If you live 45 mins from an event would you stable your horse?

[Rescue_Rider9]

Kinda a long way off, but I plan on sending my event entry as soon as the event opens at the end of aug. MTPC H.T. is held 45 mins from my house. I am certianly not going to get a hotel with it being that close to home, but shoud I stable my horse? It's a two day event and my horse has been to the places before (its held two different places) so she wont be seeing anything she hasnt seen before. Is it worth the 100 to stable even though I am coming home?

[Jazzy Lady]

I wouldn't. You'll already be paying for gas to ship yourself there, it won't cost much more to ship your horse with you each day.

[caevent]

I think it might be worth it, considering how much gas you could save by not hauling a horse 2 days in a row. If your horse is the type to stand quietly at the trailer all day and eat and drink well, maybe skip the stall. If they move around and paw and get restless, I'd spend the money to stable.

[CookiePony]

I don't stable for MTPC and both venues are about 45 minutes from my barn. That way my horse can get turned out as usual and be in his own stall, etc. The dressage and SJ are usually pretty close together, timewise. I walk both SJ and XC courses on Friday night, and XC again Saturday night or Sunday morning on my way to the barn.

You can always get a day stall if you need to leave your horse during the day.

[Sparky Boy]

I wouldn't. You'll still have to be there at breakfast and dinner time to feed right? I figure my horses are most comfortable in thier own stalls anyway.

[Rescue_Rider9]

If you get a day stall, Do you have to pay the grounds fee as well? This will be my first rec. event so I am trying to get prepared as possible!

[SevenDogs]

It would definitely depend on my horse. If my horse was a great trailerer and enjoyed being home overnight more than being in a strange stall -- I would definitely bring him/her home. If he/she was the least bit stressed about trailering and did well in a stall overnight, I would leave him/her.

Personally, I would tend to get a stall regardless of whether or not I used it overnight, particularly in summer and at a two day event. I wouldn't want my horse standing at the trailer if a stall would be more comfortable in between ride times, while I was walking courses, etc., but that's just me.

Also, don't know about your event, but often times the grounds fees for non-stabled horses is almost as much as the stabling so it makes more sense to get a stall, regardless of whether you horse is staying overnight. Typically, you only pay one or the other: Grounds Fees OR Stabling, not both.

[oldbutnotdead]

Yes. There is one event about an hour away from my barn. All other events are at least an eight hour drive . . .

Returning to topic, I rent at stall at the event one hour away. The stall gives my horse a place to relax, a place to eat, and a place for him to stay where I don't have to have eyes on him every minute.

[kcrubin]

No, my boy does MUCH better with turnout!

[CookiePony]

Yes, I think that if you get a stall, day or night, you do not have to pay the grounds fee.

[Rescue_Rider9]

I guess i will E-mail and ask about the day stall grounds fee, but I may get a day stall at brownland its only ten more dollars then the grounds fee

[Janet]

I don't stable.

But an additional factor for me is I have other horses at home to feed, and it is a major hassle dealing with feeding 3 at home and one at the event.

[Lori T]

We have done both at Rocking Horse events. I used to like be able to turn out our horses at night after an event, especially after xc. But when gas got expensive, I decided it was cheaper to stable (I also have tolls). Another factor I consider is ride times...early rides, I want to stable, but later in the day, it is nice to be home.

[cindylouwho]

I will drive home on events up to 1 hour or so. My horses like to be turned out and I have other horses and pets at home to care for.

[deltawave]

I wouldn't--an hour is a reasonable distance for me to drive, and I save money NOT having the horse-sitter taking care of the barn for me, get to sleep in my own bed (as does my horse, in my case they get TURNOUT) and I don't have to shlep stuff back and forth from a stall at a show.

Of course the ONLY show within driving distance for me (Richland Park) has mandatory stabling. :mad:

[Beam Me Up]

I wouldn't.

For me, I prefer to just go for my times and not be there all day to feed 2x and handwalk.

And my horses are normally better with turnout, eating and sleeping at home.

And I'm cheap :)

That said, some horses might find trailering more traumatic than being away from home. And some riders might have a posse stabling that they want to be part of.

[forestergirl99]

It might make it easier on your horse if he doesn't have to keep coming back and forth, but your horse might also like being able to go home.

Personally, i probably wouldn't. I don't think it's worth the money. Plus I would feel better knowing he's safe and sound at home.

[Hey Mickey]

Generally I wouldn't,
there is a HT that is just over an hour away from me, and I usually don't get a stall.

But, since this is your 1st rec. HT, I defiantly would consider it.

[AUeventer]

You have to ship for XC anyway (right?), so why pay 100 for one night? On the flip side, I hauled to a show about an hour from where my horse was and the trailer pin broke as I was hooking up. I got it fixed but I was waaaay late and they could have eliminated me.

[Rescue_Rider9]

yes, Either way my horse has to haul. It's ten mins vs. 45 (hourish with the trailer). My horse hates being hauled, but she also hated being in a stall. hah either way she is going to be pissed! haha I always hook up the truck the night before I haul and check everything (and then check again in the morning) so I will be prepared if anything breaks!

