Today I'm going out to the barn after work. Not to ride.. no, no no. Today I will be filling in holes in the arena that have been created by groundhogs. Somehow one or more of these damn things has decided that they need to run around in the space between the arena wall and the kickboards. And then, for no apparent reason, they need to dig their way out. Never mind that there is a space by each gate at the end of the arena that they could easily crawl through. They must dig, and in more than one place. I think right now there are six holes on one side of the arena. Nobody else will fix then, so I will do it. I will also dump used cat litter behind the kickboards in an attempt to keep the groundhogs out of the area. It's supposed to work because the groundhogs will stay away from cat smell, but so far I don't think it's helping.
I also need to pull all the footing away from the kickboards, and then drag the arena. The ATV still is not fixed, and we don't have that new drag that I was told about, so again I'll be using my car and the sucky drag with four teeth. And as long as I'm bitching, the washrack drain is still clogged and the water hydrant by the washrack has been broken for a while and is still not fixed. And last week Kaswyn got a salt block holder put in his stall, but the genius who installed it didn't get the top screw into the wood. It looks like he just pounded on the screw because it's totally bent over and not in the wood at all, so the holder just turns upside down and the salt block falls out. Brilliant. Oh yeah, and to top it all off, yesterday the tack room reeked of cat pee. Someone pissed on top of one of the trunks. Not mine, thank goodness.
Can you tell I'm a little frustrated? I'm not asking for the barn to be a million dollar showplace. I just want it functional. I think the least that could be done is that things are fixed when they are broken. I will water and drag the arena, and fix the holes. The salt block holder I can fix too. But the ATV, the washrack drain, and the water hydrant I can't do on my own. All I can do is keep asking when these things will get done, and remind people to shoo cats out of the tack room and close the door so our stuff doesn't get pissed on.
I love Marge. I love the fact that Kaswyn gets outside all day every day, and he's very happy there. But sometimes I just get sick of nobody caring but me. To be honest, the place is just dirty and is getting run down. A few months ago when Kaswyn got shoes, my blacksmith and I were talking about the barn. This was during the whole "got to get the footing fixed" stage, and he made some comment to me about not being able to make a silk purse from a sow's ear.
I don't need a silk purse. A functional wallet would do just fine.
All Good Things Must Come To An End
3 years ago
4 comments:
I hear you. This can be the most frustrating part of horse ownership. The best thing for your horse sometimes (often) isn't the best on your wallet or for you.
I hope you feel better about this soon.
I feel your pain. I'm at a barn that my horse loves, but the attitude of the staff is definitely "less is more."
Less is not more. Oh, and the customer is always right!
Bad footing, broken water pumps, cat pee...seriously, I have all of those. I don't know what I would do if I wasn't able to fix some of this stuff myself.
I totally understand. I am not sure that in the long run the barn we are at is going to work out. Its just that sinking feeling, but if I can make it work then as the new owners do upgrades it will be worth it. Ack!!
it sounds exacly liekthe place i'm at now, the owner turns the horses out for a good amount of time,feed very well,beds well,and waters.
but the arena base is inconsistent, it is a clay base that has been worn down on one side from lunging so that it is like a bowl, so the footing get deeper in that area. and also when you go around the whole arena on the track it slightly slants inwards toward the center (idk if that is from the base or compacted footing). the base is also extrememly rolling on that one side. i am ALWAYS worried about my horses legs and tendons
and they also need a new drag...they are thinking about the red master. thank god! that fooitng and base needs leveling.
that is my biggest worry about the place i am at now..
i am considered a barn hopper because i am OCD LOL and paraonoid about my horses wellbeing (as i should be.)
maybe ohio arena's/stables are kinda the same.... at least i know someone is going through the same thing it makes me feel a little better. :)
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