Lothlorien Stables

I consider myself a "backyard horser", meaning I don't show or compete any more, I just like to ride and spend time with my horses. As such, deciding on a boarding facility was a different experience for me and my husband than it may be for many other people. When trying to choose a place I considered location, accommodations, and my own needs/expectations. I chose to board at Lothlorien.

Location - very close to my home, almost like actually having my horses in my own backyard.

Accommodations - Nice barn, more stables currently under construction, nice arena and round pen. The arena has excellent footing and drains completely - even in the dead of winter. The synthetic material is the same as what was used on the track at Bay Meadows. It's not slick, sloshy, or squelchy in the winter.

Needs/Expectations - I needed the board to cover hay feeding twice a day (it does). I grain my own horses once a day because I enjoy seeing them once a day. When I go out of town, the owners grain for me if I ask them to.

Since I don't show or compete, I really didn't want to board at a large facility where many of the boarders are part of the show scene. I didn't want my every move and decision to be scrutinized, nor did I want to "sign up" to use the arena or round pen (who is really organized enough to know what time they will need the arena tomorrow?). I wanted more of a "laid back" atmosphere.

The owners live on the property - that may mean different things to different people. To me, it means that if something goes wrong with one of my horses in the middle of the night, I get a phone call immediately. And it means that someone else knows what's normal for my horses and can quickly identify if something is wrong. Recently, when fires threatened the area, one of the owners called from out of town and offered me the use of his trailer to evacuate my horses if necessary.

Having owners who live on site also means that their daily lives happen there - they ride dirt bikes on their property and celebrate special occasions at the barn. My horses aren't bothered by an occasional bout of dirt biking, and if I show up to ride, the owners put the bikes away until I'm finished.

This is a small and laid back family-owned facility. My husband and I have been invited to impromptu barbecues, kids birthday parties, and weekend holiday parties. The people are friendly and generous. It's a perfect fit for me and my horses.