And finding the right barn for your horse does not always mean that you have found the right barn for you.
I really like my current barn. The facilities are pretty nice, Walker's care is phenomenal, I love the barn manager who has been soooo helpful, and the B.O. seems pretty knowledgeable. It is the right barn for Walker.
But I'm not necessarily convinced its the right barn for me.
I've mentioned before that my new barn is heavy on the Western with a particular focus on quarter horses. Now, there are thoroughbreds and standardbreds and lots of kids ride English. But when you get an impression, you simply get an impression. It is definitely no hunter/jumper barn, nor have I even seen anyone do dressage.
About a month ago now, I went to a Greenhawk function and met this lovely barn owner from another barn about an extra 20 minutes from my current barn (making it about 35 minutes from my apartment or so). They have a cross country course at her barn. The kids do jumping, dressage, the works. And while that's not the barn for Walker, I think it would be a great place to take lessons while I slowly transition Walker back to work.
This is not to say that I wouldn't take lessons at my barn once Walker is fit, but until then, I really don't feel like shelling out money to ride my unfit horse at the walk in a lesson, or worse, focus 100% on groundwork because Walker doesn't roll over and play dead like a well trained golden retriever.
Here's the crux. The horse world is small, and to make a long story short, I would simply feel bad about taking lessons elsewhere. You can't keep it a secret (although i have totally done that - story for another day), and for some reason, I just feel like my current B.O. would not appreciate it. It has been my experience that barns tend to be wildly protective of their students, and since everyone does things different, everyone thinks they're the only ones who do things right.
As the wise Ursula once said, "Life's full of hard choices, innit?"
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| This is pretty much how I feel about the situation |
Choices are hard. I wish it was a heck of a lot easier, and I don't envy your position. You'll make the right choice for you regardless I am sure.
ReplyDeleteI know. I wish I could just take lessons EVERYWHERE. Problem solved.
DeleteI haven't been following long enough to know your current situation -- is your current barn a lesson barn? Where you've been taking lessons?
ReplyDeleteI would not be sneaky or dishonest with anyone, but more and more I am convinced that life is too short not to do what you want. Good luck!
My current barn is a lesson barn, but I just moved there. I haven't started lessons yet, but they kind of expect me to start the minute Walker feels better. And I would like to take lessons from them of course, but the things I want to work on with Walker are not necessarily the same things I want to work on with myself.
DeleteLife is definitely too short.
I agree that taking lessons elsewhere is not usually a good idea. Even if the barn owner shouldn't mind, they often do. Hope you figure it all out!
ReplyDeleteAye that is a tough spot! Does your current barn have a horse you can lesson on while Walker gets better?
ReplyDeleteTechnically, but just your regular wtc kind of work. Nothing necessarily worth my barn owner's hefty lesson price. I believe that his lessons are worth it for the groundwork portion, but after 3 months off, I just want my butt in a saddle doing more than kicking an old guy to death just to get him to canter. But perhaps I shouldn't judge without asking...
DeletePersonally, my trainer/B.O. would murder me if I took lessons elsewhere while boarding at her farm! I understand the struggle though, I often wonder if our current farm is the best place for Limmers. You'll figure something out :)
ReplyDeleteYeah, that's what I thought. Trainers are so territorial!
DeleteAs K said we would legit be shanked if we lessened somewhere else with another trainer. But if you haven't lessened with the new people and you can't really ride your horse? I don't know. I am sure you'll make the right choice for you though'
ReplyDeleteI'm wondering if I can find a way to have him suggest the idea to me - as in, ask him if I can take lessons in things that he doesn't do with the promise that I will return once Walker is feeling better. Because I totally would!
DeleteLove the quote and pic. Trainers and barn owners are quite territorial. I'm sure you'll get something worked out!
ReplyDeleteMaybe it's just one of those "the grass is always greener" things anyway...
DeleteI agree that barn owners and trainers are very territorial. But, at the same time, you want to improve yourself, which it sounds like you wouldn't be able to do at your current barn. It also doesn't sound like you're in a program at you current barn. Definitely a tough choice! When I was at one of my last barns I used to lesson at another barn with a different trainer, and a lesson horse all the time, but that was only because the barn we were at didn't have an indoor. I would talk to current barn owner/trainer and let them know you'd like to take a few lessons off property to work on yourself and make sure that its okay with them.
ReplyDeleteYeah. I'm very good at backing myself into a corner.
DeleteSometimes I think I am such a stubborn fool, hahah. I would NEVER take my horse somewhere where the barn owner would tell me with whom I could and could not coach. I am just NOT about that, but I understand that some people appreciate the stability and inclusiveness of a barn with one set trainer.
ReplyDeleteI have Mexi at my coach's place now so obviously there are no other instructors coming onto the property, but that's by choice. I'm at his private barn for a reason: he is the only person in the province I want to coach with over fences. Every time I have moved my horse in the past, and every time I will move her in the future, the ability to use my own coach - whether that's Kevin or a dressage trainer I want to explore - is a requisite, non-negotiable.
This is my own personal opinion and I am not for a minute saying it's the only way to do things, but it's how I feel. I am not a fan of the trainer dependency that's ever so popular currently. I pick my trainer because of my trainer, and will use facilities that accommodate that, not the other way around. If there's a barn that requires their boarders to ride with a set trainer, then that barn is not for me!
That said, not everybody has the same opinions or priorities. :)
However, if you're at a mainly western/natural horsemanship barn, I would absolutely talk to your barn owner/trainer/whatever about taking some lessons elsewhere focusing on the fact that you want to get some over fences instruction. I do not for a second believe that you owe him any kind of loyalty or that he has a right to get upset about you wanting to choose your own instructors (given the fact that you have not entered into a training contract) but I do understand that you do not want to create waves at your new boarding facility.
On the other hand, it doesn't sound like you're the happiest there right now?
Either way, I hope you get it sorted out.
/rant ;)
Haha. You pretty much hit the nail on the head. I moved there for a lot of good reasons at the time, but now a lot of factors have changed, i.e. Walker isn't sick anymore and apparently barns aren't as full in this area as I was led to believe. I'm irrationally loyal to people for all the wrong reasons sometimes...
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