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Not-So-Speedy Dressage

From Endurance to Dressage

House Hunters: Equine Version

7/29/2016

 
I don't like to move. At all. As a kid, we moved a lot. I can't tell you how many places I lived in. As a teen, things were a little more stable, but then came college. I moved more times than I can count. As an adult, even though I HATE to move, we've moved four times in 22 years of marriage.

When it comes to my horses, I try not to move them either, but it happens. In the nine years that I've owned Speedy, he's lived in two places: four years at Silverado Stables, and five years at my current barn. I hate moving. And yet ...
Picture
The New Facilty
Welcome to my new barn, although it's actually a ranch. It's across the street from my old barn. From this picture, to my back is my old barn's back lawn. I can't say that I've ever moved my horses where I was able to lead them to their new property. Until now. I moved all of my stuff by truck (loooong story - it took two days), and then I just walked the boys over. Pretty convenient. 

There are so many reasons to change barns. Equus just had an entire article devoted to what you should look for in a new barn:
  1. List What's Important to You (And Your Horse) - I have very few needs. First and foremost, there must be safe enclosures, but that's a no brainer. I also need ample feed and a riding space. I am a pretty simple boarder. I don't need blanket changes or my horses walked to turn-out. I don't need supplemental feed doled out, and I can clean my own stalls. I am a hands-on owner. While my needs are simple, Izzy's are not. He made it very clear that he needed more space. 
  2. Determine a Budget - Both barns are pretty close in price.
  3. Consider Travel Time - Both barns are right next to each other, ten minutes from home.
  4. Ask Around - My friend Laurel is good friends with the ranch owner, and I've known the owner for several years. She long ago gave me permission to ride on her property.
  5. Visit and Ask Questions - She invited me to drop by. We worked out the details.
  6. Request a Tour - I had ridden through her place so many times that it wasn't necessary.
  7. Sign a Contract - Done (or will be once she gets it printed)
Picture
HALF of Izzy's new paddock.
Izzy's new paddock is as big as some arenas. Pictured above is only half of the space. He's standing next to a gate that opens into the other half. Once he proves that he isn't going to try and kill himself, we'll open the gate and he can use both halves. When we're sure that he can handle that, my new barn owner said that we can take down the panels that divide the paddock, and he'll have the whole thing to himself.
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I even brought his toys!
Speedy is in a much smaller paddock. It's normal sized, but even that is only temporary. This ranch has many dry pastures, most of which are quite large. The row of pens where Speedy lives all open into a HUGE sandy turn-out alongside the river.
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This will open, Speedy. You just have to be good!
Right now, Speedy only has one neighbor. When Speedy can prove that he is NOT going to run around like a lunatic and re-injure himself, his paddock gate will be opened every twelve hours to allow him access to the huge turn out. He and the neighbor will take turns.
Picture
Speedy has already made friends with his neighbor.
Last week, I helped the barn owner clean out and organize her feed/tack room to make room for my stuff. How and when did I get so much junk? It took five truck loads to get all of my stuff moved. I have water troughs, garbage cans for feed, poles, a water tank, bales of hay, stall bedding, more buckets than horses, tack, blankets, and on and on.
Picture
My stuff is on the left side, including the two garbage bins with the pink and blue buckets and the Platinum Performance. Only two of the feed bags are mine, and neither of the shavings belong to me.
Of course, I have a big pile of stuff outside the window too: wheel barrow, shelves, muck bucket and cart, more buckets, and so on.
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Tack/feed room is the door to the left of the hay barn.
The property is about ten acres, so even if I just want to do a short hack, I have plenty of room. There is also a round pen and a place to park my truck and trailer.
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Round Pen and Truck/Trailer Parking
The arena has great footing and is nearly dust free. It's about 60 meters long and close to 30 meters wide. Instead of square corners like in a dressage ring, it's an oval. The best part is that I no longer have to drag the sprinklers around. I am in Heaven! The ranch owner has a caretaker who lives on the property, so he has already freshly dragged the arena and pruned back the trees for me.
Picture
The view from "C"
Before even moving in, my new barn owner suggested I use the arena to give Izzy a new place to school. It is a wonderful place to ride!
​
Picture
The view from "A"
The owners live on the property as well. They have nine other horses on the ranch, most of them are old timers who have been with my barn owner for most of their lives. She believes in giving the old guys a place to live out their days. She also abhors small pens and insists that all of her horses live in large paddocks, especially as they get older.

​Lucky for Izzy, eh?

