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 Money Eating Baggage Owner
Posts: 9586
   
Location: Phoenix | I'm bringing my horse to me in November and will have to board my horse. I've never had to do this. What are some good things to look for when I visit the property? Good things to ask? Must-have features? Please share your tips and past experiences, if you don't mind. ;) |
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 Veteran
Posts: 209
| Boarding is sadly a necessary evil. I have been burned many times by facilities and pulled my horse out in a hurry. Good things to look for, look at the condition of the other horses there that will give you a bit of an indication on the care the horses receive. Look at the hay they are feeding. Look at the feed room to see what they are feeding and if horses are getting supplements ect. Also seems a little odd but look at the arena, are there things left out that people don't put away? Its always a pain to clear the arena and pick up after other people, this includes poop in the arena! Good things to ask would be how much horses get fed, how often, do owners live on site, what is the procedure for seeing an injured horse, also ask how many different people do chores. I have found the more different people do chores people do it their own way and if they have horses there some may get fed more ect. Must have features all depend on your preferences and your location. If it gets cold or rainy often an indoor is a must if you live in a milder climate then perhaps not. Some people like their horses stalled at night others its all what you want. If you do stall your horse ask what time horses get brought in for the night and turned out. Hope that helps!
Edited to add: Ask about what the monthly board cost includes, some places will blanket and feed supplements at no charge while others will charge you usually monthly for that.
Edited by Lyric203 2014-10-15 9:47 PM
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 Big Gun
Posts: 2216
Location: Texas | Ask about epm |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 1119
| Try to get to know the owners/other boarders a bit beforehand. See if it's a place where you want to spend time and people you want to spend time with! |
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 Not Afraid to Work
Posts: 4717
| I agree with the above...
Cant think of anything outside those suggestions. |
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 A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | Ask if all the horses that are boarded are up to date on their coggins test.
If you bring your own feed and hay, or does the barn buy it.
Edited by Southtxponygirl 2014-10-15 10:31 PM
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  That's White "Man" to You
Posts: 5515
| I'd also ask what vaccines they require. |
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 I Chore in Chucks
Posts: 2882
Location: MD | Non-negotiable "features" for me
Good Fencing
all of the other horses look well fed and cared for
safe pastures and stalls, if you choose to stall. you never know when your horse will get hurt and needs to be stalled for awhile
The area seems horse friendly I.E. not a pile of rusted metal posts, or crap everywhere
Some questions I like to ask:
How often is someone here?
In case of an emergency, can I work out with someone to take care of my horse?
How much space will I have for tack, given they have a space for your tack?
What is provided, how much hay is given to each horse, do you ensure everyone gets to eat?
Be prepared some of the best little places don't come off as much but the horses get the care and attention they deserve. And some places will fool you with how much they actually care for your horse.
I've only ever boarded and have bounced in the last few years so I've become a mild professional at quizzing the people that will be watching after your horse.
I went to a reputable barn and didn't ask my normal questions because I knew several girls there and assumed that it would all be kosher. That barn was so strange. One side of the stall barn you got 12 hours of grazing on the round-bale included in your price. the other side you had to provide your own hay. I couldn't find a manure pit and then I finally ask someone and she said, "oh everyone just dumps their stuff from their stalls out in the gelding pasture. Sure enough I go and look in the gelding pasture and it's a swamp of stall horses feces 50 feet deep that you have to walk through just to get your horses in and out, if that's not a thrush breeding zone I don't know what is!! You had to drag the arena yourself after you were done. You would think that this was a cheapy barn right? I was paying $375 per horse! I did all of my own darn chores because I lived within walking distance, The lady literally never had to touch my horses, or care for anything. I would even help her so she could get home to her family. Needless to say after getting beat down with that price on three horses I was done.
go in cautiously! and remember every barn is different! Best of luck to you!
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Expert
Posts: 1226
| We board a few horses and have a waiting list to get in. Not all boarding places Are evil. I do agree with that there are a lot of bad ones out there. Also agree with make sure everything is spelled out in boarding contract I mean no grey areas. Too many things can happen and you don't want to be in middle. We treat boarded horses like our own and have a great group of people that board. |
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Veteran
Posts: 277
Location: North texas | I have always had to board:
Look around for a few boarders and talk to them. How long have they been there? Lots of turnover in boarders or staff?