[bornfreenowexpensive]

I typically haul from home anywhere within 3 hours. My own horses are less stressed by a trailer ride...albeit longer one...than spending the night in strange stall. 45 minutes is a close event as far as I'm concerned and I would ship in. hell...that is shorter than my daily commute to work....

[rabicon]

I won't leave mine. He is more comfortable at home with his buddies. He likes to go to the show but he likes to come home even better :winkgrin: If I left him he'd be a spastic mess by morning.

[eponacowgirl]

Mine have always done great at MTPC because I go home and TURN THEM OUT Saturday night. They're fresh and ready ROLL on Sunday.

[Firefox]

I typically haul from home anywhere within 3 hours. My own horses are less stressed by a trailer ride...albeit longer one...than spending the night in strange stall. 45 minutes is a close event as far as I'm concerned and I would ship in. hell...that is shorter than my daily commute to work....

Same here, I have developed the B&B for some of those on the 3 hr side (bed and barn)
when I am Aiken I have done the 1 and 20mi comute no problem

[Thames Pirate]

It depends.

At one show the non-stabled horse grounds fee was only about $30-40 less than the stabling (show held over 3 days, so 3 round trips). For that one I would stable. I did one with a grounds fee of $25 and a stabling fee of $100 or more (show held over 2 days). I hauled in to that one and turned my horse out at night. I would also factor in parking area--would your horse be standing on hard ground in the blazing sun or in a shaded grove?--as well as things like (in my current situation) a 20 minute drive to the barn, needing to hook up the trailer each day or using a car to get from barn to home, and how much you enjoy hanging out on the show grounds, watching other divisions, walking your course multiple times, etc.

[Jealoushe]

I just did this at an event that was less than 20 minutes from where I board, but only for the day. It was definitly worth the extra money. It was supposed to storm all day on and off but ended up being a beautiful day.

It made everyone's life easier, and was nice and relaxing!

[Catalina]

45 minutes away? I absolutely would not get a stall :no:. I am going to a two day event soon that is a little over an hour away and I plan on bringing my guy home Saturday night. He would get far more stressed out by an overnight stay in a strange place then by a trailer ride two days in a row.

[Ja Da Dee]

I've done both. It was much more convenient to have a stall for him, and leave him overnight. That allowed me to watch some of the show, wander around and chat with people without worrying that my horse was hanging out at the trailer unattended. Even though he's a doll at the trailer, it's still something to worry about. He was also able to just hang out and rest in the quiet of his stall between dressage and XC.

[Roney]

Follow-up question for those of you who have stabled overnight at multi-day, close-to-home events (say, 45 mins - 1hr away): Did YOU stay overnight near the event (camp or hotel), or did you drive back and forth from home?

I'm asking b/c I had a similar situation this summer and wondered what folks normally do in that case...

[JWB]

I pay for a stall and decide whether or not to use it overnight based on my ride times and how tired I am. I would rather not leave my horse tied to a trailer all day long between rides. Sometimes we go home for the night but it's not to save $$ - it's because I have plenty of time to load up the next day and know the horse will be more comfortable - but if I'm going to be at all rushed, I use the stall over night.

If you have friends you event with who are staying over night, see if you can break up the feedings.... One takes the evening and late barn check, other is in early the next day.

Grounds fee is only for the ship-in horses without stalls.

Typically I go home rather than getting a hotel room. I don't camp unless I've got a friend with room in their camper since tents are not my style - but if you enjoy camping and can get a good night sleep, go for it!

[Ja Da Dee]

Follow-up question for those of you who have stabled overnight at multi-day, close-to-home events (say, 45 mins - 1hr away): Did YOU stay overnight near the event (camp or hotel), or did you drive back and forth from home?

I'm asking b/c I had a similar situation this summer and wondered what folks normally do in that case...

I go home.

[Thames Pirate]

We had friends in the area, so we stayed there once. We also had a camper on loan on the grounds once. Once I went home. If friends, etc. are coming to watch you can get a ride with them and leave the horse/rig, too.

[Janet]

Follow-up question for those of you who have stabled overnight at multi-day, close-to-home events (say, 45 mins - 1hr away): Did YOU stay overnight near the event (camp or hotel), or did you drive back and forth from home?

I'm asking b/c I had a similar situation this summer and wondered what folks normally do in that case...

For me it is all or nothing.

If I am going to stable the horse, I stay in a hotel, and pay someone else to feed the horses at home.

[NRB]

I'd go back home. Horse gets turnout overnight. best for his legs.

I haul home for anything under 2.5 hours. But then again I usually do one day, un-rec, local stuff. And 2 hrs is pretty much my limit there.

Horse reloads like a gem everytime. So I just let him hang out on the trailer whenever I need to walk away (potty breaks, course walks etc). My trailer does convert to a box stall, so if I wanted to I can haul him in the box stall. Then let him hang out in the box stall instead of the straight load section.

