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 Don't Wanna Make This Awkward
Posts: 3106
  
Location: Texas | Having somewhere close (5 minutes from home)
Or having better facilities?
A friend offered to let me keep my horse at there house, but they have no arena and what I would have to ride on would be more like trail area or a pasture I could some trotting in. No where for barrels. They are trustworthy but not a barrel racer and I would say im more knowledgeable about horses in general.
My current place is about 35 miles from my house. Really out of the way for me.. But I love the facility I have there, a nice outdoor arena and always has barrels and poles set up. I can always ask for advice out there.
I feel like its obvious I should choose the closer one since I only have one horse and he ultimately doesn't need pattern work. But the further option is nicer. |
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Meanest Teacher!!!
Posts: 8555
  
Location: sunny california | depends on how often you ride your horse. is the close place really ridable? pasture could have holes and such. is there trails? would it make it possible to ride more often becasue it is closer? if you left the farther place would you loose your spot and not be able to come back? if you came back would you get the same stall? or some worse set up? also will your horse get beat up at the new place? lots to think about |
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Expert
Posts: 1543
Location: MI | I'd also think about your relationship with your friends, sometimes boarding with friends is a bad idea. An imbalance of knowledge also can be bad, in a casual situation... |
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 A Gopher's Worst Nightmare
Posts: 5094
Location: Southern Oregon | Alot of barrel racers around me will choose to board 25 miles north of here, they have two large indoors, barrel races in the winter and a large outdoor,but NO turnouts. Over boarding 5 miles from their house with stalls with runs and SMALL indoor and trails. |
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 Roan On The Range
Posts: 7889
Location: Stephenville, TX | I think ultimately it depends on what's important to you as far as facilities go, as not all horse people want/need the same things. I was in a similar situation a few years ago. The closer place was convenient, but lacked amenities that I thought were important, like turnouts for example. That didn't bother the other boarders too much, but it did me. I kept my horse there for a while, figuring I could make due in exchange for the convenience, but I could tell my horse wasn't enjoying the stall life. The place that was further away had everything, so I moved him out there. He was much happier in that living situation and so was I. The longer commute to the barn cut into my horse time, but the extra amenities it had helped me make the most of the time that I did spend out there.
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 Expert
Posts: 1482
Location: on my horse | Also consider the option to haul. If you board close but have to haul that could work too. I boarded about 2 miles from my house and had another 3 mile haul to the arena 5 days a week but it was worth it to me because I liked the place I boarded. |
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  Warmblood with Wings
Posts: 27846
Location: Florida.. | I think boarding at your friends you might end up losing a friend.. bad idea IMHO |
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 Expert
Posts: 3534
Location: Stuck in a cubicle having tropical thoughts | I know many people who have no arena at home so their barrels sit in their pasture or hay field. They trot and slow lope and when they need to work on a faster speed they haul to a local arena and pay the $10 arena fee. |
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 Underestimated Underdog
Posts: 3971
Location: Minnesota | I board my horse about 25 miles from my house. There is plenty of closer options but I would rather travel a little more for nicer facilities then go right around the corner and have to wonder/worry about my horse.
I also agree with Bibs, you could end up losing a friend. I had an experience with selling a horse to a friend and its been hard on our friendship for several reasons.
Good luck.  |
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 No Tune in a Bucket
Posts: 2935
Location: Texas | 35 miles away is too far. Even if you don't board with your friend, look for something closer. |
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 Texas Lone Star
Posts: 5318
Location: where ever my L/Q trl is parked | I found boarding far away from my home wasn't a good deal. The place was nice with arena, turnout and trails, but with my job I never saw my horse except on Sat/Sun. Then by the time I was home for the weekend I was usually too tired to go or I had to many things to do -(grocery shopping, wash clothes, errands etc) before the work week started again. I opted to move to a place I could have my horse on the same property as my rental apt. |
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