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Doggy Diaper Designer
Posts: 2322
 
Location: WI | I'm tossing around the idea of possibly opening up my house to a couple borders I'm wondering about different experiences you've had is it worth the hassle or not |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 555
 
Location: In the rockies. | Set up rules and boarding contract.
Be VERY PICKY!!!!
Good Luck!!! |
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| We had a boarder for probably 6 months and had a good experience. Her horse was a little rough on things, but hubby is handy and didn't mind having to fix a couple things here and there. She just recently moved him and hubby would like to find someone to fill her spot....but I'm still hesitant on the whole deal. If they were all good boarders like she was, I wouldn't mind. |
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Expert
Posts: 2678
Location: Mi | NO!!!! Would be my first thought but we've boarded a select few for several years and have been very lucky to have gotten good boarders (well most of them). Most have been people we knew prior, some have not. They know up front we have a no BS policy and if they become a pain they are GONE! We've only had to ask one to leave. If you're not trying to do it as a busniess, just board a few type thing, be choosey and its not bad. My biggest problem I have now is there are days you just want to come home and go out to the barn in the piece and quiet and those seem to be the days the few boarders we have, ALL want to be there lol |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 380
| As long as you do not invite drama or craziness, you should be fine. And that goes both ways. I board and have had no issues. The barn owner is very nice and helpful. We have a basic contract. Never any drama from anyone at the barn, including the owner. Don't be afraid to boot someone if they become disruptive to your atmosphere. Deal with disagreements privately and professionally. |
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 Expert
Posts: 2097
Location: Deep South | I am currently boarding 5 horses for 2 different owners. It is self-care, pasture board only. So far all sides have been extremely pleased. No drama, no hassle. They both signed a boarding agreement I found online. They've paid on time. It's plenty of land for the number of horses and GOOD fence, we haven't had an issue with damage yet and I think that's the 2 biggest factors why we haven't.
If these 2 choose to leave, I would do it again for the same situation.
I think you start getting into a lot of drama with a higher number of boarders. Shared turnout spaces, shared common areas, etc. There are several high volume boarding barns in my area and it seems like no one is ever happy there, always complaints of drama.
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Married to a Louie Lover
Posts: 3303
| I had to board for the first 20 years of my horse owning life, only being able to move them to my now husbands farm just over a year ago. So I appreciate those who board horses.
Would I board? No, not with our current setup.
With the right setup? Perhaps, carefully selected boarders with an understanding of what we do and what's expected of them.
Talk to your insurance too, you will likely want to expand your liability coverage and that cost could make it not worth it for just 1 or 2 boarders. |
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 Expert
Posts: 3815
Location: The best kept secret in TX | I would ask for three references, one from the current vet, one from a past boarding facility, and one character reference and follow through with calling those references.
Remember to have them fill out an emergency contact list (With three forms of contact to reach them at) and to write down steps one through whatever in case an emergency happens and you cannot reach them.
For example if a horse gets caught in wire and you can't get a hold of the owner you need ot know whether or not to make a farm call to a vet or to transport. You need written permission to spend their money with their vet basically. That way they can't come back and say they didn't authorize you to call and try and charge you the bill. You can pull out the instructions they left and note that you followed them correctly. Always write down times in emergency situations. Time you found the horse, time you called, left a voicemail, etc to reach the owner. How long you waited for a phone call back before calling the vet (I wouldn't wait longer than 15min) and when the vet arrived. ALso note the time when the owner called you back and make notes as to what was said in the conversation.
Also, If you are a full care facility write down times that you feed, what you feed, how much you feed, etc. Note the times you turn out, bring up, etc.
Invest in cameras that are pointed at each entry point of your property. Put a camera inside the tack room and on each stall and aisle. Make the boarders aware of the cameras and have them sign a privacy notice about the cameras.
If the boarder misses a payment or grace period by one day send out a certified letter informing them of missed payment. Inform them that they have 24 hours to pay. Send out another certified letter informing them of eviction and follow through. In the letter, give them a time and date to gather their things and inform them that if they miss this appointment all property will eb sold to cover their board. If they are not there at the time and date set by you (take into consideration their work schedule, etc. And do not allow them to change the date or time without proof, ie a text or letter.) then all property left behind becomes yours and you can sell it to pay their board and fees. Make sure you have a peace officer at your property when they come to retrieve their things. Sounds harsh, but you can't fall victim to things like: "I'll pay you next week" "I'll come get my stuff when I can" "I will pay you when I can." "I'll bring feed when I can." No. That's not how you run a business. You can be a nice barn owner and still demand respect of your property and time by your boarders.
