charlie's big step

Charlie moved to his new farm yesterday. I'd be a big fat liar if I didn't admit to having pretty complicated feelings about it all. 

homeboy hasn't stepped onto a trailer in almost exactly one year... still a pro tho <3 <3

Sadness at leaving.... leaving a lot of happy memories (for both me and presumably Charlie); leaving friends; leaving familiarity...

was slightly suspicious unloading across the street from the new neighbors tho!

Sadness at facing the reality that this is probably Charlie's official transition into at least semi-retirement. (Bc the denial** has been very strong with yours truly for a very long time...).

(**Tho he's actually looking pretty sound right now, even tho we pulled his hind shoes a couple weeks ago! Like, maybe sound enough for some toodling around!! Probably not ever sound again for "work," but ehhhh toodling would be nice!)

was immediately right at home inside this nice traditional barn. they even made him a fancy nice new name placard!

But I also feel relief. Like a burden has been lifted. For years, now, I've had to be a ruthless and zealous advocate for my horses in the face of frankly indifferent management. If I wanted my horses to receive a basic minimum level of care, it was up to *me* to make it happen. Going more than 2-3 days in a row without a trip to the barn was absolutely out of the question.

stalls are BIG

That has all changed for Charlie, now. His new barn has the most wonderful and relaxed vibes. They were ready for us, and Charlie settled in immediately.

got to chill in his new stall with a snack and some hay for a few minutes before turnout

In some ways, the barn reminds me a lot of where Isabel lived (minus the lesson program). It's small, intimate, laid back --- with a lot of people who basically just love their horses and enjoy horsey pursuits, in a whole variety of flavors. 

charlie and avi moved together, which is nice bc they've already lived together for years

Obvi most of my decision to move Charlie here revolved around general lifestyle for him -- like turnout. I've always tended to prefer large group turnout for Charlie, but it's increasingly difficult to find (land prices being what they are). And where you can find it, it's often done at the expense of the land itself. 

instantly at home <3 <3

That's honestly the biggest reason Charlie stayed where he was for so long --- straight up access to large tracts of grassy pasture. 

The new place is different in that it's predominantly paddocks instead of pasture, tho the paddocks are HUGE. And the number of horses kept on the grounds is an explicit function of what the land can support. For example -- there are at least another half dozen empty stalls in the barn. But mgmt will not fill those stalls bc the *paddocks* are already at capacity. 

these "paddocks" are unbelievable. relentlessly managed to ensure continual grass 

Paddocks are rotated carefully, with 1 of the 7 always vacant and resting at any given time. They keep 2-3 horses in a paddock at any given time, and in this way manage to continue growing grass through the season. 

all this, plus automatic waterers and a run in shed

That attention to detail, that careful planning and management.... It all honestly kinda hit me like a ton of bricks LOL, after years of... well... the absence of any of that haha. I was basically like, "Woweee, who do I make the check out to??" lol...

obvi they were quite interested in their mare neighbors, but even more interested in #datgrass

It is, in fact, a working riding barn, too. Charlie might be the only semi-retiree here. So you can expect to get a tour of the new riding facilities eventually. 

They are relatively humble in scale, but quite nice and complete. There's an attached indoor with nice fiber footing that gets dragged regularly. And the outdoor ring is actually pretty generous in size -- I estimate it's about the same size as the outdoor dressage court at the old place.

i haven't moved all my stuff yet, but the tack is transferred. just in case!

There are apparently trails, too. And every time I've been there so far -- whether for tours or actually moving in -- there have been a variety of people all out and about doing things with their horses. 

then back to doozy's barn for a bittersweet schooling ride

Honestly. I have high hopes. I have a good feeling. This farm is farther from my house than either the old place, or Doozy's future place -- but it's triangulated fairly conveniently between the two, such that if I'm already at one barn, it's quite easy to get on over to the other. So that's the plan for now.

she's still got a little time left at this farm, but these strolls are numbered....

It was easy enough to get back to the old place after tucking Charlie in for the night, and still have time for a wonderfully pleasant (and pleasantly productive!) jump school on the redhead. 

The times, they are a changin', folks! Still a little more time tho before I rip the bandaid off completely....