Changing Barns!? Please Help!?

Question

Ok so I currently board my horse at my friends barn who leases property to one of my trainers. It's great there; always quiet and my horse obsoletely loves it there. The problem is their is no indoor riding arena. I am thinking about moving my horse to another local barn. It is a little farther away and they mainly teach western, but I have trained with them before and he is also great with Dressage! The board is much higher so I would probably work there to help with it. Another thing is that they don't have any jumps and they don't go to many shows. I'm thinking about buying a jump set and one of my trainers could probably trailer my horse. What do you think? All this work for an indoor arena!? Just so you know, the cold doesn't bother me but if my horse isn't worked often he loses pretty much weight and most of his muscle so riding in IN winters is tough for us. Please comment! And thanks :]

Answer 1

if its affecting your horses health, then yea. if you were gonna help pay it off by working, i think its worth it.

Answer 2

You buy a blanket for your horse if you don't have one.

We don't have an indoor arena here So we get these thick blankets that cover them around the breast and stuff and these boot things but let me say tthey are expensive.....stay at the same place no since of going to a place were they don't do your dicipline and its farther and more money...all that for an indoor arena...that would be stupid.

Answer 3

well that does sound like a lot of work just fo rthe ring :P can you pay like a schooling fee to use there indoor ring when you want to? alot of the barns in my area have a schooling fee you just call the day before and pay the fee the day you come and use all the faclities you need :) I would ask about that...but idk because the only reason I would need an indoor arena in my area would be because it so hot lol xD  

still schooling is a wonderful thing because you can ride in new places without going to a show or staying over night ^^

Answer 4

I think that your going a little to far for just an indoor arena. I know indoors are WONDERFUL but not worth it for a higher board, buying a jump set, not having a trainer that does your dicipline, etc... You could build and indoor arena with saving all that money!! LOL. What?....... jumps and board are expensive and highering a trainer is too!

Think about it....

This is just what I would do. Stay where your horse is happy. Maybe lunge him/her in the winter once a week and ride a few other days. Its not worth it to me but you decide!

Hope I helped!!!

Good Luck!

:)

Remeber KEEP your horse happy!!!

:)

Answer 5

Well, if you wan't a indoor arena go to a locol riding park just to visit.

Answer 6

Indoor arenas aren't hugely necessary unless you need to be training daily or you have bad weather often.

Personally, it does seem like so much work just for an arena. You'll end up paying more, or working harder to pay it off, you'll have to buy the jumps yourself and you'd have to organise the transport for the shows. Do you have the jumps and show transport where you already are? If yes then it is a bit silly to move.

Regarding the winter for your horse, just feed him more, and feed him more "filling" food, then do more training to build up the muscle but the feed will stop him losing too much weight. Or restrict the riding to the warmer days. Also make sure he's really warm in winter. Being cold won't help him retain the muscle.

Good luck with your decision.

Answer 7

If you are going to show, you have to have an indoor arena or you will not be able to compete.  I knew one girl who was the exception...she was an eventer, and kept her horse on pasture...but she was the only one I've ever known who could do it.