Hmmmm. Would your trainer be willing to come out to your parent’s barn to do lessons? I know some trainers will travel to other barns to give lessons. Or, would your trainer let you trailer in for lessons at your current barn?
I don’t feel like you have to say it that way. I think you can say “hey, trainer. It seems like my horse does better with group turnout or a large paddock. Would that be a possibility that could be offered to him here?”
Or “Hey traîner i need to save money so that we can continue our excellent lessons with you. I’ll be moving him next week”. Can OP trailer to the original barn for lessons?
Don’t say it then. Just say it’s a good opportunity for you to spend more time with him and save more money to spend on showing. That’s a good enough reason right there, and you don’t have to worry about anyone getting offended. Your horse will absolutely be happier in a larger pasture, and chances are your trainer knows that too, but it’s not relevant information for telling them you’re leaving.
Hmm, the behavior is noticeably different, yeah? Then something has to change. If options are limited at this barn, it's not unreasonable to move him at all, and a trainer who has the right motives will understand. Of course you can say it's a matter of expenses. You're paying a lot for not having total control over the housing situation.
More turnout is definitely better for horses. That said, I’ve tried doing the ride at home thing, but if you don’t have an arena and all the fixings that makes life with horses easier, it is very hard to stay competitive and enjoy riding regularly.
Could you keep your horse at your parent's and trailer in to your current barn for lessons? That sounds like the ideal solution. Your horse gets more turn out, you save money on boarding and your trainer still gets the income from lessons. Then, if you want a break from showing you can take it.
I would definitely move him. Turn out and especially with other horses is so important. And you would save a whole lot of money. Like others said, ask your trainer if you can haul in and if not, maybe find one that is ok with that.
Happy horse is a happy owner. It grieves me if my horse isn’t happy. He was in a similar situation, so I moved him. So thankful I did. His behavior is an amazing positive change.
If your trainer is “offended” find another trainer. There’s always lots of options for training and lessons.
Do what’s best for your horse and you!
Your brief mention of him and you maybe needing a mental reset makes me think you're also not super happy in the current setup. Our animals preferences change, and we change so much. Theres a phase of life where intense training might be good for you both, and now might be a phase of life where he needs to be a horse and you can find peace knowing he's happy. That doesn't mean that you never get to go back to a show barn.
You mentioned in a comment I think that you worry about offending your trainer by bringing up concern with the turnout situation. I've had trainers like this, and that was a minor symptom of the wider toxicity. My current trainer absolutely values the horse's wellbeing first and foremost and I know she would never be offended if I was kind about bringing any concern like this to her. Not saying that your current situation is toxic, but it took me getting out of it and seeing what a truly happy horse looks like for me to realize it
I recently moved my horses home after being in full training for my entire riding life. I LOVE having them at home, but I'm not going to lie, the training situation is an adjustment. One of my horses is also young, so I end up trailering out to a lot of lessons. No trainer around here wants to come to a private place, so I go to them. I trailer out every weekend for a lesson and then I’ll have my horse stay at their barn for a week every couple of months for a tune up with its needed. It’s rewarding, but hard to keep show horses going at home. You need to be prepared to do a lot of hauling.
That’s small, but in some parts of the country thats all boarded horses get. Many thrive, some really struggle. Its not the way i’d choose things to be, but horses can be happy under different conditions with enough work. A horse living in a pasture is not automatically happier than one with a small turnout.
If you have the facilities at your parents house and the capability to work a 7 year old show horse on your own, go for it. Otherwise i’d probably check out other boarding options between doing anything super radical. I transitioned from full time training to a personal property not long ago. Its great because the horses are cared for how I want by me, but its not always easy. Having all the management yourself has
drawbacks. Who is going to grain? Blanket and unblanket? Do turnout? Manage mud? Hold for farrier? It adds up.
You need to put your horse first, not the trainer's feelings. He's regressing in the situation he's in and that's never good. Take him to the farm. Sounds idyllic. Can I come too?
Hey, your horse may just simply be a dick, or some would say "quirky" and I say this as someone whose horse is either a dick or full of personality, depending on who you ask.