Ask what TIME the horses get fed at. This has been my biggest gripe at stables. I would come to ride mid morning or late evening my horse had not been fed yet! Talk about an unproductive ride when all the other horses are then getting fed while your horse is having to work.
How often do they drag the arena?
Go when there has been a lot of rain and see what the drainage is like.
How do they pick pasture buddies? All turned our together ? No fun when your horse is getting beat up every day with no other turnout options. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 762
Location: NC | Ive always boarded as well and I agree with all these thing. Also ask what the hours are. Some barns are closed on certain days or dont like if you come in late or early. This also ties into if your showing how much of a hassle it will be to get in early or come in late. |
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 Undercover Amish Mafia Member
Posts: 9992
Location: Kansas | Keep your tack locked up, keep an eye on your feed, make sure your horse is vaccinated. And if you can.....clean your own stalls...it's cheaper |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| Have everything in writing, stall cleaning schedule, turnout times, feeding schedule, and the amounts feed, what is included, what is not, and what payment is for extras.
Do a contract |
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 Sock eating dog owner
Posts: 4557
Location: Where the pavement ends and the West begins Utah | Bring your own feed. Feed your own horse. Water your own horse. Never leave hay or grain or tack. |
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A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | cow pie - 2014-10-16 3:06 PM Bring your own feed. Feed your own horse. Water your own horse. Never leave hay or grain or tack.
I have never boarded my horses but if I did this is what I would do.  |
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 Playing the Waiting Game
Posts: 2304
| If you have always taken care of your own horse. GOOD LUCK. My personal experience has been, Don't expect a boarding facility to do things like you do... It just isn't going to happen. Hope for the best, expect the worst, and Pray it all works out...
Maybe listen to the people that have had to board more often than gotton to care of their horses at home. |
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 Veteran
Posts: 151
| I had my horses at home for 30 years. When I moved to CO I had to board for two years while we were building. I found out that I am not good at boarding!
I tried two places. The first was brand new...super nice. Each horse had a 12X12 loafing shed and a 60X60 pen. Indoor arena, 3 outdoors. I was the first boarder they had and had my run of the place for quite awhile. What I learned quickly is that they had very little horse experience, and they had lied about that. The 5th time they called an emergency vet out because my horse was rolling and they thought it was colicking, I left :-(
The second one was more of a problem for me than the horses. I am NOT a social person at all. I want to go out, ride my horses and be left alone. That place was a cliquey hot mess. If you didn't gossip and trail ride and spend your time socializing they went out of their way to be nasty and mean. The day I got met at the barn door and screamed at "Whooooo is your farrier" I was done.
Sorry, that was not very helpful! But might help you with what not to look for :)
If ever had to board again, I would try to find a private small property with good folks and not a lot of others. In fact, I think asking around or knocking on a few doors wouldn't be a bad idea. |
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 Warrior Mom
Posts: 4400
| I currently board and I opted for self care. Wouldn't want it any other way. I clean feed and take care of everything myself. We pretty much have our own area on the place away from the main barn and boarders. I like it. |
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Money Eating Baggage Owner
Posts: 9586
Location: Phoenix | Thanks for the responses...makes me dread starting the process. :/ |
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A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | hammer_time - 2014-10-19 1:38 PM Thanks for the responses...makes me dread starting the process. :/
Good luck to ya |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 678
Location: Canada | Here are my recommendations:
Visit the facility and ask for references:
*Ask about the experience of the owners of the facility (do they just like horses or have they owned/shown ect.)
*Ask who their vet is and do they have a good relationship
*Ask who is responsible for booking vet and farrier
*Ask what vaccinations are required and what proof you have to provide.
*Ask what their deworming schedule is and who is responsible for deworming
*Ask about extra costs (blanketing, unblanketing, fees for holding horses etc) This can be costly.
*Ask to review their Boarding Agreement - this is important to protect you and your horse.
*Ask what their insurance covers (if you horse is on indoor board and something terrible happens for example a fire)
*Ask what insurance you need to have. Make sure you have insurance because anything can happen even in the best facilities.
*Ask what their hours are and if there issues coming earlier or later on show days.
*Ask if there are lessons required or not?
*Ask what the policy is for arena use. Can you set up barrels anytime or only certain times etc.
Hopefully that helps you a bit. |
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First time boarding a horse.....tips??