If you or your horse is super green, sure, but I prefer to have my horses at home – we know a lot more about each other just from being around each other so much more, they get much more turnout than they would at a boarding barn, and the money I save having them at home makes it possible for me to show and take lessons when I want.

[Sunnyhorse]

[QUOTE=Ladylexie;7913213]
It is so much better to keep the horse at the trainers barn.[/QUOTE]

If you or your horse is super green, or if having an indoor is the only way you’re gonna get to ride over the winter, sure, but I prefer to have my horses at home – we know a lot more about each other just from being around each other so much more, they get much more turnout than they would at a boarding barn, and the money I save having them at home makes it possible for me to show and take lessons when I want.

[cherham]

Here in Southern Ontario there tends to be a trend now for a lot of BNT’s that used to own/lease their own facilities to now only do freelance work. They can pick and choose the barns and clients they like, they have little to no overhead, no barns or fences to maintain, no snow blowing, no ring maintenance. No jumps to purchase. And NO staff or sick boarders horses to deal with. They pick the time and dates that are convenient to them. I have a small private adult boarding facility. We have three trainers here on a weekly schedule all from different disciplines. It works perfectly. On the flip side however there are also very few boarding facilities that offer the amenities of a show barn without the necessity to use “their” in house trainer. We have a rather long waiting list here so it appears to be a good working model. I would bet more trainers might be willing to offer freelance lessons in the future should the cost of keeping these horse farms going keeps rising.

[red_mares]

[QUOTE=Ladylexie;7913249]
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:[/QUOTE]

Yep and any trainer that doesn’t have their own barn probably isn’t worth spending the money on. The very few I’ve seen would guarantee you a pink ribbon - not because of politics, but because the finished product isn’t very finished. (The pink ribbon winners will tell you it’s politics though)

[bambam]

[QUOTE=tinyrider;7913105]
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. [/QUOTE] I think that approach makes sense. While the idea of having to go through the hassle of trailering for every lesson makes me cringe, having a boarding barn where both you and your horse are happy is an incredibly valuable commodity and not one I would give up quickly. I am surprised the trailer in fees are so high. I have never had to pay one more than $25 and that is what my current barn charges for trailers ins (even when they are coming to clinic to BNTs). $40? wow

[Simbalism]

The last few barns I boarded at did not have a trainer. For a while I trailered to a farm and met a friend and we took a lesson together. There were no haul in fees, just paid for our lesson. It got to be a pain though as I was working full time. The farm was about 30ish minutes from where I boarded. I worked nights so I always felt rushed.

[kalidascope]

What does a haul-in fee cover?

[tinyrider]

[QUOTE=kalidascope;7917622]
What does a haul-in fee cover?[/QUOTE]

A valid question. To be honest, I don’t know. I’m sure if I asked the trainer I would get some spiel about insurance costs, or wear and tear expenses…but I do wonder if the fees are also a ploy to get students to come board instead of trailering in. It feels a bit like the extra fees airlines charge for not being part of their frequent flyer program !

[roseymare]

[QUOTE=tinyrider;7917673]
A valid question. To be honest, I don’t know. I’m sure if I asked the trainer I would get some spiel about insurance costs, or wear and tear expenses…but I do wonder if the fees are also a ploy to get students to come board instead of trailering in. It feels a bit like the extra fees airlines charge for not being part of their frequent flyer program ![/QUOTE]

I have never paid a haul in fee but if this particular barn has a great deal of haul in clients it could help defray the costs of upkeep for the parking area- gravel, clean up and the likes…or you could be right it may be a ploy or they heard of another barn doing it but don’t actually apply any of the income to upkeep. Just some thoughts.

[Lizrd]

Just curious - how did you find a trainer that accepts haul ins? Did you start riding with the trainer first and then ask, “Can I bring my own horse next time?” or did you start out by inquiring if they will allow haul ins? I have considered this arrangement but so many trainers want the horse to be in their program I am not sure they would take to a haul in client. Does discipline matter? Are certain disciplines more likely to allow haul ins?

[poltroon]

[QUOTE=tinyrider;7913105]
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?[/QUOTE]

I have never felt that way. Generally, trainers I work with are busy and doing other things … but if they give feedback at other times, it’s good feedback.

If you are coming weekly, the trainer might be amenable to a discount on the haul-in. Realistically, you will get more value for your dollar training in the trainer’s barn than being a haul-in, both because of the ease of lessoning and because the trainer will have more opportunities to get to know you and your horse. If you don’t want the trainer to truly know you and your horse… I have to question if this is really the right trainer.

All that said… hauling in is a great solution when the best place to keep your horse isn’t where the trainer is. Hauling can be a hassle especially if you can’t keep your tow vehicle hitched all the time.

