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Veteran
Posts: 160
 
| For those that board their horses or that own boarding facilities, I have a question.
Do you charge/get charged additionally for putting horses on grass pasture?
To explain/vent:
I pay for self-care board at a facility with about 30-40 acres of grass pasture. We have one ~20 acre pasture, one ~5 acre pasture, one ~10 acre pasture, and ~5 acres divided into 0.5-1 acre runs. We have 22 horses on the property. 11 of those horses belong to 6 boarders (myself included).
Most of the self care horses usually run on one one of the three large pastures and full care horses or studs stay in the runs. This winter, the owners decided to put all boarded horses in the runs (each owner had one run) and plant ryegrass in the 5 acre pasture and half of the 20 acre pasture and refence the 10 acre pasture.
*Pause* IMHO, none of that work was necessary. All three pastures grew perfectly healthy byhalia grass that more than sustained all 22 horses for the past two years that I have boarded at this facility. And I don't feel like the 10 acre pasture was in need of new fencing. *Unpause*
Well, fast forward to this spring and the owners inform me that if I want to graze my horses on any of the larger pastures I would be charged an additional $200 for the work they did over the winter. Also: there is nowhere to store hay for my two horses that are forced to share a 0.5 acre run. I've boarded for 6 years and have never had this happen.
Opinions? Is this common? Am I wrong to be angry about this?
ETA: Self-care includes access to pasture, a stall for each horse, and use of the arena/round pen etc.. Owner is in charge of providing feed and hay on a daily basis. Basically, you pay for use of their facility and take care of your own horses.
Edited by horseshorseshorses 2014-06-05 12:19 PM
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 617
Location: London Ontario | I think that is stupid. When boarding out a farm, there are very few that don't include turn out on grass. If they didn't it would have been outlined when you moved in. That expense of doing all that is part of owning a boarding facility, and the board money each month is to pay for that.... |
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Veteran
Posts: 160
| MC1993 - 2014-06-05 12:44 PM
I think that is stupid. When boarding out a farm, there are very few that don't include turn out on grass. If they didn't it would have been outlined when you moved in. That expense of doing all that is part of owning a boarding facility, and the board money each month is to pay for that....
Thank you. That's what I was getting at.. Isn't the money that I pay for board intended for use in improving the facility? What is the money being used for if it's not being put towards the improvements that were made? I might use the lights in the barn for two hours a week and I can count on one hand how many times I've used the arena lights. My horses aren't even eating the grass the my board payments pay for. They're in a 0.5 acre lot losing weight eating hay that I pay for. It makes me go like this   |
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 A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
 
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | If your not happy there, start looking for another place to board, I dont how I would feel since I dont board, but I know that some places can be a bit more expensive then they should be. But I do know its alot of work having a boarding barn. |
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  Warmblood with Wings
Posts: 27846
Location: Florida.. | horseshorseshorses - 2014-06-05 1:58 PM MC1993 - 2014-06-05 12:44 PM I think that is stupid. When boarding out a farm, there are very few that don't include turn out on grass. If they didn't it would have been outlined when you moved in. That expense of doing all that is part of owning a boarding facility, and the board money each month is to pay for that.... Thank you. That's what I was getting at.. Isn't the money that I pay for board intended for use in improving the facility? What is the money being used for if it's not being put towards the improvements that were made? I might use the lights in the barn for two hours a week and I can count on one hand how many times I've used the arena lights. My horses aren't even eating the grass the my board payments pay for. They're in a 0.5 acre lot losing weight eating hay that I pay for. It makes me go like this
They have to have insurance, electric, taxes, broken boards fences upkeep, someone to mow , repair etc.. its not all cut and dry.. its their barn so they can do what they want basically.. or you can move.. just how it goes.. when boarding..its expensive to run a boarding facility.. is it fair to you? maybe not but they can do it..your board helps pay for all the other stuff to.. |
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 Queen Boobie 2
Posts: 7521
| horseshorseshorses - 2014-06-05 12:12 PM For those that board their horses or that own boarding facilities, I have a question. Do you charge/get charged additionally for putting horses on grass pasture? To explain/vent: I pay for self-care board at a facility with about 30-40 acres of grass pasture. We have one ~20 acre pasture, one ~5 acre pasture, one ~10 acre pasture, and ~5 acres divided into 0.5-1 acre runs. We have 22 horses on the property. 11 of those horses belong to 6 boarders (myself included). Most of the self care horses usually run on one one of the three large pastures and full care horses or studs stay in the runs. This winter, the owners decided to put all boarded horses in the runs (each owner had one run) and plant ryegrass in the 5 acre pasture and half of the 20 acre pasture and refence the 10 acre pasture. *Pause* IMHO, none of that work was necessary. All three pastures grew perfectly healthy byhalia grass that more than sustained all 22 horses for the past two years that I have boarded at this facility. And I don't feel like the 10 acre pasture was in need of new fencing. *Unpause* Well, fast forward to this spring and the owners inform me that if I want to graze my horses on any of the larger pastures I would be charged an additional $200 for the work they did over the winter. Also: there is nowhere to store hay for my two horses that are forced to share a 0.5 acre run. I've boarded for 6 years and have never had this happen. Opinions? Is this common? Am I wrong to be angry about this? ETA: Self-care includes access to pasture, a stall for each horse, and use of the arena/round pen etc.. Owner is in charge of providing feed and hay on a daily basis. Basically, you pay for use of their facility and take care of your own horses.
