Moving = sad

I hate moving barns. I have never been a "barn hopper" kind of boarder. It was difficult for me to take her to college with me, because it involved moving her twice within a year. I like my horse to get comfortable with her surroundings, her daily routine of getting fed, going out, etc. I like to get to know my barn staff...its easier to know when there's a problem when I know how it is normally run. But...the economy is affecting everyone. My current barn, after 2 years with no board changes, is forced to raise the board to cover their over head costs. I understand. And I'm not surprised. But I hate it nonetheless. I have been there for 4 years.

I have been talking to a couple of barns the past few days. I found the one I'm going to. But I must admit, I am totally spoiled by the immaculate place she's in  now. I don't need the indoor...I don't use it anyway. For how often I have been riding, I want to get on, and have fun, not deal with idiotic spooking in every-single-corner. And it's not like we get snow - it's rare that it rains enough to stop me from riding outside. There's a 60 foot round pen in both locations. Cool. Don't use it often, but occasionally, I want to lunge or free lunge in there. I tend to ride outside of the arenas at the current place, in the grass on a big circle. New barn, no grass (made up for by free choice hay in turnout, btw) -- arena is dirt/sand, and decent sized with a couple of jumps set up. They are expanding it. There are trails down the back side of the arena. They'll let me borrow a lesson horse so my boyfriend and I can go out on the trails together. The turnout is 8 to 10 hours a day, group. The stalls are 24x12...12x12 of that is under a roof, the other 12x12 of it is open, no roof, and adjacent to the paddock. The entire barn is open air. Free choice hay like I said, and grain twice a day. She can go out during the day, or at night. Full board -- the base is $200 less than what the current place is going up to. And, all of the things I pay extra for now (i.e. worming, sand clear) are included. 

It is not as cheap as I'd like, but for the care I expect, I can't go below a certain price, anyway. Kind of sucks. But, the owner said no price changes for 2009 anyway, and she'll give 30-60 days notice if they need to change for 2010. Current place, I got 21 days notice of the rate change - and yet, I am required to give 30 days notice to leave. Not cool. 

Basically, I just can't afford the increase and still comfortably have enough money to get from pay check to pay check...especially since my student loans kicked in last month. So, I am biting the bullet and going with a place that is better for my horse to be a horse (and perhaps lose some weight on her own by being outside all day?!) - I hope she will be happy in her new home. I know she likes where she's at, but I keep saying I need to get her more turnout, since she's not getting worked enough. 

So, as much as I hate moving barns...I am moving for my horse, and for my finances. It's closer to my boyfriend's house,  so the plan is to ride on the weekends (let's face it, I'm having a HARD HARD time getting there after work. I prefer to ride mid-morning or early afternoon - it's SO hard for me to ride in the evenings.) With any luck, he'll come with me and get more involved...if not, I'll go on my way to his house.