[enjoytheride]

Yes. My local horsepark is 45 minutes away. I bath and load up my horse, haul to the facilty, chill for a bit, school, chill, feed horse dinner then head home for the night. Then I head out in the AM. I need to be there the night before to let her school and settle and I am not getting up at 4am to give my horse a bath then speed to the event for a 8:30am ride time.

[slp2]

I usually get a stall (the closest event for me is 1 hr 15 minutes away). And it depends on ride times and the show schedule. If I am going to have early ride times--I would prefer to have my horse there the night before (otherwise I get more stressed out). Some of the shows here in August are 3 days (literally), and it seems like there isn't much to do when you only have one phase per day. So, I could easily haul back home--but it would be schlepping back and forth for 3 days in a row. Ugh. On the other hand--I think my horse would prefer less trailering. She is ok on the trailer, but gets a little anxious about it. However, she is usually pretty happy to hang out and eat hay in her stall at a show. The other reason I get a stall is that it might be really hot and I like being able to get my horse (and myself) out of the sun.

[Mach Two]

Just pay the day hauler fee for Brownland and haul, since you are not staying there....after all, if something happened and you could not get there to feed, or check your horse's water buckets....
Don't stable unless you are staying within 15-20 minutes...and can leave contact information on your stall in case your horse needs help, and can get back there in 15-20 minutes.
Be sure to drive over to Percy Warner early enough on XC day to scout out some shade, if possible....it will fill up quickly.

[wildlifer]

No way -- less than three hours I will haul. My horse is used to being out all day and in a16-foot stall at night so it is far less stressful for him to go home. Plus he is a good hauler and is totally happy tied to the trailer, taking a nap. Plus, just on principle, I think paying over $30 for one night in a stall is just ludicrous and I won't do it.

[cloudyandcallie]

Yes. There is one event about an hour away from my barn. All other events are at least an eight hour drive . . .

Returning to topic, I rent at stall at the event one hour away. The stall gives my horse a place to relax, a place to eat, and a place for him to stay where I don't have to have eyes on him every minute.

yes.

[asterix]

I never stay over. I am spoiled and rarely go to anywhere more than 1-2 hours haul, the horses live out FULL time, and are both great haulers...so I take them home and let them hang in their field over night. No comparison about what they like better.
They are both perfectly happy to fall asleep on the trailer while parked. I've gotten to the point where if it's really going to be a zillion degrees out, I won't compete (although the last time I did -- truly a crazy heat day -- I pulled over 10 minutes from the event before getting on the highway, worried my horse was hot -- he was totally mellow, cool and comfy with all the windows open. I have LOTS of windows).

When we went to AECs in NC I found a quiet place to board with a barn buddy -- the two guys had a nice paddock and we hauled them 5 minutes down the road to the horse park every day. Worked great. I'd be more worried about him stuck in a stall, which he hates!

[purplnurpl]

Yes.

I have cocktail hour with my buddies. Shoot, I even live in my trailer. Sometimes I go home but I try not to.

Part of the fun is staying on grounds and being the last one in the barn in the PM and the first one in the barn in the AM. :D

[olympicprincess]

I wouldn't for a 45min trailer ride... and my Suburban gets low MPG. :) I prefer to pack my trailer and work out of it. Getting a stall always seems like more hassle.

The ONLY reasons I would get a stall for such a short ride were is if your truck was acting up and you wanted to be SURE you'd get to the event, or if someone else was hauling you and it was turning into a big hassle for both parties or would cost you a lot of $$$.

[EiRide]

I have never stayed over at an event--I haul anywhere from 30 minutes to three and a half hours, and I only do one day events so that I don't have to go two days running.

My horses have a big run in shed, sacrifice lot, and three pastures that they rotate through in grazing season. They are used to being out all the time and tend to fret in a stall, any stall (I do bring them in for horrid horrid horrid winter weather, ice storms, cold winter rain). They are also very used to hauling--we head to the park to ride, haul an hour each way to my coach's for a lesson, haul to the Bucks Co HP for longer rides and XC schoolings, etc. So they all march on the trailer and travel well.

At home I have dogs, horses, cats, Guinea Pigs, chickens . . . for years it was just me on the farm taking care of everything, although these days I have an SO who is learning the farm stuff, he often wants to go with me to the event rather than being left home to mind the farm. Since he is a photographer, I like it when he comes to groom and shoot my events. :-)

So, I choose not to enter an event which would require me to stay over night. If one was that close to me and running over two days, I'd haul in both days. I've done that for two day clinics that were within a reasonable striking distance.

[PnkPanthr]

Unless its over 3 hours, we don't stable. Don't have the money to stable for every event we go to.

[Toadie's mom]

Absolutely not! Unless your horse has a major issue being tied to the trailer, I wouldn't do it. Even if they're nervous the 1st day, after going home and coming back they seem to be better on day 2. If they aren't, chances are they're going to be worse in a stall away from home anyway.