Hey guys!

So in real life I am looking for a new place to board my horse, Abbey.

The barn I am currently at is very gossipy and dramatic, but also I'm not particularly happy with the care and don't feel like I should pay $360/mo for something I'm not happy with.

So I'm looking at new places, but I am really nervous. First of all, I am nervous that I won't be able to find a good place that I can afford (I'm looking to pay a bit less if possible) and that will be a good home for my horse. I can't board at the place I've ridden at my whole life because they raised their prices to $425/mo for outdoor boarding and that's too much. I'm also nervous about the current barn owner's reaction. If I move to a place south of here I think I'm just going to tell her that we're moving down there and it's too far to come to her stables (which is partially true, but she doesn't know - we're moving down there in January probably) or if it's somewhere else I'm thinking of just telling her that I'm not feeling well and I'm cutting my hours at work so I can't afford her place anymore (not true, obviously, but she won't know the difference). Since if I tell her the truth I imagine she will FLIP OUT.

So yeah. What kinds of things do you look for when finding a new barn? Any advice on "breaking up" with my current barn?

I think lying may muddle things and make it worse but that's just me. :P If i were looking for a barn i would want indoor stalls and room outside to let them exercise. Though that may be hard for you, by the sounds of it, where i am from it's cheap to rent (about 4 years ago it was about $75/ month at my old barn). But i would deffinatly find somewhere to put both horses.

I kind of don't feel like I can tell her the truth (I'm unhappy with her barn) because she will flip out on me and also the entire barn will be talking about me which will be hard in the time between telling her and actually moving. She's not easy to talk to.

I'm only looking for a place for one though, since Brooks was sold.

ohi missed that you sold brooks. :P I would just keep your head down and find the new barn before saying anything. 

If the current barn owner is a real life friend and you plan on having a relationship after the move, be real with her.  If not, a little white lie would save everyone the drama.

I'm not much help on the barn issue though.  It's been almost 10 years since I last boarded a horse and it was $125 way back then.

Sooo, I found a new place and gave my notice!

The barn owner isn't really a "friend", but I also don't want to burn bridges. So I went with the little white lie and she took it really well :).

And the new place is cheaper and SOOO NICE. They have a ton of grass and trails and a huge ventilated indoor and an outdoor with a racetrack around it!

oh yay! glad you found something Sam :)

nice find sam!!

I want pictures! :D

yay! i'm so glad you liked the new barn!

i've had my fair share with dealing with barns and inadequate care. one place i boarded at was so bad that i would show up at 3-4 in the afternoon after school, and my horse would be standing in her dirty stall that hadn't been mucked out since the day before, and would have no water and no hay. it was so much stress, it was ridiculous, and it's not needed! glad you are able to get out of that place unscathed. :)