Should I Leave My Barn?

Personally I would go to the new barn, but it's your descision.

Go to the new barn. To advance as a rider you need to get training from a variety of people. This is really a golden opportunity for you. It is always hard to go to a new place but also very rewarding. We grow through new experiences. I have been in dressage/combined training barns, hunter jumper barns, western rodeo and gaited horse, (show Morgans, Show Tennessee Walkers, and show Saddlebreds) my last trainer was Combined Driving which is modeled after the Three Day Event. I have learned a lot at each of those barns and would not want to have missed the experience. A year fronm now you will be saying the same thing.

move. not just for you but for your horse. i had to move because the barn i was at wasn't caring for my horse as well as i though and they always had frozen water and got feed crap. plus the barn dog bit my horse and the owner just had to say "whatever" and so i moved now i'm glad i did. in my situation all 3 of my friends came with me. lol we all hated it there. you can still always ride to your old barn if you move it would just be a better environment for your horse and you would never have to worry about it's health or risk of colic.

I would move to a new barn but i also would do something about the other barn if the horses are not properly being cared for.

i would defianately move, i moved my horse a couple of months ago to another barn because they had this huge indoor arena for winter riding, i was pretty nervous because I ride western pleasure, contesting, and reining...i was completly western, all the other girls at the new barn rode english and jumped and stuff so I felt like I wouldnt fit in at all...but, obviously that was stupid because we all had one thing in common....the love of horses..duhh! anyways, i help alot of the english girls with western, and now they are teaching me to jump! and it is so much fun! i love it at my new barn and have learned soo much and have grown better as a rider.....all I am saying, if you want to be a better rider, get more experience and knowledge, i would move barns...and I would never put up with a barn like the one you are at now, if it is that bad report them, or try to do something about it. Since you have been there for 9 years maybe they will listen to you...dont put up with abuse of horses!

If I were in your position, my horse's lack of care would be my #1 concern. Not if I were going to look dumb or not. My horse standing in his own manure and pee for hours or not being fed or not drinking water and colicking would be my worry. It would be my reason for leaving the disgrace of a barn right now. If my friends at that barn were not concerned as much about their horses, I'd also wonder what kind of friends I have. Horses should not be treated like trash.

You don't have to ride at only one barn... You could go to the new barn during the winter and transfer back to the old barn in the summer or you can go each place different days it weeks. Good luck :)