This question for horsey zoos is pretty straightforward: how have folks gotten safe, relatively routine private time in with their four-legged partners? By "safe", I mean "with very little chance of being spied on". And I don't mean just for the sake of intercourse...I'd prefer to feel safe - and not be afraid of being judged as a creep - for wanting more physical closeness and time to hang out with a cherished equine partner than "normal horse folks" might think is appropriate.
Equines (and other large critters, too, I guess) are not like dogs, and people with an interest in them face interesting challenges...privacy is a rare commodity when lots of other people, including you, are helping to take care of or work with a whole herd at a boarding stable or breeding facility. Barns are not made with zoos in mind.
I realize that the best answer is "get your own land and your own barn," but that is much easier said than done. There are a lot of things that can get in the way of that dream, first and foremost among them, money. Especially in places where horse property is not exactly cheap and easy to find. Life does not always serve all of one's needs.
So, given that, how have folks dealt with this issue in the past, and do they deal with it now? Have people worked deep into the night to get time, after hours, still mucking out and cleaning up after everyone else has left? Is routine or even semi-routine, but predictable private time too much to ask for, and is it mostly opportunistic in reality? Am I missing something entirely?
What has been a functional arrangement that has allowed people to be close to their partners without arousing too much suspicion?
Unfortunately it's incredibly difficult to find that kind of safe access unless you have your own property. Getting private time at a boarding stable can be done, but it's extremely risky. My advice is to find an individual with horse property who would be willing to let you board a horse or two on their land. If you can find this kind of arrangement it's relatively easy to get plenty of privacy with your equine partner. Get to know the property owner's schedule and plan your extracurricular activities around it. Having a reasonable excuse to see your horse later in the evening is also very helpful. There are still risks involved, but they are minimized simply because you do not have to deal with mutiple boarders and barn staff showing up unannounced. Oddly enough, one of the best ways to find this sort of connection is to work at a larger boarding stable and get to know the boarders. There are a surprising number of horse owners who keep a horse at a larger stable, but also have their own property.
Huh, that is very interesting. I would have thought that if someone boarded, they wouldn't have their own barn, and vice versa.
Like given the option of keeping horses on your own property or boarding, you'd do one or the other but not both.
I guess I'll do some searching and see if there are any smaller or larger boarding barns near me that I haven't heard of yet...maybe chat with folks at my current barn. Thanks for your advice!
Many folks who have their own property but keep horses at a boarding stable do so for training purposes. It can be a lot more convienient to board a horse you are training rather than trailer them back and forth every time you take a lesson. This also allows the trainer to work with your horse when you are not around. Most of the people I know who do this, ride once or twice a week, but have their trainer ride/work with their horse every day.
I was lucky that at my boarding stable there wasn't a lot of people.
That must have been nice! I envy you...
Buy a large(r than needed) trailer.
It is your horse. It is your trailer. You can trailer your property where-so-ever you want when you want. You can take a break at a location you want. If that happens to be a forlorn parking lot on a side road to a back road behind an abandoned and overgrown shopping center, that's, well, your decision. You can stay in your trailer during the break for how long you want to have your break...
Just don't rock it too ostensibly :P Make sure it's a safe location nevertheless. And while it is nobody their business, a good cover is to find a very very nice riding out area at a distance that requires to trailer there. If people ask where you go all the time have that (actually existing) spot handy. Or something similar reasonable.
If someone actually does come calling you are just looking after your horse during a break.
Be very, very careful about this.
Horses are very valuable to their owners or caretakers, either monetarily or emotionally, and I've known a few owners that may possibly have even been zoos themselves for the intense possessiveness they had towards their horses.
And horse theft is not unheard of, same with abuse by stable-hands and caretakers. All that put together means that if you push for private time with your crush, you will fall under scrutiny. I would definitely make surprise visits on any employee of mine staying after normal hours. I don't trust people's intentions and I'm the most open-minded in my whole community. Some of these ranchers carry rather large black-powder revolvers with them at all times and brag about their willingness to use them.
And there are always hidden cameras. I use them. Everyone I know uses them. It's a tool to catch and prevent abuse or theft, so most stable owners don't make them public knowledge.
As much as you don't want to hear it, you should get your own land and horse.
Good advice. To be clear, I'm not saying that I'm interested in other people's horses. I was more asking for the sake of when I do get my own.
Also, since when do people carry black powder revolvers of all things for property/self-defense? I'm not disputing that they'd be armed, but are these ranchers all cowboy action shooters or something?
I think it's a local thing that caught on. I can't relate and I'm not a lover of guns but I keep one because certain environments and lifestyles demand it. But it's not a black powder revolver, that's just silly. But I wouldn't say anything like that to their faces.
I am a horse zoo but only 18 years old so far. As I want to be safe as possible with an equine partner I plan nearly my whole life on how to get the needed property asap. Therefore I study to get a well-paid job and would prefer losing some luxury standards in order to be with a mare.