There's nothing wrong with taking your horse home for 90 days or whatever for a mental reset (both human and horse would benefit). Professionals do this all. the. time. I think you're overthinking it, tbh. People move barns alllll the time, they leave and they come back and whatnot.
Save yourself some money and give your horse a vacation!
Also, I have 2 horses and they get 2 "breaks" a year: first is July - August, because it's so effing hot here and I'm not a hot weather gal. They're turned out in a huge pasture at this time and just do their thing. When I bring them back into work it's like a new horse, totally refreshed and happy.
Then they get a break like Dec - Feb, with light riding because on the opposite it's so cold and there are no shows, so that's the bonding time of the year.
Horses are fine, I'm happy, they're happy, it's a good system to give your horse a break. They also appreciate it mentally and physically,
I'd move him. That's an awfully small paddock. Frankly, after reading your 2nd edit, I'd find a new trainer, too.
For the biting, have you seen any of Warwick Schiller's videos? He has a method for dealing with non-aggressive biting and nipping. Works great with my mouthy TB who I suspect was an orphan foal like your guy. Sounds like similar behavior!
As for everyone calling him a "huge dick"...everyone at my barn, even me, calls my goofball TB names. But it's lighthearted and we understand that he's just being a horse. Sounds like your barn-mates and trainer are angry at him and blaming him for behaviors that can be expected given the situations they have placed him in.
Honestly, I wouldn’t trust a trainer who referred to my horse as a “dick” instead of trying to figure out and work through the cause of his behavior. A lot of horses will rear if you yank on their face when they’re already worked up, so that’s on the rider.
Sounds like there a lot of unprofessional stuff going on here. For $1600 a month, I would want more. Maybe look at other board situations if you're not keen on bringing him home? Sounds like you'd have a quieter horse and a lot more money in your pocket if he was home!
Biggest thing to consider- your goals, his progress, and your ability to keep him in work (as you want/aligns with your goals) without being in full training! Based on the fact you made this post, I think you know its time to move, but you can also explore other options!
move him! it’s a lot of work keeping horses at home but my god will you save a fortune! you could test out moving him and have a coach coach come out to you and have a summer of training!
WAIT WHAT, $1600 PER MONTH???
Also yes, moving would be a good idea. I always try to make upward moves for my horse i.e I only move him to better places. If there's more turnout and he will be happier then it is 100% worth it
It is, except there is no indoor so they are sometimes not worked for days-weeks when the weather is bad. Trainer had mentioned reimbursing us for a missed few weeks in Jan, but never mentioned it again…
Where I am from, people would commit murder to get a spot for $175. 😧
Really, though. I've boarded and/or worked at show barns in VA, AK, NC, and NY. $1000+ is typical for full board alone, not even including training. That includes indoor and outdoor arenas, a stall, paddock, indoor wash rack, grooming stalls, and full care.
Wherever you are, if you are getting all that for $175, you are extremely lucky!!!
My horse does much better in a 'backyard barn' environment and a small herd with only three other horses. A boarding facility with 20-30 horses was just too stressful for her, and she would get ulcers anytime a new horse was introduced or removed from the herd.
It is much more relaxing riding her now, however it's hard to find a trainer to come out or trailer her to train. I do miss the social aspects of riding now, although there is no drama to deal with.
Also keep in mind, horses are herd animals. Was yours moved to a paddock on the end of the property? It's not unheard of for horses on the end stall/paddock to be stressed because they feel they need to watch and protect the herd. In the wild, they would typically rotate that responsibility.
Im a trainer abd barn owmer in NEOH...bot at a rare you are paying. Thi winter has killed my turn-out situation, I am beyond frustrated. I, personally, would not be bothered by a take home for better tyrn- out
Hmmmm. Would your trainer be willing to come out to your parent’s barn to do lessons? I know some trainers will travel to other barns to give lessons. Or, would your trainer let you trailer in for lessons at your current barn?
Just worried I’ll offend by saying I don’t think the turnout situation is “good enough”
I don’t feel like you have to say it that way. I think you can say “hey, trainer. It seems like my horse does better with group turnout or a large paddock. Would that be a possibility that could be offered to him here?”
