Have you guys ever felt this way after switching barns?

Question

Hi guys. 
I used to ride at a Paso Fino place. But I stopped going. I was more of a beginner, and I was put on this gelding that would buck.. for honestly no reason. It wasn't pain, and I swear I wasn't doing anything. (I tried EVERYTHING. I am 100% sure I wasn't doing anything to tick him off!) But it got to the point I flew off, and landing all on my hip. I didn't break it, but I have some issues with it. (I'm 13) 
So I stopped going. Almost all of the things I learned there.. are wrong. My current instructor was VERY confused about what I learned. And she's trying to help me get over my fear of bucking, but it's not working. I ask her about 5 times before I ride a horse, and then sometimes before I do something if they are going to buck. But it just isn't working!

But recently I want to go back to the farm. I have no idea why. My instructor was pretty mean to me. She told me I was ruining all of her horses, just overall mean to me. And the other instructor I had made me cry once on the outside but really hurt my feelings.  but the horses I loved. There was this gelding for sale and I LOVED him and he always follows me if I'm in that pasture fixing stuff. And he'll do anything with me leading him. haha. And there was this stallion, and if he were for sale I would get him so fast. hahaha. He was.. Maybe 13.2-13.3? Maybe aroundt here. He was my fav. stallion. I lead him around, and with mares around him he wouldn't care. He would just gait, whinny, but stay right by your side. He was just so silly. He was soo fun to groom. he just loved it. And his colouring was very unique.


So have you guys ever felt this way when you moved from a place, even when you know it's for the better?

Mel · Accepted Answer

Change of any kind can be hard to adjust to.  Also, it is natural to miss animals we have bonded with.  

It sounds like you definitely made the right decision to leave though.   Not only does the old barn sound very unprofessional (they shouldn't be saying stuff like that to you), but also very unsafe.  Beginners should not be allowed to be handling stallions for one, no matter how nice they seem.  Leading him around mares could have easily gotten very ugly very quickly, and you are quite lucky that didn't happen.  Beginners and young riders also should not be put on horses with dangerous behavior problems, such as the bucking.

It will just take you some time to adjust to the change and bond with the new horses, but you will definitely be better off for it. Your confidence and skills will grow, best to close the door on this old barn and put it behind you.

Gina Maye Millar · Answer

I worked at an awful barn for a year but when I left,I kinda forgot about the bad things they do to the horses there,and wanted to go back. I had made friends there and liked to help the horses when I could. But i went back once and that was enough - gone!! I remembered how i hated it.
The upside of that riding centre was there were opportunities to showjump and get out there. At home I have no transport for my pony so couldn't show. 
The poor horses at the riding school - the waikato equestrian centre has great facilities but awful lessons.

Jen · Answer

Yes I was just having the same problem... I knew my old trainer was no good to me and she didnt offer what i needed but I still wanted to go back and visit. It's natural to miss the horses we have our first experiances with, it just means your human. I know it's hard leaving the place you started riding, it was tough for me, even though i knew it was time. Maybe go back and visit but dont start riding there again, your fear will evaporate with time and experiance, just keep riding and try not to think "this horse is gonna buck!" You will do better and grow with your new trainer. Good luck :) hope this helped!

Equestrian Jumper · Answer

I didn't switch barns what I did switch instructors. At first, the barn owner was my instructor. She never cared to teach me anything. She didn't care that I wanted to ride english and she pretty much made my ride western. Then, a new instructor came to our barn and my first lesson was western just for her to see what I knew. I had another lesson that day that was my first english lesson. She cares about the questions I have and she makes sure I understand something and I can do something without moving on. Now I've been doing jumping and it's all thanks to her =)

mcgraw_hill_fan62394 · Answer

yes i have felt like this. i left my old barn when i got my horse because my old trainer didn't have room for another horse. and when i came to the barn that i'm at now, the owner/trainer was really nice to me but some of the girls are complete b*tches. and were (still are) nasty spoiled little brats. i want to go back to my old barn to visit but my mom hates my old trainer, so she won't let me. im in the process of moving barns again(long story) but i hope this helps ♥ oh P.S. there was an add on craigslist.com that said "DRAMA FREE boarding/lessons"- after being in the horse business for 10 years i find that really hard to believe.

justride18 · Answer

i know every single horse at the barn i've been going to since i was six and i live my trainer and the place so much, its like my family and my "home away from home". but i dont really excel that much so im considering another barn but its going to be extremely hard to move :(

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Have you guys ever felt this way after switching barns?

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