Boarding

So... it's been a long time since I posted. Holiday were crazy but good.

Autumn has healed well - she's released 100% back upon the world next week. She wants to know why not now, she really feels as though her leg is fine. Lily's still... well Lily, a mess but good.

My boy is alright. I, however, am frustrated. He'll be 16 this year, no foal, to say the least. He has an issue or two. What 16 year old horse doesn't? A very rare one. In fact his issues are all VERY managable. He needs shod a certain way - done. He's starting to get mild arthritis but heck, who doesn't? He has developed mild COPD/Heaves... turnout, grass, hay that's wetted if necessary. Not THAT hard unless he's having an attack - which if he's managed properly is very rare if ever. And actually that's his only issue requiring real 'management'. It's not an issue at all when managed. It's a common condition in older horses as well - the second leading cause of loss of use behind joint issues in horses. And, it's MANAGEABLE.

But, what if where he's living isn't really able to really manage it? I'm running into that. Ideally he'd be out in a run-in 24/7. On decent grass. Not possible where he is.

I look around at other barns here and the options are pitiful. I've even stopped caring at all about price. It doesn't matter; I'll pay WHATEVER I have to take care of him. Even the insanely expensive places lack decent pasture and usually don't offer field board because they're worried they'll nick themselves on something if they're out mroe than 4 seconds of the day becaue they're show barns. He needs to be out, really to be honest all horses do.

He is happy with his herdmates. He likes his caretaker/s. I haven't been able to ride much due to weather and lack of a ring. He seems to wonder why. I have to run out and medicate most days which is difficult.

I know any boarding barn will have it's issues. I hate to THINK about moving him again. I know I have a very high standard of care for my animals. Plus, let's face it - ask 20 horse people how they manage horses and you'll get at least 21 different answers. Where's the happy medium though? Where's the place that isn't perfect but has tolerable 'issues' and takes care of my horse properly with safe facilities? At this point if I could find that, I'd deal with 'barn drama' between myself and other boarders. I guess I'm a dreamer thinking a place that I'm paying for could possibly have what my horse and I actually need - I don't even want fancy. Why's that so hard? Seriously?