New Home for Joey and Me

Well, a week ago we took the opportunity and made the move. Joey is now only 15 minutes from my house and from my job. He also now has a big bright stall with his own attached paddock. The stall has a rubber matted floor and the barn is very well ventilated. His stall is always dry and there is no "barn smell" about the place. At this time of the year, he is able to walk in and out, day and night, as the door to his stall is latched to stay open.

He's made friends with the geldings and the mini horse stallion on the one side of his paddock and has learned the mare on the other side prefers to be left alone.

I can have my shoer, vet and trainer. There is a good sized riding ring with sand footing (with no rocks!) that is watered and well maintained. There are lots of jumps of various kinds that I am welcome to use. It's great that the other riders all ride english/hunter/jumper.

The tack room is clean and nice, my big show trunk fits in the corner and there's a place for all my stuff. The best thing is it's locked and alarmed so I feel okay about leaving all my gear there. I have a key to the feed room too, and the hay is fresh and the feed is plentiful. There's even a good sized grazing area where we can graze in hand as long as we want.

It's quiet. I've ridden when the daughter of the barn owner rides once but I mostly have the place to myself when I'm there. And you know what, I like the quiet. My life is so busy and full of people that spending time with Joey alone in a calm, quiet place is so soothing. He's such a good boy and once he saw everything that needed to be seen and snorted at, he has settled down and we have spook free rides - even when the neighbors are in their pool and the dogs are playing in the yard.

I even see him almost every day now, which is another plus. Before the distance to the barn made it so I would only get there 3-4 times a week. Now I can stop in, even if it's just to graze for a few minutes and check his water.

I'm trying to get in touch with my farrier right now to schedule a shoeing. Hope he will come to this place and I don't have to switch.

Joey, just off the trailer and in his new stall.