House Hunters: Equine Version

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 ...

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)

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!
​

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!