I am sure some of you saw this pic on instagram:
and you might have had a brief thought about how it didn’t look like this pic:
Then maybe you saw this pic:
and it definitely didn’t look like this one…
Or maybe you just know me personally and know that I moved May to a new barn! The “reasons” are pretty mild, as far as these things go. I wanted to be with a trainer that had more of a “team” going to the local shows like the one I did last month, I was also looking for someone who was around for at least most of the winter months, and I was looking for a program where a bit more of the horse care was on the trainer instead of the owner. This is 100% a preference thing, but I think this type of program just works better for my lifestyle.
The new barn!
The barn is part of a 40 acre farm, but NT only manages the small barn in blue. May will be turned out in the field that is circled in green. The other part of the property is rented by a Dressage trainer who has her Silver medal and is an L graduate. Both sides get along well, share both arenas, and share some general barn duties (like dragging the arenas). I liked this mostly because it means that, even if NT is away, there is another professional keeping an eye on the arenas/general barns. New Trainer (NT) goes to Aiken for a couple of weeks before the start of the season in KY and travels a bit for shows, but that works for me. The barns are completely separate, so that keeps both programs from bumping up against one another.
The covered building next to the small barn is the indoor. This isn’t my picture, so sorry it is in a weird format. The interesting thing, for me, is that this is the first “open” indoor arena I have ever ridden in. They don’t close it in the winter, so it might be a bit cold. However, I figure it shouldn’t be much colder than a stand-alone, closed in indoor. In fact, it might even be warmer, as sometimes that stand alone indoor is like a fridge!
The indoor and outdoor arena are right next to each other (see the pic below). Next to the outdoor arena is a big open field, which most people use to either warm up, cool out, or do some fitness. The property next to ours is also open to us to go trail riding. I am pretty excited about getting to explore those a bit more!
The barn May is in has an interesting setup, with a main barn aisle with stalls, tack room, feed room, etc and then a line of stalls that just open to the outside of the barn and back up to the feed room, tack room, etc. May is in one of those outside stalls, and she seems to LOVE being able to stick her head out and watch what is going on out in the fields. While the barn gets a nice crosswind with all the doors open, here are also ceiling fans that keep the air moving. Since the horses are in during the day, May seems to be really appreciating this feature.
So far, everyone I have met at the new barn has been super warm and welcoming. It’s definitely a very social barn, which I realized I had been missing more than I realized. I think that is pretty much it! May settled in really well. Although, she was a bit of a beast for our first ride on Tuesday. I think this was more due to the fact that I had barely ridden her the week before vs. the stress of moving. Either way, I have my first lesson tonight, so stay tuned!
That’s funny, that’s where our clinic with an Olympian was a couple months ago! It’s a nice facility for sure.
Oh yeah! Now that you pointed it out, it’s definitely the same place. So cool!
Definitely let me know if you come by for any other clinics.
Looks like a nice place, hope it works out well!
Thanks! Me too. Moving is always so stressful.
yay so glad you found a good place. And May does look happy!!
She does! Hopefully she is less of a pill tonight lol
congrats on the move! seems like a really cool barn, i hope you both love it!
Thanks! Pretty excited to get started with the new program!
That place looks great!! I hope you both settle in really well.
Thank you! I don’t think May really cares (as long as there is food), but she definitely likes her window.
So exciting!!! So glad you found another barn that has your needs and desires! Yeah Amber LOVES being able to stare out at everything at our place lol
Thank you! It’s always nerve-wracking to move, but so far so good!
Awesome! Glad you’ve found a new place! I’ve been to so many barns, by now, I’m getting really picky, just like we should. Horse care comes first! 🙂
Yup! I have definitely gotten more picky over my 6 years of horse ownership. Way more picky than I was during the 20+ years before that of just taking lessons!
That is exciting!
I miss social barn time….so yay for you!
Right? My social horsey time has been entirely through a screen lately, which is great, but not totally the same.
Not the same at all and I miss it! Luckily I am a member of a riding group that gets together regularly. But I miss the day to day. I loved it when I had it.
AHHHH WELCOME!!!! Hopefully we run into each soon. Hampton lives out in the big field with the red shed!! 🙂 And of course I am on the “Dressage side” of the farm LOL. THE DARK SIDE. WELCOME!
Yes! Let me know when you’re around! I’d love to meet Hampton and introduce you to May
Yay that’s awesome! Sounds like a great place. I wish we had such an open indoor, but I guess I won’t complain because at least I have an indoor. You sound like me, I didn’t realize how much I missed being at a social barn until I was back in a social barn.
It looks like a lovely place and I am so jealous of the facilities you have!
Thank you! I had my first lesson last night, and it was a blast!
How exciting! The new barn looks awesome ;D
I hope you’re enjoying the new place- it looks lovely!
Thank you! So far it’s been awesome.