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Elite Veteran
Posts: 658
  
Location: Bessmer City NC | thinking about allowing a friend to board her horse at my place... what do you pay/charge and whats included? any info is greatly appreciated!! |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 1182
Location: Do I hear Banjos? | Not to be negative right out of the gate...but I did this one time...and won't be doing it ever again.
Horse was a nice mare...friend was a nice girl. Initially she followed the set agreement and supplied all feed/hay and came out regularly to work with and groom etc. But over time more and more I was having to buy feed and use my hay because the owner "got busy" and couldn't get out that week or whatever excuse. She meant well. But since she had someone feeding the mare she didn't feel motivated to come out all that much. It was far more hassle than it was worth for me. I didn't want to charge her much because she is a friend...but that was a mistake on my part i suppose. I basically had another horse to feed and care for thaty didn't belong to me. I work full time and didn't need to be spending my time caring for another horse. That cuts into my time with my horses.
Also...the mare got injured on a trail ride (she took the mare to ride somewhere and got her leg cut somehow pretty badly). I ended up being the one to treat the wound as I was home to do it and she couldn't get out there enough to medicate the mare as needed. Just a hassle I didn't really need/want.
I ended up advising her to take the mare to a real full care facility so she wouldn't have to worry about buying her own feed etc. And it wouldn't matter so much if she didn't come out but once a month. She could pay them to set up farrier visits and groom etc if she wanted. It was better for her horse and our friendship.
Just my experience. It may work well for you.
Edited to add the bit about the wound care. Not a big issue as she did pay for the medication etc. But I didn't want to charge for my time. As a friend I did it...but I think about it now...if that had gone badly and not healed...that might have caused issues with us...who knows.
Edited by TrailGirl 2014-07-08 11:08 AM
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 Veteran
Posts: 275
| Sorry, but I have to second the negative experience. Kept one for a friend that was supposed to be a short time and turned into 4 years. The horse was a dink in the pasture to my other horses and you realize how often they don't come see their horse.
Also, I was worried when I would take all of my horses somewhere and only had her horse left at home. We only have pasture so I always worried about injuries and the horse getting through the fence if it was being silly left alone. I would not do it again. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1079
| I wouldn't do it again either. Way too much that can go wrong. Likely could end a friendship. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 324
| Third bad experience-- hate to be negative as well but the girl was a friend of mine. The mare was nice enough we boarded her I fed the mare everyday. All she had to do was pay $120 per month to cover board and help with hay. She never came to see the horse and sometimes let her go weeks without feed. I had to start supplying the mare with feed. We'd address it with her and all she have were excuses. She fell behind on board about 3 months worth when she put the horse up for sale. We ended up buying the mare for 500 under the asking price just because that's what she owed us from the 4 months shed been there. The mare was fat and had zero manners. She's came around but definitely won't be letting anyone board again. |
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Hungarian Midget Woman
 
Location: Midwest | Number one, DON'T DO IT
lol... I know a lady that's been screwed over MANY times by non-payers, folks that don't show up, etc.
I pay 365/month- which is a lot- but not much more than other places in the area, and it is WAY nicer than other places in my area. (It's a boarding barn) www.stoneyrunfarm.com/index2.html
They feed hay/grain 2X daily, have daily turnout on LARGE grass pastures for 10 hours per day, have an indoor arena and an outdoor that are kept dragged and watered and have good, deeper footing. They put on and take off fly masks. The horses' stalls are NEVER dirty. They will change blankets and spray fly spray, and feed my supplements. They maintain the facility and fix anything that breaks. The horses all have automatic waterers. They supply all feed, hay, and shavings, and it is very good quality.
I just moved there, and I am VERY VERY happy. It is mostly an english rider barn, so they also have jumps, but I brought my barrels to set up. They also have a pseudo cross country course in the large back pasture with a few lower jumps.
Personally, I would not board someone's horse.... it always becomes a PITA. JMO
Have them sign a liability waiver, sign a copy of your barn rules, and sign a boarding contract.