Your plan to keep the horse where he is and haul in seems like a great dress rehearsal, too. Maybe you’ll find hauling works for you, or maybe you’ll find the trainer isn’t a fit, or maybe you’ll get excited about moving in. All of these are good scenarios.

Enjoy!

[poltroon]

[QUOTE=Lizrd;7917814]
Just curious - how did you find a trainer that accepts haul ins? Did you start riding with the trainer first and then ask, “Can I bring my own horse next time?” or did you start out by inquiring if they will allow haul ins? I have considered this arrangement but so many trainers want the horse to be in their program I am not sure they would take to a haul in client. Does discipline matter? Are certain disciplines more likely to allow haul ins?[/QUOTE]

Usually, if you’re looking for that scenario, you call up looking for it. Most trainers will accept at least occasional haul-ins for people who are interested in some trial lessons.

It really varies I think more by the barn situation. Here in California, it is pretty common that the trainer doesn’t own the barn. So, you need permission not just from the trainer but the barn owner/manager.

A barn that is very busy and full to bursting with boarded clients maybe isn’t going to be interested in haul-ins. A barn that doesn’t have a lot of parking space maybe doesn’t want haul-ins. In some cases, zoning/conditional use permits can make additional horse trailer traffic a problem. An occasional known haul-in is more manageable than a menagerie of people coming in and out all the time. And maybe there are certain people one is more willing to accommodate than others, I’ve seen that too.

The fee covers wear and tear on the property - your little bit of arena dragging and watering, new footing, driveway maintenance, etc. Compared to owning your own arena, I must say, a bargain in nearly all instances.

If you are hauling in, I urge you to be thoughtful and as low impact as you can be. Park out of the way. Always leave gates as you find them after passing through. Don’t tear up the ground with your tires or your pawing horse if you can possibly avoid it. Clean up your poop. Don’t waste the owner’s water or lunge your horse in a place not so designated. Be considerate of others in the arenas. When haul-ins are a pleasure, they are welcomed, but plenty of barns have bad experiences and just say to heck with it and change to a blanket no, that it’s just not worth the risk/headache/hassle.

[IndysMom]

I’ve done both. I like being at the trainer’s because if I’m riding and he’s out in the ring he’ll help me if I need it-even if it’s not my lesson. Makes the extra $$ worth it.

[tinyrider]

[QUOTE=Lizrd;7917814]
Just curious - how did you find a trainer that accepts haul ins? Did you start riding with the trainer first and then ask, “Can I bring my own horse next time?” or did you start out by inquiring if they will allow haul ins? I have considered this arrangement but so many trainers want the horse to be in their program I am not sure they would take to a haul in client. Does discipline matter? Are certain disciplines more likely to allow haul ins?[/QUOTE]

I can’t speak for all disciplines, but these are dressage trainers that I am looking at. I’m a former H/J rider, and I know a few H/J riders that trailer in for their lessons as well. Other than trail riding, those are the only two disciplines I’m familiar with. I asked the trainer straight away if they allowed haul-ins when inquiring about their training program.

[KateUCET101]

I hauled my horse to my trainers’ 1-2x per week for awhile but ended up moving to their barn about an year ago. It was the best decision I’ve made. While it cost significantly more being at a training barn, the consistency of being “in a program” has resulted in major progression in the level at which I ride. There’s an indoor, the rings are always dragged, new courses every week. There are always eyes watching, but for me and my horse it’s a GREAT thing to almost always have someone there to say “don’t do that, do this”. Worth EVERY extra penny.

[salymandar]

I have both boarded with my trainer and boarded at another facility and shipped in for lessons. Unless I keep my horse(s) at my own facility, or there is some compelling reason to board one place and ship in for lessons, I prefer keeping my horse at my trainers. Here are the reasons I chose to keep my horse with my trainer:

1. Time. Shipping your horse to lessons takes a good chunk out of a day, from driving to your horse’s barn, hooking up the trailer, loading up the trailer, driving back and forth, then unloading all your equipment and putting your horse and trailer away. It is easily double the time. And as a working person, there is no way I could take a lesson after work. It had to be on days off or weekends. If my trainer was at a show, then we skipped. When I live with my trainer, it is much easier to work in an impromptu lesson.

2. Bad weather. After dealing with a horrendous winter of either getting stuck in weather that was not forecasted or missing lessons due to weather that made it extremely difficult to get my trailer out, I moved back to my trainers.

3. Lack of savings. Unless the price of board where I kept my horse was drastically cheaper, I ended up spending more money when I factored in gas and wear and tear on my vehicles.

Shipping in to lessons on an almost weekly basis did help my horse become an extremely seasoned traveler. He self loads, stands well, and ships great. It also helped him realize that not every trip on the trailer is an all day, stressful event. For me, it helped me become very self-sufficient in hooking up the trailer and going places.