My parents offered to build a barn for me at home when I was a teenager. After thinking it over, I decided I'd rather keep boarding. It was mainly because I had lots of friends at the boarding barn and I enjoyed riding/hanging out with them everyday, and without that, I think horses would become more work than fun. Not that I still wouldnt love it, but there would be a bit piece missing that made me happy. Plus, they were bitches and kept me from getting sloppy! We were all friends, but still competitors and we kept each other on our toes, all trying to become better than each other. Plus, I simply don't have the knowledge base that a professional does, and there's always the whole not having to worry about anything when I go on vacation bonus. And if it's 100 degrees or 0 degrees and I don't FEEL like doing barn chores, I never have to!