How to Board a Horse

How to Board a Horse

Regardless of whether you plan to own a horse for pleasure riding, companionship or for competition you’ll need to decide where the horse will live. It doesn’t come as news to horse owners that this is one of the most crucial decisions that you will be making as a new horse owner.  The place that your horse will live will determine the type of care that it receives which will then impact on the horse’s health, temperament and general well-being.

Sometimes people choose to board their horse because they simply don’t have the land needed to properly house and exercise the horse. For people with land, the decision may be more difficult – they don’t have the time to care for the horse properly, they don’t have the ability to bring in the heavy feed and bedding or they aren’t located near a proper vet or farrier.

In addition, horses are social animals. Horses become lonely and depressed when they’re not in the company of other equines. Even if the horse has plenty of food, space and care, if it’s on its own, it won’t thrive like it will when it’s around other horses.

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In such cases it makes sense to board a horse in a quality stable. The owner can visit the horse and ride it at his or her leisure but when that doesn’t happen they will have the peace of mind in knowing that all of the horse’s needs are being met through the stable staff.

How to Find a Boarding Facility

It’s not cheap to keep a horse on your own property but boarding is more expensive. Some of the costs are the same in both locations — feed, blankets, hay, grain.  The time needed properly care for a horse is another expense that is an issue in both locations. When you factor repairs and maintenance to the barn where your horse is residing, plus the time needed to feed, curry, exercise and care for the horse’s health and well-being, you start to realize that a boarding stable’s costs aren’t out of proportion.  

Here are some pointers for horse owners or potential owners who are looking for a boarding facility.

Reviews and Feedback

Solicit reviews and feedback from other horse owners. Crowdsource to find a stable that’s safe and loving. In addition to food and regular grooming plus access to a farrier and vet care you should look at the boarding facility’s trail access and indoor area for exercise during inclement weather,

You should also think about the horse. If she’s sociable, you may want her to have an open, airy stall with lots of contact with the neighbors. If she gets spooked easily or isn’t friendly she may do better in a stable that offers her more quiet and seclusion.  

Budget

Review your budget. Obviously, you can’t buy a horse if you can’t afford to keep it properly. But there are a wide range of budgets for boarding facilities so you should compare and contrast. Above and beyond the basics, do you really need a private turnout area? Is unlimited free-choice hay or a blanket-changing service necessary? Meet with the barn owner to decide what works for you.

Location

Consider the boarding facility’s location. How long will it take you to get to the stable so that you can visit your horse? Does the travel time differ according to rush hour traffic? Is the stable close to your riding buddies so you’ll have company on your rides?

Search

Keep your eye on equestrian publications to check out the stables’ ads. Don’t neglect the crowdsourcing options – ask other horse owners who live in your area for their recommendations. You can ask for input online and offline, through social media and chat groups. Talk to farriers and veterinarians who work in the area – some won’t make recommendations but others will. Attend events, clinics and shows in your area and chat with the other attendees.

Research

Ask questions. Some of the questions that you should be prepared to ask include

• Is a staff person onsite 24/7 to care for emergencies?
• Who is in charge of the daily care of the horses? Can the staff person on call be reached at all times?
• Can you bring in your own farrier, veterinarian or trainer? 
• Is there room to park a trailer?How much storage space is allocated to each stall?
• What is the turnout policy and schedule? Is there an option for a customized schedule? 
• How does the stable handle deworming? Can you make your own arrangements?
• What services are included in the boarding fee? Will the facility take care of “extras” (visits to a farrier or vet) for an extra fee?
• Is there a pest-control program in place (manure removal, feed-through fly control, predator wasps, vegetation control, etc)
• Can you supply your own hay and other feed? Will that affect the price? 
• Does the barn host programs, private lessons, programs or events that may result in restricting your access to your horse?

Tour

Take a tour. Pay attention to the following:

• The barn: Is it clean, dry and well ventilated? Is there a smell of ammonia? That may indicate ventilation problems or the existence of mold. Are there safe, well-lit, covered areas to handle or groom your horse? Do you see fire extinguishers?
• The stalls: Are the walls free of splinters and nails? Do any rubber mats lie flat? Do you see holes or low spots in the dirt floors? How often are stalls cleaned? Is there enough bedding? Water? Is the watering system automated and if so, is there a backup?
• The paddocks and pastures: Do you see shelter and shade for all horses at all times? Is the fencing safe and sound? Is manure cleaned on a regular basis from the fields? Are there weeds or toxic plants? What is on the other side of the fence—this is important if a horse should escape. Ask about drainage to prevent mud and standing water in the wintertime.
• The feed storage: Is the hay and other feed kept in rodent-proof bins? Does it look and smell fresh? Does the stable maintain a feeding chart to track information about each horse’s diet or medications? 
• The arenas: Is there a schedule governing the use of enclosures by boarding horses? How does the footing look? How is it maintained?
• The tack room: will there be enough space for all your items? Can you secure your equipment with a lock?

Most importantly, note how the horses look. Obviously, a horse might be sick but the majority should have bright eyes and elude a manner of calmness and contentedness.  

Contract

Once you’ve chosen the best facility for your and your horse’s needs you’ll sign a contract with the stable. The boarding arrangement should be detailed in writing. The more details that are spelled out in the document, the better.

Minimally, the contract needs to state the following clearly:

• Monthly cost
• Services provided
• Termination policy

You’ll find examples of boarding contracts online that you can use an example.