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 Too Many Irons in the Fire
Posts: 1724
  
Location: Augusta, KS | I'm trying to help fill up the barn I manage. We've got 36 stalls, mare/gelding pasture, private, or semi/private paddocks. We also have an indoor arena, it's super long, but only maybe 100ft wide. So ideal for showing or dressage.
I've considered trying to have an open arena for other people in the area, but I'm not sure how I can do that while keeping all of our boarders happy. In the spring I thought about having an open fun show (of course with the different dressage levels, jumping, pleasure classes, Ect.). The owner is already doing a special where you get you get 1/2 off first month boarding with 6 month contract.
I need some other ideas. We're only at half capacity now. The owner is a kindergarten teacher and does do beginner lessons for kids. We also bring in a highly qualified jumping/eventing trainer every week for lessons. |
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Veteran
Posts: 199
| What kind of service do you offer your boarders? Full service? And what does that include right now?
To me your post is not about trying to bring in more boarders, its just trying to get the public in a private barn. If you have about 18 stalls filled right now, how many horses can the indoor safely hold? I would be a bit miffed if I was paying board and go out to ride, only to find that the arena was at full capacity with people that are not boarders.
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Too Many Irons in the Fire
Posts: 1724
Location: Augusta, KS | Full service, yes. Fed twice or three times a day, daily turn out in private or semi-private paddock, put on/ take off of blankets or boots for turnout, feeding of supplements, Ect.
The indoor could hold 10-15 depending on type of riding they're doing. It's over 300ft long. It never, ever has more than 3-4 people in it at a time. A lot of our boarders don't ride regularly, and a huge group come out during the day. The evenings aren't packed by and means.
There is also a large, lighted outdoor with great sand footing. It can be used all year pending temperatures.
Edited by runningkc 2013-11-26 6:53 AM
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  Shipwrecked and Flat Out Zapped
Posts: 16390
Location: DUMPING CATS AND PIGS IN TEXAS :) | I'm not sure if this is an option, just a thought I'm throwing out. Have you thought of doing sale prep for the different sales in your area. Yearling sale prep here is big. |
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Shipwrecked and Flat Out Zapped
Posts: 16390
Location: DUMPING CATS AND PIGS IN TEXAS :) | Again, just bouncing ideas here.......how about having a colt breaker there? I have such a hard time finding someone to break my colts. Offer colt work a month at a time, but, also, let people have the option to get two weeks of work too.....like two weeks of round pen work or something like that. Offer halter breaking, desensitization......I would offer packages like a spa if that makes sense......teaching to load, trim and clip.......foaling out mares.....offer groomimg (like the people that take their dogs to get clipped and groomed) pamper their horse......
I'd make a flyer and go hand it out at events with the services you offered. Have a farrier day. Bring your horses and we'll get them trimmed for you....
Edited by LRQHS 2013-11-26 7:05 AM
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Hungarian Midget Woman
Location: Midwest | If you are looking for more boarders (I am assuming they wish to cater to the H/J and dressage crowds), I would take nice, professional quality photos of the property and facilities. Set up a website, advert on horseclicks, equine now, etc etc and if you have a local horse organization, advertise there.
Put up fliers in your local farm and fleet store, as well as any local tack stores if you have them. Take fliers to local shows in the area and post them... also post fliers in any local equine expos.
Hosting schooling shows is an excellent idea. Another is hosting clinics with local clinicians.
I don't think open arena would be a good idea. That will irritate your boarders (which can be finicky, especially the H/J and dressage folks). If you have jumps and a cross country course, make sure to include photos of those as well.
Make sure the photos are taken during a "green season".
That's all I got right now, LOL |
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 Expert
Posts: 1367
Location: mi | You also might try to find a trainer to rent out some stalls. If it's that nice of a faciltiy there might be an up and coming trainer that needs to rent a barn still and this might be a nice steady income and with a pen that large shouldn't bother any of your current boarders. And I am talking more of a horse trainer then a people trainer. That way they are not taking up arena time with lots of lessons but more they are there all day working clients horses with maybe the client coming out once or twice a week for a lesson or to just ride with them.
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 Bulls Eye
Posts: 6443
Location: Oklahoma | I used to manage a boarding facility of 90-100 horses. I offered blanketing, turnout, lunging, feeding supplements, holding for vet/farrier. I also arranged monthly vet clinics for my boarders. Prices for the services need to reflect where you live. I managed in San Diego so the prices were higher. I also watered and dragged the arenas weekly. I did 5am checks, 7am checks, 9am, 12 noon, 2pm, 4pm, 7pm, and 9pm checks. |
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Meanest Teacher!!!
Posts: 8552
Location: sunny california | think about the complaints that boarders tend to have and make sure to address them. I am not talking about complaints you may or may not have. I am talking in general.
complaints that I have heard from people that board:
they nickle and dime me for every little service
they do nothing to curb theft
they allow the place to get run down and unsafe
they do not feed the supplements provided as scheduled
they allow so and so with a very strong personality to make it uncomfortable for the other boarders.
they feed low quality hay, they don't feed enough hay
One problem I have had with trainers. they don't discount for me to provide my own hay. I have one allergic to alfalfa and that is the only hay provided. so i paid a full bill and had to buy $25 timothy hay on top of it. which much of it ended up being fed to the trainers horse!
do not allow a trainer to come in with a poor work ethic. I know one gal that had a decent boarding facility but she allowed a trianer in that was taking money and not riding the horses. she should have stepped up and tossed him out. |
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 Warmblood with Wings
Posts: 27846
Location: Florida.. | I would not do a open arena personally.. and 10-15 riders in arena at one time is alot.. so more would be making boarders mad. 100 ft wide isnt that much for that many riders.. to be trying to work their horses..
with differant people coming and going.. it would make me nervous.. as far as theft, illnesses, the ground being beat up etc... |
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 Over Informed
Posts: 5372
Location: West Tennessee | Have different levels of board available if you don't already.
Encourage boarders to work together if they're only a lower board level -- for example: pasture board only (if owner's feeding they feed their own), pasture with a stall (but owner feeds, mucks their own stall, etc) -- then encourage boarders to share feeding, bring in, turn out duty. If it's working for everyone, their more likely to recommend the place to others.
Do what you say you're going to do -- word of mouth will either make or break you.
Treat everyone equally & fairly
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Bulls Eye
Posts: 6443
Location: Oklahoma | Make sure anyone handling other people's horses (ie you, trainers) carry trainer's insurance. It was the policy at the barn from the property owners where I managed. |
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