Edited by barrelracr131 2014-07-08 11:32 AM
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 Party Reptile
Posts: 1545
Location: Magnolia, Texas | I'm that person (the one keeping mine at a friends place). So for what it is worth here's my 2 cents. The first place I kept my mare was nice, great barn, not so great pasture. I did all the maintenance on the fences, kept the water troughs (sp?) cleaned on a weekly basis, fed, watered, hauled hay and arranged for the farrier. I started off paying $100 a month for 2 horses, but because of all the work I was doing she knocked it down to $50 a month. I did this mainly becuase she sucked as a horse owner but I was desperate for a place to put mine. This allowed me to maintain the enviroment I wanted my horses in and the quality of horses around mine (health). It was a bonus for her because she had new born twins. I would come by in the mornings and feed about 4:30 AM, she would wait until about 7 and go turn them out. Then I would come back at 5ish and feed, clean the stalls and turn them back out and get everything ready for the morning. I only asked her to feed once or twice in the 2 years I was there and each time she failed to do it, so I never asked again. If I had to be out of town or something I paid someone to go feed for me. Just didn't trust her.
The place I am at now is far better and my horses are much happier. Again this a friend and she is wonderful. She charges me $25 a month. I provide all my feed and hay (I did that at the other place too). She works from home most days so she feeds for me in the mornings and I feed in the afternoons (weekends included). The horses are on pasture 24/7, they come under the run in side of the barn to eat and then go back out. We often trade off feeding is one of us has to be out of town or if something just comes up. She's great about texting me if something is odd or just to let me know my horses are ok, and I do the same when she is gone. I absolutely love being there. I'm very careful not to over impose myself. I make an effort to keep things neat and tidy, water clean, etc. I want me being there to be a positive experience for her. There were never any set rules or contracts, I just treat her and her place like I would expect to be treated.
Hope it works out for you if you decide to offer up your place. |
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 Expert
Posts: 1701
| I had board at a "friends" place once, that last about 2 mos. Won't do it again. The place I am at now, I have been there for nearly 4 yrs and I am VERY happy. |
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  Dog Piling Expert
Posts: 5868
Location: Elkview, WV | I'd also suggest not doing it. I have my sister's mare at my place right now. She is renting a barn but this mare has COPD and can't be stalled, ever. So now it's got me stuck with just having one horse and being paranoid of said horse getting injured establishing dominance with her mare. Also, I can't leave stall open for my gelding when weather is bad so I have to guess ahead and put him up or leave him out.
She does do morning feeds when she's not working mornings so I rarely have to do those. She also will feed when I'm out of town and help feed evenings if she did work mornings. But not sure the hassle is worth it. If it wasn't that it was this particular mare, I'd tell her to move her.
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 Veteran
Posts: 109
Location: Ky | If you aren't running a full boarding facility already, I would advice NOT doing it. We have a 28 stall barn and we've had those "friends" come in and treated them just like you would expect to treat a friend.. a good discount, expecting them to pitch in every once in a while. Doesn't happen. We worked out an agreement once that we would keep a horse for free as long as our friend helped with cleaning stalls, putting up hay, etc. When it came down to hay time, he was playing church league softball. When he came to feed in the mornings, for some reason, his horse was the only one who got water, and when it came time for the farrier to come, we somehow ended up paying his bill until he got the money to pay for it. I'm not saying that boarding friends is ALWAYS a bad idea, just consider what may go wrong if you do. |
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Expert
Posts: 1543
Location: MI | I am very skeptical and quite resistant to boarding for friends/relatives again. My husbands aunt had 2 horses at our place. She was 'working off board', and at first came when we needed her to, but soon was full of excuses. And ALWaYS at least 1 hour late, even when I 'adjusted' the start time an hour. She also rarely worked her horses, I mean, maybe 1-2 times in the 7 months. Which was frustrating because then I was teaching her 4yo unbroke Arabian manners when I needed to move him. And he became so glued to my mares side it was frustrating! I would much rather preserve family and friend relationships and 'just say no'.