Do you have a written agreement that delineates the dollar amount you pay in board and what all that entitles you to?
At the least, I think it's bad business for them to change the "rules" so to speak, after an agreement has been made.
That said...ultimately, the best course may be to find a new place to board. |
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Sideways Riding Expert
Posts: 11371
Location: ND--it snows, it floods, it snows, it floods | If the bording agreement states that you have access to pasture then they should not be assessing another $200/month to the board...and for that matter that seems a bit excessive in my mind but I do not board so there you go. Another question is that $200 per horse or total? |
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Veteran
Posts: 160
| I agree with everyone. I guess I was venting more than anything. I have nowhere else to go, so I have to deal with what I have. I understand that the facilities have large expenses and they are the owners and can do what they want. I just feel cheated and want the best for my horses.. Which I can't give them right now.  |
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Veteran
Posts: 160
| docschic - 2014-06-05 1:20 PM
If the bording agreement states that you have access to pasture then they should not be assessing another $200/month to the board...and for that matter that seems a bit excessive in my mind but I do not board so there you go. Another question is that $200 per horse or total?
It's more of a $200 "cover charge" to "help with expenses." So, its just a $200 total. |
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Veteran
Posts: 160
| The owners consider the runs to be "pasture" since there's inch tall grass-fuzz covering it. If we don't want to pay to graze, we're supposed to provide hay... That they don't have the facilities to store. -_- |
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Sideways Riding Expert
Posts: 11371
Location: ND--it snows, it floods, it snows, it floods | If it's an extra $200/straight up then I would just eat it and pay it. Really you are looking at an additional $16.66/month for your boarding over the year if you break it down that way. |
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 Expert
Posts: 1218
Location: South MS | I will start out saying I board horses at my house, I have an extremely low fee for boarding but its the understanding that anything I do "we-boarders and I" split cost on it - I feel that was better for everyone as it kept their monthly cost low and they had to come out of pocket extra money when we do improvements but its not an ongoing cost
Most facilities charge 2-3 times what I charge - I use to board my horses and its easy to get upset about cost of things being charged to you but it cost alot of money to maintain a facility
I always tell people that if they dont like the way I do things they are welcome to move to one of the higher costing facilities where they dont change but I tried to keep cost low |
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 Can You Hear Me Now?
Location: When you hit the middle of nowhere .. Keep driving | I have boarded in the past and watched fees triple in 5 years to the point where I was paying more for my one stall then I was paying for 1/2 rent on an apartment I shared... There is a lot of cost in keeping up a farm, I know since we have owned a large one my entire life. I applaud them for doing upkeep because it's better to have it then have tired pastures, even if they look like they don't need it horses can do damage quickly. $200 isn't an outrageous amount either.
I have thought of opening up my large 80 acre field to summer pasture board but I don't know if it's worth it after upkeep... |
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 Fact Checker
Posts: 16572
Location: Displaced Iowegian | docschic - 2014-06-05 3:47 PM If it's an extra $200/straight up then I would just eat it and pay it. Really you are looking at an additional $16.66/month for your boarding over the year if you break it down that way.
I agree....if it is just a straight $200 fee for two horses, breaking it down to $8+ per month per horse.....They could have just raised your boarding fee more per month..... |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 962
| Planting rye grass or other cool season grass in Bermuda or Bahia is a common practice to improve nutritional quality in dormant pastures. I don't know where the person posing the original question was from, but the pasture improvement that you describe was probably well worth the cost to you if you supply the supplemental feed a horse requires in the part of the county where this grass grows.
Since I closed yesterday on the property near OKC that I intend to turn into a boarding facility, I have the information from insurance agents that says when we are up and running as a business, insurance will increase substantially. Plus utilities will increase dramatically as boarders utilize dark times, winter and summer, to care for their animals and keep them comfortable with electricity. Other expenses include pasture spraying and fertilization that has really gone up on price every year we have owned land in the south.
It doesn't seem fair sometimes that just "turning your horse out on growing grass" should cost so much, but if the boarding facility owner doesn't make a profit, there is really no need to put up with extra work and expense of making sure boarders have a nice place. If you like your deal otherwise, I would stay put. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 464
| If the rye grass saved you from feeding hay, I'd happily pay it. If I didn't have another place to take my horse, I'd also happily pay it. |
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Hungarian Midget Woman
Location: Midwest | It is their property. I would either pay them or leave if you disagree with the charge. |
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Common Sense and then some
Location: So. California | What do you currently pay per horse? The additional fee is $100/month per horse right? Depending upon what your current rate is, that may or may not be acceptable.
And you always have a choice where to board. You may not "like" your choices, but there are always options... |
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Warmblood with Wings
Posts: 27846
Location: Florida.. | Anniemae - 2014-06-07 2:51 PM What do you currently pay per horse? The additional fee is $100/month per horse right? Depending upon what your current rate is, that may or may not be acceptable.
And you always have a choice where to board. You may not "like" your choices, but there are always options...
No it is a ONE time fee.. Only.
pay it... |
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