10 Great Things About Boarding

We all know boarding comes with it downsides. I'm personally ready to move my girls home again and take a breather, but, to be fair, there are lots of really great things about boarding that I miss when the horses are at home. Here's my impromptu list:

1. Better Amenities. If you're anything like me, you'd be hard pressed to compete with a good barn as far as amenities go. It's not that I couldn't theoretically build my own indoor to ride in, it's just when realistic budgets are considered, I'd rather have a house to live in or pay for 11 million years of boarding with that money:)

Someone else can build and maintain this, I'll just ride there

2. Vacations. You can keep the horses at home, hire a farmsitter and plan accordingly. OR, you can give the boarding barn manager a text the day before and book that last minute deal. I do appreciate the second option.

3. Participation. Good boarding barn buddies help make it fun to be there. Fun to be there =  a greater likelihood I'll tag along to more shows and attend more lessons. With a built in barn support team, it's a lot easier to push outside your comfort zone. Also, did I mention, fun?

4. They're watching you.your horse. I enjoy knowing that there are knowledgeable horse people at the barn for a good majority of every day. If anything happens, the time frame before it's noticed and I'm told is way shorter than when I'm the only eyes on my horse.

5. Travel Logistics. Not only is attending shows with barnmates more fun, the trailer sharing opportunities are generally much broader at a boarding barn. The horses are happy to have a friend in the trailer, I'm happy to save money. It's a win/win.

6.Not My Problem. That crappy feeling when you notice the driveway gate is broken, again, 5 minutes before you need to leave for work? Or when the hydro bill arrives mid winter and you're pretty sure they accidentally double billed you? Yeah, that doesn't really happen when you're boarding :)

7. Perspective. There's nothing like being involved peripherally with other people's horses and barn life to help you appreciate what you've got, or to motivate you to get better.

8. Borrowing Stuff. Yes, I know this is a tricky one and the downsides could go on a "10 Things I Hate About Boarding" list...I've learned kids in particular can have a pretty vague sense of who owns what. But on the plus side, at most barns you'll know someone who you can comfortably swap ideas and supplies with in a pinch or borrow before committing to purchasing your own. Using my current adventures into trying different bits as an example...I'm really, really appreciating the inventory of "I'm not using it, go ahead and try it" stuff in the tack room right now. On the flip side, I like knowing my extra stuff is useful to someone else.

In this photo: borrowed giant hay net from that time I forgot to pack a  net...or grain...for Bridget. No worries, the barn kids had it all under control

9. On Site Clinics/Coaching/Shows. You can make it happen from home, but it's really much more likely that those things are going to be available on a regular basis at a boarding barn.

10. Regular Appointments. In a similar vein to #9, I love the convenience and cost savings of having the farrier, vet, hay delivery, saddle fitter, etc come to the barn for a group of us at regular intervals. No more trying to plan and fit everything into the calendar!