What to look for in a boarding barn, Part II !
(see Part I here)

ATMOSPHERE is very important to me. I've been at big barns and small barns, and I'm more of a small barn person. That said, I also do not like any barn with a lot of nasty people. I was at one barn where the boarders and clients were SO nice to each other. Very respectful and thoughtful, always encouraging each other with their riding, and everybody listened to each other. I've also been at a barn where the barn manager was rude and made fun of people...way to encourage a great atmosphere. Another thing that I've noticed is the mix of disciplines. I personally have ridden dressage and hunter/jumper, and I always love a good trail ride. However, I was at one barn that was ENTIRELY trail riders. As much as I like the trail, I also enjoy schooling in the dressage arena. However, there was nobody else there to ride with. :( I am also more of a backyard rider...I don't do a lot of shows and prefer to take occasional lessons and work on riding on my own. I found it hard to be in a barn where people were going to shows alllllll the time. I'm sure some of them were wonderful people with wonderful horses, but sometimes it made me feel left out.

Now don't worry, the boarding barn FACILITIES are also important to me! Safety of barn and fencing are definitely crucial, but I do believe that you can find a diamond in the rough. One of the best barns I've been at was older and not necessarily beautiful, and one of the worst barns I've been at was BEAUTIFUL with brand-new stalls, fencing, indoor/outdoor arenas, etc. Honestly, an indoor arena is not that important to me. Sometimes in the dead of winter, I do wish for one, but as I have almost never had one where I've been, I've gotten used to it. I do know a couple of people who would die without their indoor, though! :D

I am rather obsessive about MANURE MANAGEMENT, and I think I have only been at one barn that was also obsessive (for both stalls and pastures). That place also had the fewest flies! All barns did daily stall cleaning, but almost nobody managed their pastures. And since I wanted my horse to spend less time in a stall and more time out in the pasture, I would have liked her pasture to NOT resemble a sea of manure. I understand that keeping up with the manure with a lot of horses is very difficult, but with the small pastures in this area (no 100-acre pastures here!), I would have liked to see more frequent pasture cleanings. Manure is just a part of having horses!!! :D

Oh, one thing I forgot to mention is BARN HOURS. I'm really not crazy about them. I thought I could deal with a barn being closed one day per week, but I was so wrong. I thought, oh, I'm going to need a day off from going to the barn anyway. Well, of course that day the barn was closed usually tended to be the nicest weather or when I had the most time or when I had the most energy to ride. Also, I found some of the times to be very limiting. I am NOT going to show up to the barn at 2 AM (unless for an emergency)...I do try to respect the barn owner's home!!! But on a hot summer day, I like to ride at 7 or 8 AM. Or 6-7 at night. When the barn opens at 9 and closes at 4, that doesn't work. :(

Well, those are my thoughts for tonight. Perhaps you think I'm crazy, and you would never want me to board at your barn!!! Well, maybe so. But before I came to your barn, I would try really hard to see if we're a good match. I have tried to think really hard about what my horse and I can deal with. Maybe we'll fit in your barn, and maybe we won't. But at least I will be honest with you about it!