As we settle in and get to know the place better, I am sure I'll post more pictures. For now, I am super excited about this place!
Tracy link
7/29/2016 06:11:23 am

I hate moving too! The new barn looks really nice, and I'm sure Izzy will appreciate the space <3

Bakersfield Dressage link
7/29/2016 09:59:20 am

So far, so good!

jenj
7/29/2016 06:14:01 am

Wow, what a sweet setup! I'm glad you found a new place that is so convenient!

Bakersfield Dressage link
7/29/2016 09:59:53 am

Me too!!!!!! We really need the extra space.

Jan link
7/29/2016 06:47:28 am

So glad Izzy has a big paddock to play in!

Moving is always annoying, but it looks like you struck gold on the location!

Bakersfield Dressage link
7/29/2016 10:02:24 am

I really hope so. Izzy already got promoted to the full space. He dug a big hole last night (which was filled first thing this morning by the property owners - and they were totally fine with it). If he's digging, he's either comfortable in the space and not likely to kill himself, OR he's still bored. Either way, I opened the gate and he immediately took off exploring. :0)

Austen link
7/29/2016 08:15:27 am

This place looks so awesome! I'm always a fan of giving horses as much space and time to move as possible, and this looks like it's going to be awesome for your two! I can't imagine living in CA and having such limited access to turnout.

Bakersfield Dressage link
7/29/2016 10:05:52 am

There are pastures for rent in my area, but my criteria of safe fencing, ample feed, and a place to ride aren't necessarily met. We have very few public barns, and only one that I know of has pasture, and it's shared.

I agree about more space. My last barn was pretty good. Those stalls were bigger than a lot of other places, but these paddocks are fabulous.

Micaylah link
7/29/2016 08:30:32 am

What a lovely set up!

Bakersfield Dressage link
7/29/2016 10:06:41 am

It's not fancy, but it's very horse friendly. :0)

Lauren link
7/29/2016 08:33:11 am

Looks like a great place!

Bakersfield Dressage link
7/29/2016 10:08:27 am

I think so. :0)

lytha
7/29/2016 08:46:25 am

One thing your 5 truck loads probably didn't include was fencing supplies. That takes up an annoying amount of space in my tack room!

I'm so happy for Izzy to have more room! The photo of Speedy is adorable.

And look how you never have to worry about laminitis on those paddocks! And probably not hoof abscesses either. Although I cannot imagine having every single thing a horse eats come from me. I've just been lucky somehow that I can have a donkey on lush pasture and no health issues...not yet.

Bakersfield Dressage link
7/29/2016 10:20:46 am

Actually, the poles ARE fencing material; I just used them for cavaletti. LOL

I have mixed feelings about grass pasture - horses are more prone to laminitis (as you mentioned), abscesses, thrush, obesity, and so on. Worms are also more problematic. The good thing about pasture is that it can help horses live more naturally, but I think that with good management, we can do that just as well on dry lots.

I had been feeding oat/alfalfa cubes with timothy to supplement. Now, once my timothy is gone, my boys will get alfalfa in the morning and grass hay at night. And, they have hay in front of them 24 hours a day.

They also get their Platinum Performance (both boys are now on it) with a small amount of beet pulp. I was able to phase out the rice bran as they no longer need the extra fat source.

In the dry south west, summer drought is just part of our life. It is very difficult to maintain enough pasture to actually provide calories. And with the 4 year long drought we've experienced, it's almost irresponsible to maintain pastures that lush.

In California (and other dry states too), we don't think anything about providing 100% of our horses' calories - it's just how it's done. :0)

Sarah link
7/29/2016 09:09:37 am

This place looks awesome! I can't imagine being that restricted by space. I have almost 26 acres entirely fenced in with my guys on 24/7 turn out. I'm jealous of the dust free outdoor! That's amazing!

Bakersfield Dressage link
7/29/2016 10:10:37 am

You are one lucky girl, Sarah! That's a bit hard to find in suburban California.

I need to win the lottery, and even if I do, that many acres might STILL be out of my price range. :0)

Hillary link
7/29/2016 10:14:49 am

Looks like a fantastic set up!

Bakersfield Dressage link
7/29/2016 10:21:34 am

It's very horse friendly for sure. :0)

Olivia link
7/29/2016 11:36:24 am

I'm jealous; those huge paddocks/turnouts are great. Mine have small paddocks and a small attached turn-out. And in my area, that's considered very generous. A lot of people have straight stalls only, which I would never do.

Bakersfield Dressage link
7/29/2016 12:55:43 pm

We have very few public barns, and finding big paddocks is nearly impossible here too. My last barn was a private residence, just like this one. This is the third time I've rented space from a property owner. It's about the only way to get large paddocks or pastures.

