Story time if you care to read!

So, Ive got 2 horses, but this story is about my mare. She is currently a 25 year old Tennesse Walking Horse. I got her for free when I turned 18, against my parents wishes, due to a freidn of a friend getting a divorce and wanting her to go to a good home.

She was 15. She was mostly broke and we loved going to fun shows, trail riding, anything. She loved to ride and go forever non stop.

I loved my old barn, we were a family, we loved our horses and everyone hung out, no matter the age difference. it was like that until I was about 24. 

The barn owner, an amazing woman I consider a second mom, decided to expand a bit. we'd always had A LOT of horses. im talking 30+ between boarders and her own personal horses. 

She started up a teen training program which is amazing. A summer program for interested kids to go learn horse things, how to ride, how to have responsibility. loved it.

Then it got too big. I think they are up to 40+ teens in the summers and it got to be so much that my stuff went missing, my horses looked like they'd been touched when I hadent been there, and I stopped going besides for farrier visits or early mornings. Both outdoor arenas would be full constantly with kids who didnt really know what they were doing, and I didnt care for it.

My mare had always been slimmer, but she started dropping a few years ago a lot. I put more weight on her the best I could, but in a pasture, at the time, of probably 40 horses, with 5 round bale feeders, she got kicked around.

She was skinny to the point I was scared.

Skip to this last August. I'd been doing chores and taking lessons at a Dressage barn down the road for a few years loosely when she asked for everyone to become actual employees. I put on the application that I was interested in full time if that was at all possible in the future.

She was all for it, we got along great, and I honestly love her and her assistant like family.

Then my job cut almost all employees and within a month I was hired on as barn manager! With free board for both my horses, and a free lesson a week!

We put my mare into a private pen for the first.month and we gave her as much hay and mash as she would willingly eat. My barn owners sister is a vet and wanted to look at her teeth. 

Got her teeth floated, kept feeding. 

She ended up in a back pasture with 4 other mares that all got along swimmingly. Shes happy, healthy, and THRIVING. Ive never seen her so think in my life. 

I think it was a mix between the herd size, the level of care even on pasture, and her teeth getting done.

Im lucky enough to have free board at a nice place, but honestly, if I'd have known this would be the outcome? I would have paid what it took. 

Sometimes, even if we love the barn, our horses dont, and need better care somewhere else. We have to be willing as owners to make the leap and give them the place they need to feel comfortable!

I'll try to include some photos, but th difference is only 7 months apart!

Good boarding is worth it!!!