Boarding Your Horse

Save money and time with sound boarding decisions
by Angel S. Gnau

In these times of high feed and fuel costs, horse owners may find themselves rethinking their boarding situation. If you keep your horses at home, you are at least one step ahead, but if you do board your horses, there is hope!

Consider finding a boarding stable closer to your home to save on gas and time if your current stable is more than a few miles from you. Maybe you can save money on boarding costs if you do some of the work yourself, like cleaning your own stall. Some boarding stables offer flexible options for feeding, cleaning and turnout. Perhaps you can barter for part of your board by trading work or services, giving lessons, cleaning, feeding, babysitting or even house-sitting when the owners are away.

A Change for the Better
If you are considering switching stables, what should you be looking for? The obvious criteria are location, cost and goals, not necessarily in that order, but you don’t want to give up quality care for a lower cost. To get started, make a list of what is most important to you. Don’t forget to add a list of questions to ask the barn owner or manager.

A few key things to look for once you arrive at a boarding facility:

First impressions
Are the stables and grounds clean and organized? Are the horses happy and healthy? Do the workers seem content? Do the horse owners? Upon closer inspection, is the entire facility in good repair and free of missing boards, protruding nails, wires or objects lying around? Is there a fly control system? Is there good drainage for wash stalls and around the barn? Are the stalls or paddocks roomy enough for your horse to be comfortable and lie down? Are stall floors level or are there holes and dips?

· Feeding
Ask what type of feed is provided: alfalfa, grass, timothy or oat hay, or a combination. The type of hay offered will depend on your area and what is readily available. Don’t be afraid to ask to see the feed supply to check for good quality. Do they feed cubes or pellets instead of hay? Will they feed grain or supplements that you provide? Are salt licks offered? What times are the horses fed, and are they fed twice a day, three times a day, or some other schedule? In the wild, horses graze all day long, eating smaller amounts. Today’s horses often live in stables and rely on cut hay, generally consuming more feed at one time. Eating too much rich food per meal can cause colic or laminitis if not monitored carefully.

· Cleaning
What is the stall cleaning schedule? Is it provided or are the horse owners responsible for their own cleaning? (Here is one of those barter points mentioned earlier.) How often are the paddocks cleaned? What type of bedding is used? This might be important if your horse has allergies or a tendency to eat the bedding. Do the floors have rubber mats or deep enough bedding to prevent sores? A clean, well-bedded stall is important to your horse’s health as well as keeping the facility smelling good. Are the caretakers respectful of the horse while cleaning?

· Horse care and turnout
Does the facility offer turnout or pasture time? Are they willing to groom your horse (expect added fees) if you are unable to provide care during an illness or absence? Are worming and basic health care provided, or is it up to the individual owner to provide these services? In a herd situation, are the horses all wormed and immunized at the same time?

· Record keeping
Does the barn manager keep records on each horse, including special needs, vet, dental, and farrier care and general information about the horse? Is anyone but the owner of the horse allowed access in your absence? Attention to monthly billing and details concerning each individual horse is a good indication of the commitment of the stable owner and ultimately, the care your horse will receive.

· Riding interests
You will probably feel more comfortable at a barn where other riders share similar riding styles and interests to yours. If pleasure and trail riding is your thing, look for facilities that have trails adjacent to or within a short distance of the barn. You may not want to board at a big show barn if you are only interested in pleasure riding. If you are a hunter or jumper show rider, you will want to find a barn that caters to English riding and has jumps available. Make sure you will be able to use the jumps, and that they are not just for the trainer to use.

· Hours of operation and safety
Inquire about the hours of operation and security. What is their policy on guests and flexibility concerning open hours? It may just be a matter of notifying the barn manager in advance if you plan to have visitors or if someone will be coming in to care for your horse if you are ill or otherwise indisposed. Are signs posted concerning smoking and safety? Are there posted rules and regulations on the property? Are the rules too strict and confining or too lenient?

· Boarding contract
Ask if there is a boarding contract and if you can have one to take home and read. Having an agreement helps establish what is expected of the boarder and barn owner, helping to avoid any misunderstandings. It also shows a measure of professionalism and commitment to the running of a horse boarding operation.

Take the time to research each facility thoroughly. Get to know the owners, managers and workers. After all, you are entrusting your best friend to their care. You want to be sure to make the right decision for you and your horse.


Angel Gnau is a certified equine appraiser and consultant, managing her business, “Pacific Equine Appraisal & Consultation” in Portland, Oregon. Angel appraises all breeds and disciplines, offering expert witness testimony in the equine field and consultation in all equine matters. She is available nationwide. Her background comes from more than 30 years in the horse industry as a professional trainer and consultant. She is also a freelance writer of horse-related articles. Contact Angel at (503) 684-2097, (800) 484-9538 x 4344, or by email at: angel.gnau@verizon.net.