Let’s Discuss: The boarding barn
Boarding your horse is kind of like having roommates–it can be fun, but it can also drive you crazy. Uncoiled hoses, lunging while you’re trying to ride, fly spray bandits… what are your boarding barn pet peeves?
- Send an email to wylie, the author of this post at wylie@horsenation.com
Other boarders telling me how to “train” my horse, passive aggressive boarders, and bad arena manners!
Bad arena manners are my biggest pet peeve! I board at a 15 stall barn in the woods. Out of those 15 boarders, maybe six of us make regular appearances. There is one woman who is always there when I go out who consistently cuts me off, takes the rail going the wrong direction, and crowds me in the arena – which is way big enough to allow all six of us regular boarders to ride comfortably in it if we all happened to ride at the same time. SO ANNOYING OMG. I get like FFFF—UUUUU face!
Sooo I changed my riding time, and have completely been able to avoid arena trouble. Super typical me-move.
I would do the same thing–fear-of-confrontation much? I’d love to know how a grown adult rider could make it that far in life in ignorant bliss of the rules of the road.
When we were at a larger barn, it bothered me when stuff would go missing. Halters, brushes, ropes, and most annoying of all…grain! Everything was always marked and kept together, so no excuse of “oh I thought that was mine”
horses getting out of pens and getting into trouble, or harrassing the horses who were still in pens…or worse yet, letting everyone out. (had this happen twice).
Now we’re at a private barn where it’s just my mom, me and 1 other boarder, so nothing disapears unless we misplaced it haha.
Crazy histrionic biddies who think I don’t know anything about horse care. (And they wonder why I avoid them).
I work at my boarding barn and there is a raft of girls who do just enough but never more. The sweep around things instead of picking up, they fill water buckets instead dumping and cleaning them, not changing blankets, not taking the trash out, screwing up the grain regularly enough… and it all gets dumped back on one or two of us who work the job and not the clock.
All my annoyances sum up in one word: inconsideration. Letting horses out of paddocks, free feeding grain in the dirt for my colicky horse to eat, not leaving gates how you found them, complaining but never doing anything to help, moving my stuff, parking in front of the main gate, leaving spilled grain everywhere even AFTER we have had several horses diagnosed with EPM… the list goes on. Is it that hard to think of other people? Gee, thanks for getting me all worked up!
Drama, unsolicited comments, bringing wild children and dogs to the barn.
Wow, I must be lucky. Mostly all of my boarding experiences have been pretty positive. I do keep my stuff very organized to make sure that things don’t disappear and I haven’t had a problem so far (knock on wood).
My biggest annoyance is when someone tries to engage me in barn gossip. Basically I just smile and nod and try not to say too much. Unless someone is endangering someone or the horses I really just don’t want to hear about it!
Barn gossip, two thumbs down!! The feeling that people are talking behind your back is the worst:(
My last two boarding barns have been a pleassure, but I really hate inconsiderate, lazy, and entitled people. I work hard in exchange for lessons and rides at my barn and people who do no work and think they’re entitled to it all drive me crazy! And there’s the completely unqualified people who offer “help” when it’s just plain pretentious and obnoxious. People who are terrified of their horses and don’t do anything about it are annoying, mostly because their horses are rude and they don’t do anything about it! My list really goes on, but my fear of confrontation keeps me from ever telling these people that I can’t stand them!
there’s always that *one* person who stirs up all the barn gossip. it made me angry enough that i changed my schedule to avoid her and rode first thing in the morning before anyone else arrived. know what? best decision i ever made: those hours i spent in the arena alone with my wonderful gelding deepened our bond and made the best memories for me.
It is an excellent novel in every way.What does she like? I beg your pardon? It seemed as if there was no way out.Plenty of sleep is healthful.I have a lot in common with my sister.I have a lot in common with my sister.She had a bad cold.I am busy.It really depends on who is in charge