Need a rant!

[rockman]

I'm probably not going to make much sense from this point as I'm just so annoyed!

My yard owner has decided to have a massive go at me for the hoof prints my horse is leaving in her sand and rubber outdoor arena. I am only lunging him and he's not really that silly, does have the odd buck but is mostly sensible for this time of year. Yes he is leaving dips in the surface but what does she expect him to do, float above it? There is no turn out and we're not allowed to free school, but she's allowed to free school her horses because it's her arena! So my option is to lunge him.

I think he must just be heavy footed in his movements as like I said he's not being naughty and not doing anything unusual. Has anyone else experienced this with your ottb's just wondering if it's the way they canter or something?

She's threatening to stop any lunging at all and there's no turn out so she's pretty much writing me my death sentence which is why I'm looking for another yard. Am I being a baby or is she being unreasonable?!

Sorry if I bored you all but I do feel better now

[Goalie]

not boring at all. Glad you feel better. IS this a good place other than that for Rock? See if you can work out a compromise somehow. Good luck

[rockman]

It's been good up to now but I think I've hopefully found something better with a yard owner which is more reasonable. It has an indoor and outdoor school and much better fields and facilities! Only problem is that you can only use straw but I feel like this isn't enough to keep us off such a good yard especially with how hos current yard owner is about him and has no understanding of why he has different needs to 'normal' horses!

[ZenRider]

Um, that's generally why barns drag their arenas.
Does the other place provide the straw? Sounds like a good move.
I've been at the barn I am now since 2001, but have been other places. Some went out of business, others I wondered why I stayed as long as I did once I did move.
good luck finding the best place for you and your pony.

[TeachU2Ride]

If the longing area is large enough, it's easier on the footing and more fun for horse and longer to move around a bit. Start off with smaller circles, then enlarge them. Instead of endless circles, walk along the center line so the horse can go straight down the long sides for awhile. You can even teach a horse to move with you along the diagonals.

But overall, it sounds like a place with more/larger turnout is going to be beneficial for you anyway. Good luck!

[niaru]

How often do they drag the arena?

I longed my mare in the indoor (new rubber footing there too) the first couple days she was there and she was NUTS on the longe. After finishing (on a good note!) I spent 20 mn with the rake trying to hide all the "holes", I felt so bad! But no one said anything to me and I didn't feel I had to do it. They drag the whole ring every couple days or so.

But if the other place that you're looking at sounds better, go for it! When I was in France most barns used straw as a bedding, and it wasn't that bad. It's just much harder to clean than shavings / sawdust, but the horses were just fine on it and kept busy munching on it. And when it's fresh it smells so good!

[rockman]

The arena is only ever graded once very 4 months if we're lucky! It's really annoying!

Anyway I am moving him on Saturday to the yard with the straw, its a stable in a big American style barn so no horrible winds and rain in his face! Indoor and outdoor school where he can be free schooled and silly, 16 fields for turnout in summer and lovely understanding owners!

Time to learn how to muck out a straw bed haha! And get ready for the hassle of moving

Thank you for all that advice!