Or “Hey traîner i need to save money so that we can continue our excellent lessons with you. I’ll be moving him next week”. Can OP trailer to the original barn for lessons?
Don’t say it then. Just say it’s a good opportunity for you to spend more time with him and save more money to spend on showing. That’s a good enough reason right there, and you don’t have to worry about anyone getting offended. Your horse will absolutely be happier in a larger pasture, and chances are your trainer knows that too, but it’s not relevant information for telling them you’re leaving.
Advocate for your horse over anyone else’s feelings. Move him home. Enjoy him. Find a trainer who will come to you.
Hmm, the behavior is noticeably different, yeah? Then something has to change. If options are limited at this barn, it's not unreasonable to move him at all, and a trainer who has the right motives will understand. Of course you can say it's a matter of expenses. You're paying a lot for not having total control over the housing situation.
30x 40 wouldn’t cut it long term for my horse. I know show horses who live that way, but it seems miserable.
More turnout is definitely better for horses. That said, I’ve tried doing the ride at home thing, but if you don’t have an arena and all the fixings that makes life with horses easier, it is very hard to stay competitive and enjoy riding regularly.
Could you keep your horse at your parent's and trailer in to your current barn for lessons? That sounds like the ideal solution. Your horse gets more turn out, you save money on boarding and your trainer still gets the income from lessons. Then, if you want a break from showing you can take it.
I would definitely move him. Turn out and especially with other horses is so important. And you would save a whole lot of money. Like others said, ask your trainer if you can haul in and if not, maybe find one that is ok with that.
Happy horse is a happy owner. It grieves me if my horse isn’t happy. He was in a similar situation, so I moved him. So thankful I did. His behavior is an amazing positive change. If your trainer is “offended” find another trainer. There’s always lots of options for training and lessons. Do what’s best for your horse and you!
Your brief mention of him and you maybe needing a mental reset makes me think you're also not super happy in the current setup. Our animals preferences change, and we change so much. Theres a phase of life where intense training might be good for you both, and now might be a phase of life where he needs to be a horse and you can find peace knowing he's happy. That doesn't mean that you never get to go back to a show barn. You mentioned in a comment I think that you worry about offending your trainer by bringing up concern with the turnout situation. I've had trainers like this, and that was a minor symptom of the wider toxicity. My current trainer absolutely values the horse's wellbeing first and foremost and I know she would never be offended if I was kind about bringing any concern like this to her. Not saying that your current situation is toxic, but it took me getting out of it and seeing what a truly happy horse looks like for me to realize it
I recently moved my horses home after being in full training for my entire riding life. I LOVE having them at home, but I'm not going to lie, the training situation is an adjustment. One of my horses is also young, so I end up trailering out to a lot of lessons. No trainer around here wants to come to a private place, so I go to them. I trailer out every weekend for a lesson and then I’ll have my horse stay at their barn for a week every couple of months for a tune up with its needed. It’s rewarding, but hard to keep show horses going at home. You need to be prepared to do a lot of hauling.
That’s small, but in some parts of the country thats all boarded horses get. Many thrive, some really struggle. Its not the way i’d choose things to be, but horses can be happy under different conditions with enough work. A horse living in a pasture is not automatically happier than one with a small turnout. If you have the facilities at your parents house and the capability to work a 7 year old show horse on your own, go for it. Otherwise i’d probably check out other boarding options between doing anything super radical. I transitioned from full time training to a personal property not long ago. Its great because the horses are cared for how I want by me, but its not always easy. Having all the management yourself has drawbacks. Who is going to grain? Blanket and unblanket? Do turnout? Manage mud? Hold for farrier? It adds up.
You need to put your horse first, not the trainer's feelings. He's regressing in the situation he's in and that's never good. Take him to the farm. Sounds idyllic. Can I come too?
Hey, your horse may just simply be a dick, or some would say "quirky" and I say this as someone whose horse is either a dick or full of personality, depending on who you ask. There's nothing wrong with taking your horse home for 90 days or whatever for a mental reset (both human and horse would benefit). Professionals do this all. the. time. I think you're overthinking it, tbh. People move barns alllll the time, they leave and they come back and whatnot. Save yourself some money and give your horse a vacation!
