What To Look For In a Stable

In my last blog, I wrote about what makes a good boarder. I must have struck a nerve, as I had a lot of feedback and shares on that post!

This week, I want to address what a horse owner should look for in a stable, whether they are looking to board their horse or they are contemplating keeping their horse at home.

If you are going to board your horse, you want to get the best care for your horse. We know that horses are not cheap, and if your horse is being fed an inferior quality hay or grain, the money you think you are saving will more than likely go towards vet bills, as cheap hay or feed can result in colic, poor performance or other health issues. Broken fence boards that are not repaired, holes or rocks in the pasture can result in injuries, while toxic plants can be fatal to your horse. All horse owners need to be able to know that the barn where they choose to leave their prized possession will be in capable and knowledgeable hands! If an owner of a horse doesn’t know anything about horse care, how will they know if their horse is in capable hands?

As a potential boarder, here are some questions to ask:

• What is included in the boarding fee? Is a deposit required?

• What additional charges are there?

• When is board due, is there a grace period and is there a late fee?

• How can I pay my board bill? Check or app?

• Are outside trainers allowed?

• What are the barn hours?

• What kind of hay and grain is provided?

• How much hay is provided daily?

• What is the feed schedule?

• Can I request a special diet?

• How are supplements fed? Is there a fee for providing them?

• How often are water buckets and troughs dumped and cleaned?

• Are horses turned out individually or in groups?

• How will my horse be introduced to their turn-out with other horses?

• What will the plan be if my horse doesn’t get along with his new herd mates?

• What is the turn-out contingency plan in the event of bad weather?

• Where can I store my tack and equipment?

• Is there a restroom?

• Where am I allowed to ride?

• Will there be any times that the riding area is off limits?

• Do lessons take priority for arena time? Or is the ring shared?

• What are the barn rules?

• What is the policy on dogs, children and visitors?

• Who will be handling my horse? Are they experienced? How long have they been employed?

• What are the rules regarding parking my horse trailer?

• Where can I ride off site? Are there trails?

• What is the longevity of boarders?

• Is there a fire and disaster plan? Are there drills?

• How do you handle emergencies in case my horse is hurt or sick?

• Is there a fee to hold my horse for the vet or farrier? Can I use my own vet or farrier or must I use the barns?

• In the event of the death of my horse, what is the barn protocol for handling the body?

• Who is responsible for damage caused by my horse?

• Is there a boarding contract?

• Am I required to provide proof of insurance on my horse?

• How many days must be given if I leave?

When shopping for a new barn, consider a barn’s location, travel time, amenities, and your budget.

The new horse owner will benefit by boarding at a stable where the staff is knowledgeable and lessons are available. If you are considering keeping your horse at home, and are still new to the horse world, it would still be beneficial to initially board your horse while you gain experience.

A good boarding stable will offer plenty of turn-outs, with adequate sized paddocks and pastures, safe fencing and weed-free grazing areas. Ideally, barns should have more areas for turning out then they have horses, so that pastures can be rotated often. Horses are physically and mentally better off with more time spent outdoors, socializing with other horses, grazing, and just being a horse! Barns should take into account the mental well-being of a horse, just as much as they care about their physical care.

Things to consider in turn-out time include whether the horses will be in small or large groups, grouped by sex or in mixed herds, and how long they will be turned out for. Will there be quarantine paddocks for new or ill horses? Stallions, mares & foals and weanlings, as well as senior horses and those recovering from an injury or illness will require special accommodations.

The horse owner should know what type of turn-out situation their horse does best in, whether it be in a private setting or with other horses. Barn managers should be flexible when determining what turn-out works best for each horse. New horses should be introduced slowly to group settings and watched to ensure no injuries occur.

Horse owners should also understand that some horses take longer than others to settle into their new surroundings, while others walk into a new barn as if they have been there their entire life! Again, the mental well-being of horses should be considered, especially when a horse is expected to leave behind friends, whether of the four-legged or two-legged kind and thrust into new surroundings. When my new horse Chance arrived last month from Maryland, having traveled over 15 hours, I gave him several weeks to adapt to the new surroundings, as well as the heat of Florida (although we were still in the 30’s & 40’s at night here, I knew it was still much warmer than where he was coming from, especially with a thick winter coat) before I asked him to do anything.

Horses that are stalled for long periods of time are at a higher risk for developing ulcers or taking up boredom-fighting vices, such as cribbing. Horses with long turn-out time and access to fresh water and good quality hay are at less risk of developing a multitude of physical problems, including sand impaction, because the combination of movement, water and good hay will aid in flushing sand out of their system.

Water should be clean, and fresh. Stick your finger in the water…is it hot or cool to the touch? The horses should have access to good quality hay or be able to graze on decent grass, grain should be of good quality and not an “All Stock” type feed. The hay and feed should be stored properly so as to not risk contamination from rodents or becoming moldy.

These are just a fraction of what boarders should look for when scouting for a boarding stable. For more details, check out my book Buy Common Sense Horse Keeping

In my next blog, I will turn the table and talk about what makes a good barn owner/manager!

Buy A Horse Book Day is May 10, my birthday is May 12, and it’s Mother’s Day weekend….so be sure you are following me on social media for updates as to specials for that week!

Don’t forget to hug your horse!

Lori