Last summer I took in a boarder, since I was desperate for income, I agreed to charge less per day for this boarder, $6.00 per day for care instead of my usual $8.00 per day, Yes, I think the care I provide is worth $8 dollars a day.  Over the course of 1 week, I knew I had made a mistake, the owner and I were just not horse keeping compatible. She was frustrated with my time line daily, and I was just frustrated with her. After agreeing to a reduced board rate, she began to add things which cost me more time… I had to soak beet pulp, I have to apply fly spray, I had to dress her horse daily in his little fly protection leggings, I wasn’t feeding him enough hay, my fences weren’t right(well, that’s not fair,, actually because they weren’t really up to snuff)  and the footing in my ring wasn’t soft enough…  so I got grumpy, and she became progessively more and more unhappy… and the icing on the cake, was after she left, my hay person told me that the new load of hay was more expensive per bale, so all summer I had been feeding her horse hay, for less then I was paying for it….  I made a decision not to take any more boarders, and basically I was ok with that.  Late in the winter, I began to ask around for a teenage girl who might want to trade work for horse time.  Maya showed up, she had lessoned with me for a short time, was riding somewhere else, but was willing to help in the barn for extra riding time…  A short while ago, she was offered a horse from a barn that was switching from being a lesson barn to a sales barn, this horse was Maya’s favorite, and she shared a special bond with her.  So, now I have a working boarder…and I still get to ride more, and Maya has a wonderful horse, and is a super happy dreams come true kiddo.  So, welcome Bella, you beautiful mare… wishing long rides, and happy days ahead.   As for the hay situation, I had to buy round bales to feed from, the weather has been damp and cold, the  grass is coming in , but very slowly,  so we will be on tender hooks, until the sun comes out, and the grass starts to grow… am beginning wonder about feeding my pasture grass, and fixing my fencing… the never ending chore.. but, now I have help… Off to hay.  k