[appy99]

Does anyone here board your horse or take lessons at least 30 miles away from your home. If you do is it worth it? And do you get to spend enough time with your horse as you wish to? Do you get to visit your horse or take lessons everyday? And if you do board or take lessons this way would you recommend it?

[TravelingGirl]

I board my horse 25 miles away. I make an effort to get to the barn 4 x a week. It doesn't always work, and even when it does, sometimes I only ride 3 days and spend one of the days playing with Trav.

It's a great barn, Trav is well cared for, the BO answers her emails very promptly, and I love the property and atmosphere, so I'm okay with it.

I found it more trouble to have him at a barn 5 miles from home but feel like I HAD to go there every single night to make sure he was fed and the troughs had water.

[appy99]

Ok because I want to take lessons and eventually board a horse but I've been looking for a year and a half now and I can't ever find a stable closer than 30 miles out from where I live.

[Lindsayanne]

I have a 40 minute drive each way. I definitely ride & visit less often because of the distance, but I don't think my relationship with my horse has suffered, and my riding has definitely, definitely, definitely improved as a result of finding an instructor who works better with me- and riding better improves my relationship with my horse- so in the long run it's worth it.

When I first got horses there was no stable any closer than 1hr and 15 minutes So I did that drive 3x a week for 14 months, then moved so I was 10 minutes away from that barn, then decided to change barns. So now my new barn is 40 minutes away, but if I hadn't moved it would be a 2 hour drive!!!

[appy99]

Originally Posted by Lindsayanne

I have a 40 minute drive each way. I definitely ride & visit less often because of the distance, but I don't think my relationship with my horse has suffered, and my riding has definitely, definitely, definitely improved as a result of finding an instructor who works better with me- and riding better improves my relationship with my horse- so in the long run it's worth it.

When I first got horses there was no stable any closer than 1hr and 15 minutes So I did that drive 3x a week for 14 months, then moved so I was 10 minutes away from that barn, then decided to change barns. So now my new barn is 40 minutes away, but if I hadn't moved it would be a 2 hour drive!!!

Wow I guess I really shouldn't feel that bad. That does sound a little difficult to keep up with. How long do you get to ride each lesson?

[paso4ever]

I board my horse about 12 miles away, but i would NOT board the horse i have NOW 30 miles away just becuase not to be mean but he wouldn't be worth it he can be such a brat and by the time i got out there it probablly be dark, so haveing him closer is MUCH better for me i can work w/him longer and actually get a few rides in, but if i had a totally NICE horse that i KNEW i could go out catch and saddle up w/o ANY probs i would DEFINATLEY board 30 miles away

[Lindsayanne]

Originally Posted by appy99

Wow I guess I really shouldn't feel that bad. That does sound a little difficult to keep up with. How long do you get to ride each lesson?

I own my horse, so it's up to me. I almost always schedule a lesson if I'm going up. I figure if I'm shelling out $12 in gas, I should go ahead and take a lesson. I pay for 45 minute private lessons, but we adjust to what we're doing. If he gives an amazing performance, or tries really hard at something very difficult, sometimes I get off after just 20 or 30 minutes. Other times I ride for an hour or more, just depends.

Quantity of time in the saddle is valuable, but consider the QUALITY of the time you spend in the saddle is just as and maybe more important. I'd trade 10 hours of riding around for 20 minutes with a really good instructor. That's why you'll see people who've been riding for 10 or 15 years ride really, really poorly and riders who've only been riding just a year or two ride very, very well.



Is there a tack store anywhere near you? That's where I'd go and ask about stables. Lots of stables don't have a website or even a phonebook listing, but the local tack store owner sure knows about them!!

[appy99]

Yeah there's a couple of tack stores here. I'll ask around.

[MorabPaint]

My horse is about 150 miles away, so i hardly ever get out. I used to takes lessons about 25 miles from home and I went out twice a week, which was as much as I had time for. I don't think 25-30 is too bad as long as you can commit 30 minutes to driving there....that doesn't sound bad to me at all since mine is 2-2.5 hours away!!

[*BaRrEL_BaBE*]

Are you looking to do full or partial care? Partial care will make it more difficult, while full would ease the burden.