Paperwork and keeping things organized are your best friends!! |
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 Born not Made
Posts: 2937
Location: North Dakota | Depends.
When I moved back after finishing school, I ended up boarding my two horses with a retired couple (4 horses of their own) who had never boarded anyone before. And we were strangers to each other. I like to think I was a good boarder, and they were just awesome. I moved my horses about a year later only because we built a house and were going to be too far away from them for it to make sense for me to keep boarding there. We are still good friends and go ride together once in a while, as busy lives allow! I'm a very picky person but so was she, and we were picky about the same things so it worked out very well.
Where I board now .... my only complaint is the fences. They don't exactly keep them in the best repair. (I've gone and fixed portions myself, because it wasn't getting done.) But they are very nice people, they have a nice outdoor arena, and it's SO close to home and work. My time is very valuable (and limited).
I had a basic boarding contract at the first place, but don't have one where I am now. As a boarder, I have no problems with a boarding contract. Or if someone would ask for references.
I would agree with everyone to be picky about who you board. I myself am not a drama person either, so I would not do well with that.
You could always invite them to go trail riding first or something. Sometimes that gives you a good indication of the type of person they are like, and if you would get along well.
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Industrial Srength Barrel Racer
Posts: 7268
| Not to me! EONS ago, I managed a large boarding facility in KC and it was a NIGHTMARE. I thought it would be my dream job - HA!
Definitely have a good contract. |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 595
Location: North Dakota | I have to board my horses due to having no family who have the ability to keep horses so I appreciate good people who board. I manage the barn that I am at. I have boarded here for 13 years and was at a few places before that but I was younger and don't remember much about those places. We keep just 4-8 boarding horses plus mine and the owners horses so it is pretty low key. We are super picky about who we board and don't hesitate to ask problem people to leave. We do not require a boarding contract to be signed but if I owned the place I probably would. Once I get my own place one day I do not plan to board. It is not worth the hassle in my mind. Even just the few boarders we have can be a pain in the butt. |
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"Heck's Coming With Me"
Posts: 10797
Location: Kansas | We boarded a few. Having the owners come and go as they pleased did not fit the bill for me. Hard to get them to pay sometimes and being "given" their horse in return for the unpaid board bill sucked. I didn't want their horse. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 747
| It all depends on the type of boarder you get in. We have 2 boarders who have been in our barn for well over 15 years. One of them only has 2 horses but pays rent on 4 stalls simply because she doesn't want anyone next to her. The other also has 2 horses. They provide the hay, grain, and clean their own stalls, we feed night and morning and turn out when the weather is nice. We opened up our barn to a few additional renters a few years ago, and lets just say they are no longer in our barn. The one stole stuff out of my personal tackroom (our renters have their own tackroom) and also out of my trailer. Then, he proceeded to say he didn't do it, but "if I did do it, I would have done it like this." The other renters we have acquired over the years have moved out because they didn't understand the costs and time commitments of owning horses and wanted out of them.
If you do open your place up to renters, be choosy about who you allow in. Definitely ask them for references prior to letting them move in. |
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 ...Dot Dot Dot...
Posts: 2062
Location: SW New Mexico | I've been boarding since 1994..
I've had a few really good boarders..
But.....
I've also have had the worst.. right now , I have 1 middle aged man who thinks he's a a cowboy because he went to cowboy school and bought a decent horse, yet doesn't ride.......and 3 middle aged obese women who are living their girlhood dream by buying horses they cannot ride.. because they think horses are big dogs, and if they fed treats, the horse would love them..lol
I've got one that especially gives me anxiety.. because she owns a green broke 12 yo Spanish Barb mustang..that has dumped her 6 times..but she knows everything about horses... Arghhhh.....
I do pay extra for insurance..but having boarders like that(I have 3)..make me hide in my own home when they arrive..it's like having toddlers..or herding cats..no savvy.. forgetting tack, dropping trash..
No..it's not worth it..but it pays bills for me.. so I endure...
Thanks for letting me rant.
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  Warmblood with Wings
Posts: 27846
Location: Florida.. | The only time it was worth it to me was in Wellington (Palm Beach).. big bucks..and seasonal.... any other no. |
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Doggy Diaper Designer
Posts: 2322
Location: WI | Thank you all. Thinking I'll just pass on the idea. Too much headache sounds like. |
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