How far would you travel to board?

[Ajinx]

Say you found a great place to board, great care, great pastures/turnout, everything you wanted in a boarding place. How far would you travel to get to this place?

Also, how far do you travel now and what are some things you look for in a boarding facilty? What do you expect a boarding facilty to have?

[DadSaidNotTo]

I won't drive more than about 30 miles. Apache was at a great barn for five years-- I was very happy with the care, and there was a great group of people there. However, the barn was in the north metro and we moved to the south metro, so Apache had to move too. I find that if the drive takes me much longer than half an hour, I can't get out to the barn more than two days a week, instead of the four to five days a week that I shoot for.

I currently board about 20 miles from home-- the drive takes me about 25 minutes. In order for me to consider boarding at a certain barn, it must have an indoor arena, free-choice hay and/or good pasture available during turnout, a minimum of all-day (10-12 hours) turnout, fresh water available at all times, a secure area for tack, and a feeding program tailored to each individual horse-- not "everyone gets a scoop of sweet feed, no matter their condition."

[Sunday Girl]

I'm completely spoiled right now as the barn I'm at is a mile from my dad's house and a 10 minute drive from my apartment.

The facility is everything I've wanted - a group of awesome, helpful boarders. Two great trainers for dressage and jumping. A huge indoor, even bigger outdoor, great footing in both. Pasture boarded horses get plenty of good hay and grain as needed. We have 3 different feeds to match the horses' individual needs, a deworming schedule that the vet (and a great one at that) has created, heated lounge/tack room, heated barn (to about 40 degrees in the winter). Auto waterers, nice big stalls with rubber mats and the shavings that are easy to pick through :) Stall horses are turned out during the day from 7-4ish. We have great, attention detailed staff that check for pulled shoes, notice if a horse isn't quite right, etc. Everything is organized and kept clean. Of course...I can live without ALL of this in a boarding place, but I really don't want to now!

For this barn I would travel quite a ways...we have a boarder from the TC (hour and 1/2), a few who are 30-45 minutes away, and one from South Dakota! I don't know how long I'd last doing anything over 45 minutes but I'd certainly try if I lived in Minneapolis. I'm sure I could find similar facilities and care, but the people have become a little horsey family for me.

If it were a new barn where I didn't know anyone with the above mentioned, 45 minutes is the max.

[Sarge]

I board about 30 minutes from my home. It used to be a 10 minute drive but I moved North and now I am at about 1/2 hour to 45 minutes depending on traffic and weather. When I was much closer I was able to be at the barn almost daily and it was fantastic. Now I am lucky if I can get out there twice a week (kids, job, etc). I sure wish I was closer or he was HOWEVER he has been at the same facility for 6 years has free choice hay, great turn out, fresh water, and the feeding program is tailored to each horse. I never have to wonder if he is taken care of, I know he is. I wouldnt go any further than where I am though. I'd never make it out there. Hmmmm, wonder if my barn would consider moving closer to me :)?

[Citicricket]

I have different needs for my horses. Cricket is semi-retired and since I don't ride her as often I only get to the barn twice a week or so. Therefore, it is extra important that someone keep a close watch on her (make sure she eats her grain, hasn't had any injuries etc.). I'm of the opinion that my horse's care and comfort is more important than how convenient it is for me to get there. Cricket lives in a private barn with only a few other horses and an owner that takes really excellent, personalized care of her. It is about 30 miles from my home but in her case I would drive farther for the quality of care I have. I really love going to Cricket's barn and having the place to myself, it is cozy and sometimes I take a book and just hang out there. Eclipse is in a public barn with several trainers and a huge heated indoor. She receives excellent care as well but with so many horses she probably doesn't get a 'looking over' each night when she comes in. However, since I'm there every day that isn't as big a deal. I take lessons frequently and love that I can ride whenever I want. I like the social aspects of Eclipse's barn. It is about 18 miles from home and I would drive up to about 30 miles for her since I ride much more frequently. Both barns have excellent tack rooms; safe and clean stalls, fresh water, careful feeding schedule and I can visit whenever I want to. Both barns have the horses outside during the day and inside at night.

[Suburban Tack]

I have driven as far as 30 minutes. But its all about the owners too.

I'll take less care that is closer if I won't get in trouble for getting it up to my standards, ie picking more out of the stalls, etc.

If its farther they have to do things darn near to the way I would so I don't have to spend as much time out there.

Can you tell I've been doing self care for a long time?!

Tana

[Workinghorse]

I drive from Faribault to Hastings, so about 40 miles. I found our barn when we lived in Burnsville, and it was only 10 miles away. When we decided to move back to Faribault, I couldn't see leaving a good thing.

I've looked around a bit when the gas prices started going up, but I can't find anything I like and trust as much as my barn now.

My horse has unlimited turnout, great feed, and a nice bunch of horse friends. The outdoor area is a nice size and good footing, plus a round pen too for closer work.

The barn owner doesn't seem to mind that I'm a little fruity, and I've changed horses like some people change socks! When my daughters pony got hurt, and got sick the next year, everyone was so supportive and caring. Plus there is a great vet and farrier on a schedule that I can go during the day to help hold horses.

So even for the extra drive, I wouldn't trade them in. = )

[Louies Momma]

Right now I drive 20 minutes about. Its not bad. In IL I drove 35 minutes for a long time to teach and ride horses. Usually though I was there for a good 3+ hours sooo the 35 minute drive wasn't much because I was there long enough. Only time it sucked was when Lou got hurt and that 35 minute drived seemed like forever!

Right now I have some personal fears (i'm sure I'll post or blog soon) so I dont see Lou as much as I wish. He's where he's at because well I trust the BO and he's loving the pasture life again. So though there are barns closer he's happy and I know he's watched over...so the 20 minutes isn't bad at all!

[Dare2Dream]

I drive 25 miles, more or less, depending on current detours ;(

I have many places closer, and cheaper, but... the care I want for my horses is not there. The main thing I look for is the care. My horses are pasture-kept, but they still recieve grain once or twice a day (depending on season and grass!) the barn owner, barn manager and all the staff know the horses well. I will sacrifice a lot to get good care for my horses, luckily the only thing I sacrifice right now is my bank account, my barn has pretty much everything I want and need. My horses don't go without anything, and I have the peace of mind that they are well fed and well treated, that is huge in my book.