Edited by Ridenrun4745 2014-07-08 4:15 PM
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 911
Location: Durango CO | I board my horse at a place where my best friend is the boarding/facility manager and the property is owned by a mutual friend of ours. It is just pasture right now with simple facilities. They are planning on building a barn by next fall.
I pay $50/mo for "full care" board which includes my horse being fed grain, hooves cleaned, and general care and has free choice minerals available. I am at the facility 5 days a week. Currently my horse is on stall rest and is being taken care of for an extra monthly fee. I do not pay much and my best friend takes care of my horse. There are maybe 15 other horses on the property and myself and another girl are literally the only ones that consistently come to the facility, yet a few other horse owners are asking extra of my friend/ranch manager. I don't know if or what she is charging them to do so but I have a feeling she is not getting a fair deal out of it. I signed a board agreement and I stick to it. Anything else that I need or want for my horse is up to me to provide and prior arrangements need to be made if I need extra care for my horse.
The facility that I am at was basically set up on a friend basis but the rules are the rules and my friend(s) will not hesitate to law down the law or kick ppl out. If you think the risk does not out weigh the reward and if you feel you can treat it as a business then you should not have a problem. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 512
| Let me add a positive experience! I am SO thankful a friend of my husband's family allowed me to keep 2 horses at there farm when I moved from Minnesota to North Carolina. They are not a boarding facility but they stepped out in trust and let me keep my horses there. My horses have stayed there for 2 years and we just recently bought a farm and are planning to move them in August. My husband and I are very responsible though. We go out every night if not every other evening. We pay $150 per horse and they supply hay, grain, and full care. They have an arena and have treated us like family. We also pay on time or early and help in anyway possible. I would have never been able to bring my horses to NC without this family. It can be a good situation but unfortunately the lazy, irresponsible people in the world wreck it for those who are responsible. I would use your discernment. Get insurance! And get a very strict monthly contract and charge enough to make it worth your time. If the person already appears untrustworthy, than run! |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 356
| Blueridgedreaming - 2014-07-08 4:37 PM Let me add a positive experience! I am SO thankful a friend of my husband's family allowed me to keep 2 horses at there farm when I moved from Minnesota to North Carolina. They are not a boarding facility but they stepped out in trust and let me keep my horses there. My horses have stayed there for 2 years and we just recently bought a farm and are planning to move them in August. My husband and I are very responsible though. We go out every night if not every other evening. We pay $150 per horse and they supply hay, grain, and full care. They have an arena and have treated us like family. We also pay on time or early and help in anyway possible. I would have never been able to bring my horses to NC without this family. It can be a good situation but unfortunately the lazy, irresponsible people in the world wreck it for those who are responsible. I would use your discernment. Get insurance! And get a very strict monthly contract and charge enough to make it worth your time. If the person already appears untrustworthy, than run!
This!! Before you agree to it, think about the kind of horse owner and person your friend is. If they have a track record of being very honest and responsible, and you trust them to come out regularly, then I would say go for it - with a WRITTEN agreement covering every minute detail! If they tend to be flaky, always full of excuses or you dislike how they care for their horse, I would avoid it. |
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Veteran
Posts: 264
| Be careful!! I moved into a new barn and was so happy with the care and treatment my horses were getting. It eventually turned into a great friendship (which is awesome) but I noticed because we are friends, now she expects me to feed, water and clean quite often. I have no problem helping a friend out, BUT remember I am paying you to take care of my horses.
Honestly I would look at your overall relationship with this person, how they take care of their horses, and then treat it as a business deal. It can get messy quick. :-/ |
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 Expert
Posts: 3815
Location: The best kept secret in TX | They always say don't lend family or friends money unless you just want to donate to a cause... I believe it goes the same for boarding and friends.
