Truthful Tuesday: The one with the winter plans

I was driving home last night from picking my pups up at their grandma's house and I realized how much has changed in the last year or so. September of '18 I had two horses and could ride neither. Rio was retired and Jampy was recovering from a rather serious laminitic episode. Here and there I'd grab a ride on my friend's horse Bradley (or Big Brad as I like to call him):

I also was getting to ride Eddie right around that time.

And even did a couple horse shows!

But the Seidman herd was small. I had just sold Badger, so it was just Rio and Jamp at home.

 We added Eros to the herd, but he lived at the boarding barn. Who would have thought how much change was in store for the coming year? I sure didn't.

Fast forward to now. It's like a fresh start I guess. All new horses.

Artwork by @artastride

And the biggest change of all is happening for the winter. (But fear not, life goes back to normal come April!) I've made the decision to board both Shiny and Pammon for the winter. It was kind of an agonizing decision (I know, complete first world problems.) I really enjoy taking care of my horses, seeing them everyday, and having control of every aspect of their care. But most winters we have to stop riding around mid December and often aren't able to start again until March or sometimes even April.

Because Snow.

This was fine when I had older horses. But having a 6 and 12 year old, I feel like they don't need such a long break every year. Shiny would get so fat, I think she might pop! And I'd like to get Pammon rehabbing as soon as he's able rather than wait an extra few months. This way, hopefully, we'll have a chance at a show season next year.

 I've been thinking about this for awhile. Originally the plan was just to bring Pammon in for the winter. He would have taken Fefe's stall when she heads south for the winter. But then he got hurt. So I decided I would take Shiny over until Pammon was ready to start back to work and then switch them out when he was ready. But then I lost Rio. Which would have meant bringing neither horse in for the winter or both. I don't want one home all alone. Horses don't like to be by themselves. And let's be honest here... We don't need more horses!

So this is today's confession: I'm taking the easy way out this winter and boarding my horses. I'll have a lonely, empty barn at home. But I'll get to keep riding and lessoning all winter, and maybe will actually have some free time to get my house cleaned up and decluttered. Part of me feels some kind of weird failure by making this choice. But mostly I think it's a good plan. And if I change my mind, I can always take them back home. It's only a 7 minute drive to the barn. Nothing set in stone that's for sure!

Finally will actually put a horse in that trailer on the bottom!

They agreed to let me supply my own grain so I don't have to change their diets. And the care really is good over there, even if we sometimes clash on how we like to do things. I use the same vet and farrier they do. (Mostly, one of my vets doesn't work over there, but I can always bring the horses home for his appointments or just wait and schedule them for spring. I also think I can use my own if I want to.) So that's the plan! Fefe leaves sometime around the end of October/beginning of November and then Pammon and Shiny will move over.
Have any of you ever wintered someplace different so you can use an indoor? How did it go?