Val
7/29/2016 11:56:44 am

What a fantastic setup! The riding arena is gorgeous as I'd the ample turnout. Your boys will be so happy.

It is no surprise that you have all that stuff since you provide full care to your horses. My barn owners recently redesigned the tack room, which seemed nice but the result is a smaller locker for my stuff. I barely have enough room for my grooming supplies and ended up bringing some stuff home. I try not to complain because they take good care of my horse, but it is still frustrating.

Bakersfield Dressage link
7/29/2016 12:53:50 pm

You're right, Val. When the owner does everything, it does generate more stuff. As I was trying to figure out what I have that I don't need, I glanced over to the saddle, bridle, girth, pad, bucket brush, and treat bag that belong to the young woman who just started leasing one of the ranch owner's geldings. I was a bit envious that she could fit it all in her passenger seat. But then I wondered what she'll do when her pad is dirty or she needs to wrap an injured leg or she needs to lunge. THAT'S why i have so much crap ... times TWO horse. :0)

I feel your pain though. I ALREADY have stuff at home. I would have to rent a storage facility if anything else had to go home ...

Karley link
7/29/2016 01:04:13 pm

I hate hate hate moving too!!

But if you have to move- a cross the street sounds perfect lol

Bakersfield Dressage link
7/30/2016 01:23:57 pm

Very true, Karley. Very true! :0)

Teresa link
7/29/2016 05:57:06 pm

It looks fabulous! I hope that it all works out for Izzy and he stops digging tunnels!

Bakersfield Dressage link
7/30/2016 01:26:01 pm

Funny because the very next day, HE DUG A HOLE!!! Ranch owners promptly brought in a tractor, filled it, and said NBD. :0)

This ranch owner is AWESOME. She keeps assuring me that within a week or two, Izzy will experience some serious mental relaxation once he settles into the larger space. I hope she's right. :0)

Elinor link
7/29/2016 11:40:01 pm

What awesome news.! And of course a lot less stressful since you've been able to check out the place for some time really up close. Great for Speedy and Izzy!
If I get the vibe correctly of the place, you will be the main rider there... great to have a "quiet" place rather than a large, busy, training barn.
It's how I have had it for over 2 years and I don't think I would want to go back :)

Bakersfield Dressage link
7/30/2016 01:30:31 pm

My last barn was also someone's house. It was only the barn owner and me. I was there 5 years, but Izzy just started to become too destructive; he needed a bigger space in which to live.

This property is just the owner and her husband with their 8 horses. A neighbor just moved her horse into one of the back paddocks, but I am not sure that she'll ride in the arena. Another young woman also is leasing one of the owner's horses, but that happened because of me. She's a nice young woman getting back into riding after her teens.

For the most part, it will be just me. And besides, no one wants to ride with my big spastic horse anyway. I tend to clear the arena. LOL

Sarah link
7/30/2016 08:20:28 am

What a gorgeous facility! Congrats on the move 😀

Bakersfield Dressage link
7/30/2016 01:26:36 pm

Thank, Sarah. I am sooooooo happy there! :0)


Comments are closed.

    About the Writer and Rider

    ​I am a lifelong rider. 
    I began endurance riding in 1996 where I ultimately completed five, one-day 100 mile races, the 200-mile Death Valley Encounter, and numerous other 50, 65, and 75 mile races. I began showing dressage in 2010.
    ​Welcome to my dressage journey.
    Picture
    Photo by Lori Ovanessian

    About Speedy G

    ​Speedy went from endurance horse to dressage horse. After helping me earn a USDF Bronze medal in the summer of 2020, he is now semi-retired. Speedy is a 2004, 15'1 hand, purebred Arabian gelding. His Arabian Horse Registry name is G Ima Starr FA.
    Picture
    July 2020 (PC AJSK Photography)

    About Izzy

    Izzy was started as a four-year old and then spent the next 18 months in pasture growing up. I bought him as a six-year old, and together, we are showing at the lower levels. He is a 2008, 16'3 hand warmblood gelding. His Rheinland Pfalz-saar International (RPSI) name is Imperioso.
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    March 2021 (PC Tess Michelle Photography)

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    FOR THE SMALLER EQUINE ATHLETE
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    National Rider Awards

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    USDF Bronze Medal - 2020
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    Speedy G - 3rd Level Horse Performance Award - 2020
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    Speedy G - 2nd Level Horse Performance Award - 2018

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Among other things, Karen is a Wife, Friend, Reader, Writer, Rider, Traveler, and Dog Lover
Contact her at bakersfielddressage@gmail.com
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