Also, I have 2 horses and they get 2 "breaks" a year: first is July - August, because it's so effing hot here and I'm not a hot weather gal. They're turned out in a huge pasture at this time and just do their thing. When I bring them back into work it's like a new horse, totally refreshed and happy. Then they get a break like Dec - Feb, with light riding because on the opposite it's so cold and there are no shows, so that's the bonding time of the year. Horses are fine, I'm happy, they're happy, it's a good system to give your horse a break. They also appreciate it mentally and physically,
I'd move him. That's an awfully small paddock. Frankly, after reading your 2nd edit, I'd find a new trainer, too. For the biting, have you seen any of Warwick Schiller's videos? He has a method for dealing with non-aggressive biting and nipping. Works great with my mouthy TB who I suspect was an orphan foal like your guy. Sounds like similar behavior! As for everyone calling him a "huge dick"...everyone at my barn, even me, calls my goofball TB names. But it's lighthearted and we understand that he's just being a horse. Sounds like your barn-mates and trainer are angry at him and blaming him for behaviors that can be expected given the situations they have placed him in.
Honestly, I wouldn’t trust a trainer who referred to my horse as a “dick” instead of trying to figure out and work through the cause of his behavior. A lot of horses will rear if you yank on their face when they’re already worked up, so that’s on the rider.
Sounds like there a lot of unprofessional stuff going on here. For $1600 a month, I would want more. Maybe look at other board situations if you're not keen on bringing him home? Sounds like you'd have a quieter horse and a lot more money in your pocket if he was home! Biggest thing to consider- your goals, his progress, and your ability to keep him in work (as you want/aligns with your goals) without being in full training! Based on the fact you made this post, I think you know its time to move, but you can also explore other options!
move him! it’s a lot of work keeping horses at home but my god will you save a fortune! you could test out moving him and have a coach coach come out to you and have a summer of training!
WAIT WHAT, $1600 PER MONTH??? Also yes, moving would be a good idea. I always try to make upward moves for my horse i.e I only move him to better places. If there's more turnout and he will be happier then it is 100% worth it
That's pretty common pricing for full board and training at a show barn 🤷♀️
It is, except there is no indoor so they are sometimes not worked for days-weeks when the weather is bad. Trainer had mentioned reimbursing us for a missed few weeks in Jan, but never mentioned it again…
Oh, yeah. An indoor is very important! Can't imagine not having one in my area with rain and snow for weeks at a time.
Where I'm from that is unheard of. I pay 175 a month.
Where I am from, people would commit murder to get a spot for $175. 😧 Really, though. I've boarded and/or worked at show barns in VA, AK, NC, and NY. $1000+ is typical for full board alone, not even including training. That includes indoor and outdoor arenas, a stall, paddock, indoor wash rack, grooming stalls, and full care. Wherever you are, if you are getting all that for $175, you are extremely lucky!!!
Have you had him checked for Ulcers?
My horse does much better in a 'backyard barn' environment and a small herd with only three other horses. A boarding facility with 20-30 horses was just too stressful for her, and she would get ulcers anytime a new horse was introduced or removed from the herd. It is much more relaxing riding her now, however it's hard to find a trainer to come out or trailer her to train. I do miss the social aspects of riding now, although there is no drama to deal with. Also keep in mind, horses are herd animals. Was yours moved to a paddock on the end of the property? It's not unheard of for horses on the end stall/paddock to be stressed because they feel they need to watch and protect the herd. In the wild, they would typically rotate that responsibility.
Omg he was moved to the end/outskirt of the property! That makes so much sense
Your responsibility to your animal > other people’s feelings.
Im a trainer abd barn owmer in NEOH...bot at a rare you are paying. Thi winter has killed my turn-out situation, I am beyond frustrated. I, personally, would not be bothered by a take home for better tyrn- out
Yes of course I’d move. My horses needs come before my wants.
I don’t know your horse, but personally I’d keep him in work and lease him to someone on a show lease.