|
|
 You get what you give
Posts: 13030
   
Location: Texas | I hate having to board mine at school. I can't turn out exactly when I want, things aren't on my terms, its just a pain. I board at a great barn and it is convenient for sure, but I miss having them at home. | |
| | |
 I Chore in Chucks
Posts: 2882
 
Location: MD | Thanks for your opinions!
We are in between a rock and a hard place. I would prefer them at home, but boarding makes a lot of sense on paper. Unfortunately so many boarding barns that are full of drama, bad practices and big egos kind of sour you on the really great boarding barns! Hopefully if that is the route we take we can find the best place possible. | |
| | |
 Money Eating Baggage Owner
Posts: 9586
Location: Phoenix | I mean, the end goal is to own. But if I own, I want the whole nine yards: arena, roping chutes, round pen, truck, trailer, turnouts, pastures. At this point, I'm ok boarding because I don't have the $$ to get what I want. Luckily I've found a place that keeps pretty good care of my horse and it's nice because I can travel. Or if I'm tired after work I don't need to go feed. | |
| | |
Red Bull Agressive
Posts: 5981
Location: North Dakota | stayceem - 2015-10-15 11:12 AM cavyrunsbarrels - 2015-10-15 8:54 AM As someone who has never owned horse property but been at several boarding barns, I would prefer to own. Boarding is great in some ways. The barn is heated, the indoor arena is heated, indoor wash rack, 2 outdoor arenas, and a round pen. I don't have to worry about buying/storing hay. Or getting up early to feed, clean stalls, turnout, etc. I get to use the BO's theraplate. The barn manager who lives on site is also my farrier and his wife does massage. Since Cash and I are trying to break into the mounted shooting world it's extremely convenient that weekly practice as well as a few competitions are hosted right at my barn, so no trailering necessary.
There are a lot of positives. But it does have a couple downfalls for me that make owning horse property my main goal. First, my barn is a half hour drive away (and I will be moving to the other end of town next year and will be even further away!) I spend so much freakin $$$$ on gas and so much time in the truck that I don't like. The distance makes it very difficult to get out to the barn every day, and that's a problem. You see, I'm a CONTROL FREAK regarding horses. I want to be in charge of every aspect of their life. I want to design their living quarters, I want to clean their stalls MY way, I want to feed them, I want to be in charge of where their hay comes from (my barn buys sh!t quality hay). My horses are my children and I want to see them every day and have them right there at home. ALSO it seems all the boarding barns around here have 3 board options: 1. Stall at night, small run during the day 2. Small run with shelter 24/7. Turnout in a huge herd on 20+ acres. I'm a STRONG believer in keeping horses turned out as many hours as possible with room to graze and run but Cash is a wimp and is beaten to a bloody pulp if I turn him out in a herd. Not to mention the pasture is so freakin massive and hilly that it can take a good half hour just to bring them in. If there was boarding in a more reasonable sized field with only a few horses together, then boarding wouldn't be nearly as bad.
My dream is to have a small barn, maybe 4 stalls at the most, but make it perfect. Everything designed for horsey and human comfort. I couldnt agree more with this post.... kinda creepy how you took every word out of my mouth. (I think we're the same person ) I board at a great facility who truly love my horse and I know I could never afford that facility and all the amenties but I cant wait to someday own my own place. There are things I would do differently if I didnt board. I spend a lot of time in the car and money on gas going to see him at least once a day. I dont travel a lot and horses are my life so it fits me to have them at home. To be able to ride whenever I want and go brush and love on them whenever I want. But from what you're describing, I think boarding is more appropriate.
Haha great minds think alike  | |
| | |
The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| Crowned Image - 2015-10-15 12:35 PM
Thanks for your opinions!
We are in between a rock and a hard place. I would prefer them at home, but boarding makes a lot of sense on paper. Unfortunately so many boarding barns that are full of drama, bad practices and big egos kind of sour you on the really great boarding barns! Hopefully if that is the route we take we can find the best place possible.
Why not do both?
If money is not an issue, have your horses at home, when you go travelling, have it set up with a boarding facility to drop them off for the week or two you will be gone.
There are horse rehab places that do weekly board, so your horse would be subjected to a spa while you are on holiday, win win for each. | |
| | |
 Poor Cracker Girl
Posts: 12150
Location: Feeding mosquitos, FL | Given the chance to do it over again, I would board hands down IF I found a good barn. You could go out of town at a moment's notice. If you run late or something comes up and you don't get home til late, the horses have already been fed. You don't have to run down the hay man to deliver hay or drive to go get it. You won't spend your time fixing the innumerable things that break, maintaining fence lines, dragging the arena, etc ad nauseum, instead of riding your horse.
| |
| | |
I Chore in Chucks
Posts: 2882
Location: MD | cheryl makofka - 2015-10-15 3:18 PM
Crowned Image - 2015-10-15 12:35 PM
Thanks for your opinions!
