I will be gone for the next 6 days on a Baltic cruise. 5 countries in 6 days- Sweden, Finland, Russia, Estonia and Denmark. Sadly I will not be visiting any fancy European barns, just taking tours like all the other cruise ship tourists.
When I get back, I will figure out the barn situation with my horse, to move or not to move. Have fun riding everyone!
I went to check out the new barn this weekend. I had to haul both kids with me. My little girl’s name is Elle, and someone at the barn thought her name was Noel because of how many times I said “No, Elle!”
Anyway, the barn is fab-u-lous! It’s actually a riding academy so there were girls of various ages running around in shorts and paddock boots cleaning tack, petting the horses, cleaning up the barn and getting ready for lessons. When I was a kid it would have been my idea of heaven. The barn itself is nice with wide wash racks, big stalls and a lot of light. My current barn is very dark and kind of dingey. The arena is soooo nice with real jumps, not jerry-rigged jumps like I have! They also have cross country obstacles and lots of trails. It’s 15 minutes from my house, which is not far but I’ve been spoiled by being 2 minutes away. And, maybe the biggest draw of all, the people who ride there show together and they do rated GHJA shows. I would LOVE to have a group of people to show with!
The only downside is that I can’t afford to board at the riding academy. I would have to do a pasture board situation at the farm next door. I was fine with this until I saw that the pasture has no shelter other than trees. No way to get out of the wind or the rain. I’m not comfortable with that. Baron has been stall boarded his entire life and while I think he would prefer a pasture board situation that would allow him to be out all the time, I can’t just stick him out in the elements with no shelter!
I’m going to ask if they’ll give me a discount on board in exchange for using Baron as a lesson horse. If they will, it’s settled, I’m moving. If not, I’m probably staying put because I’m not comfortable with the pasture situation.
I got in touch with my trainer this weekend and talked to her about starting lessons. She said she is hoping to start teaching at a new barn very close to my house and that the barn offers pasture board for very, very cheap. With the pasture board situation I would have access to the barn’s facilities, which includes a proper arena and jumps. This could be a very good situation for me because I’m ready to progress with Baron’s training but don’t have the facilities to do it at my current barn.
She also mentioned that she would like to be able to ride Baron and use him as a lesson horse for one of her adult students. Her horse is older and not really able to work as much as she needs. If she could ride and use him, she would give me a discount on my lessons. That would mean I could afford to take more than one a month!!!
Also, the barn I would be moving to has a well established lesson program with students that show as a group. That would be ideal for me. I definitely want to show and it would be fantastic to have a group to show with. Also, my daughter turns two this month and I really want to get her on a pony! I would love for her to start riding with Mary. She’s too young to really take lessons but she can at least begin to get used to riding.
So, I will keep you posted on developments!
Training Baron 