I've been offered multiple times to board for $150/Month for BOTH Horses at a friends nice place with everything you could imagine needing... I value our friendship more than the incredible deal tho. I know someone would get their feeling's hurt. It isn't worth losing a hauling/riding/chocolate eating partner over... |
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 Mature beyond Years
Posts: 10780
Location: North of the 49th Parallel | I actually have a positive story about this, shockingly enough. I had major knee surgery and wasn't able to ride so my dad's boss and his wife offered to keep my horse for free/$50 a month for hay, as they also needed a buddy for their one horse. There were some moments in the winter I wasn't sure about how much hay my horse was getting (they aren't really horse people) but in the end it worked out. I also was out there at least once a week. They never had to worry about my horse. The only iffy part is I fired the farrier she was using after he did crappy job after crappy job, so I'll just haul to someone I trust. I am at a different place right now, closer to my house as their house is 60 miles one way and I work until 6 pm everynight and just found it so hard to ride without an arena and so far away but I'm sure I'll be back there come winter as I need to focus on school. I got lucky with this arrangement but I can see how it could go south in a hurry. |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 331
Location: Loma Linda, CA | I had my horse at a friends place and it worked out well. I only moved cause another friend wanted someone to ride with (I regretted that quickly). And that person came in-between me and my former friend. :(
But, the agreement I think was like $100 a month, I provided hay or if I was busy then she'd buy the hay and Id just pay her back.
My mare got injured on her property and I was in a tight spot and she even fronted me the money for the vet bill which I hastily paid back (I think it was a few days later when I got paid).
She cared for the horses, I helped clean poo sometimes. It worked out well! She even hauled me to barrel races sometimes. :D But now I live in another state with my gelding that was originally at her place and he is in an actual boarding facility.
I'd say it 'can' work but have clear expectations.
Are you going to feed/clean?
Are you providing hay?
I think for simplicity sake it'd just be easier to do that (if you have the time) and charge for it... Charge whatever the hay cost you plus like $100 for board? |
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 Reaching for the stars....
Posts: 12708
| I have had a friend boarding her mare(s) (one sold spring 2013) here for the past 3 years. She has been a friend and my animal caregiver when we have been away for 10 or 11 years now. Her dude died in the middle of shoeing a horse, leaving her with her (then) 4 year old son, her two horses, and a large cattle operation to shut down. I stepped in and told her to bring her mares over and go get everything else taken care of without worrying about them. She has always paid on time, even loaned me $$'s last year for a load of hay when my finances were at their worst when I was unemployed. She has helped me ride my 3 (tough to do when working full-time). Yes, there are times when we don't see eye to eye on 'things.' But we're never so far off that we don't each learn from the other. It's been great having her here. I just wish I could get her to go ride Zan at a show! LOL! She thinks she has to be able to do good before going, and I keep telling her that's what exhibitions are for. Someday. |
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 Expert
Posts: 1367
Location: mi | Here's my 2 cents. Follow the advice of really thinking about what kind of person this friend is as far as paying their bills on time and just in general handling life. If all of that is good. I would do it.
I would NOT do a self care type situation. That is when things tend to go south. I would provide all feed and feeding and turn out and stall cleaning and charge accordingly. It really depends in what part of the country you are in for pricing. I sit down and figure what my horses get for grain, hay, bedding on a monthly basis then add in what it would be worth to you each day to have the extra work of an extra horse and add that in. Round up as you will have a tad more electric and maintainence with an extra horse on the farm.
I have friends come up and board in the spring as I have a small indoor, when its not nice enough to be riding outside yet. Their horses are out all day and in at night. I figure between feeding and turn out/in and stall cleaning each horse adds on 15-20 minutes to my work time in the barn.
Sometimes they get here before I am out to the barn and will clean a stall or 2. I always thank them as it is a big help. They don't have too but they are happy to have a relatively inexpensive place to come to for a couple months and I appreciate a little help here and there. It works out well for us. If it was year round it might be too much or I might charge more for my time, when they leave I am happy to see the horses (extra work) go. But I do appreciate the little bit of extra income while they are here too.
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