We are in between a rock and a hard place. I would prefer them at home, but boarding makes a lot of sense on paper. Unfortunately so many boarding barns that are full of drama, bad practices and big egos kind of sour you on the really great boarding barns! Hopefully if that is the route we take we can find the best place possible.
Why not do both?
If money is not an issue, have your horses at home, when you go travelling, have it set up with a boarding facility to drop them off for the week or two you will be gone.
There are horse rehab places that do weekly board, so your horse would be subjected to a spa while you are on holiday, win win for each.
not to sound really dumb here... but I didn't even know this was a possible option. | |
| | |
Veteran
Posts: 270
| I have been on all three sides of the fence. My dad ran a boarding facility when I was in high school but for the most part, we've always had ours at home. There was some drama between some of the families/kids that were there but nothing major, we kept it a low key atmosphere. When I got married and moved out, I was blessed enough that we found a small place that could accommodate my two although it only gave me the pasture to ride in. We lived there for 12 years but just recently moved and I'm having to board while we build our house.
I miss having them in the back yard because like others have said, they're there for you to do whatever whenever. On the flip side, it's nice having trails, an arena and round pen and I enjoy having other people to ride with because my hubby nor my son ride so I always rode by myself at home. It's also nice that when we want to travel I don't have to get my dad or neighbor to take care of them while we're gone. The negatives, like everybody has said, the driving back and forth stinks, especially when they are sick/ injured. I lucked up with the farm they're at. It was a friend of a friend. She lives on the property and doesn't really advertise so she only keeps around 10-15 horses and takes excellent care of them. If you can find somewhere that's very laid back and does it more because they enjoy it rather then to see how much money they can make, I think it makes for a nicer place to be. You just have to decide how much and where you want to put in the work for your horses. Either way requires time, work and money just in different aspects. Hope this helps some and good luck with them!  | |
| | |
 Don't Wanna Make This Awkward
Posts: 3106
Location: Texas | Crowned Image - 2015-10-15 6:48 PM cheryl makofka - 2015-10-15 3:18 PM Crowned Image - 2015-10-15 12:35 PM Thanks for your opinions! We are in between a rock and a hard place. I would prefer them at home, but boarding makes a lot of sense on paper. Unfortunately so many boarding barns that are full of drama, bad practices and big egos kind of sour you on the really great boarding barns! Hopefully if that is the route we take we can find the best place possible. Why not do both? If money is not an issue, have your horses at home, when you go travelling, have it set up with a boarding facility to drop them off for the week or two you will be gone. There are horse rehab places that do weekly board, so your horse would be subjected to a spa while you are on holiday, win win for each. not to sound really dumb here... but I didn't even know this was a possible option.
If money was not an option this is definitley a choice. Most boarding barns will take horses on a daily rate
Im gonna be the odd one out and say board.. I travel a lot too and it would not be possible for me if my horses lived at home. I board with someone who I had known for many years and I am a very flexible person myself. You have to be flexible/open minded when boarding. Im lucky because im the only boarder at my place so I don't have all the drama which is excellent. I definitley reccommend asking people you would trust if they are interested in letting you board there horses. The last place I boarded at was the most prestigious place in town. It had been privately bought as it use to be a boarding barn. I tried to find out who owned it for years, one day they put "hay for sale" sign up, so my dad started buying hay from them, after a few months we brought the proposal of boarding up and the lady liked us enough and let our horses move in. That was one of the best decisions of my life. I've found so far that if you board at someones house and they aren't trying to make income from you than your horses will typically get excellent care. | |
| | |
  Witty Enough
Posts: 2954
Location: CTX | Easy, own.... I use to board, and I love the barn owner. She is a good friend, so when we have to travel I can still bring the kids over. But I dislike the drama that is involved.... When there are 3-4 or more (typically) women involved there is always drama.....
Also, I am very OCD about everything that has to do with horses (or the biggest control freak as my DH calls it...) so I like to have everything done in a particular way.... And when you board that is mostly not an option....
What I really hate though is the fact that you have to lock everything away... Or people will use it. Not talking about stealing it, but using it and not putting it back the way they find it.... I work hard for my stuff, and I like to keep things nice. But I have found that some people don't care, especially when stuff is no theirs in the first place....
So, I would own, and see if you can hire someone to take care of things when you are traveling.
| |
| |
| |
Folks on-line