Questions to Ask Before Boarding, Part 2 of 2

Check into health and amenities when choosing or changing boarding facilities
by Ellen Mosier, Horses for Clean Water; photo by Alayne Blickle

Last month we looked at an overview of some of the big-picture points to consider when shopping for a new boarding facility. This month, we look at boarding facility amenities and food and health concerns.

Amenities
Depending on your needs as a rider, there are several things to consider when searching for a new facility:

• Places to ride: Is there a covered arena? Outdoor arena? Round pen? Can you ride to trails from the facility or will you need to trailer out?

• Horse trailers: Are you allowed to keep a horse trailer on site? Is there an additional fee for this? Can friends visit with their horses? Is there adequate space for them to pull in, park and turn around? How long can they leave their trailers on site?

• Instruction: Is there a trainer associated with the facility? Does your horse have to be in training to be boarded there? Are other trainers allowed to instruct there?

Food and Health Concerns
These are important concerns for horse owners at all boarding stables:

• Food: What are horses fed? Where does the hay come from? Is it dry and fresh smelling, free of mold, mildew or weeds? Are you allowed to provide your own feed if your horse has different needs? Will you be allowed to store it on site? Does this cost extra, or does it provide a discount in board fee? Do they charge extra to feed daily vitamins and minerals or monthly psyllium pellets?

• Deworming: Many facilities have a deworming program that boarders must follow. It may be that boarders are required to deworm their own horses and provide a record, or the facility may provide the medication and service as part of a boarding fee. Be sure that whatever program is used is appropriate for your horse, and/or that you can opt out if you need to. If you are moving to a new region, you will want to find out what types of parasites are prevalent there.

• Fly/pest control: What methods are used to discourage pests? Are there nest boxes and vegetation that attract pest-eating birds, bats, and insects? Does the facility practice good manure and mud management to reduce flies? Are horses turned out with fly masks on? Are there barn cats to keep the rodent population down? Some boarding places may require the use of feed-through fly control added to a grain or complete feed supplement once a day, every day. Be sure you are comfortable with the methods used, and research anything you are not familiar with.

• Veterinary care: Ask if there is a barn vet boarders are expected to use, or if you may choose your own. Ask around for recommendations. If you are not moving your horse far, find out if your current vet can travel to the new place.

• Hoof care: As with vet care, find out if you can choose your own farrier and if your current hoof care practitioner can follow you to the new place.

• Other horses: Seeing the other horses boarded at the facility will tell you a lot. Do they look and act vibrant, with shiny coats and alert, bright eyes? Do they smell healthy and fresh? Are their feet trimmed or shod nicely, free of cracks and thrush? Whether in a pasture or barn, are they able to stand contentedly with not too many bothersome flies? Are they at a healthy weight? Do they seem comfortable, quiet and friendly around people? There will sometimes be less than healthy or well-adjusted horses at any given facility, but more than a few of these might indicate an underlying problem.

There is a lot here to think about, but finding a new home for your horse is a big responsibility. Be as thorough as you can—take your time, do the legwork, ask questions, observe. You will find the right place, and your horse will thank you for it!

Questions to Ask Before Boarding

Practical considerations and questions to ask when choosing or changing boarding facilities, Part 1 of 2
by Ellen Mosier, Horses for Clean Water

My horse lived at the same wonderful boarding facility for the first nine years I owned her. The farm was like a second home to me, so when boarders were told in late summer 2006 that we’d have to move our horses by spring 2007, I knew it would be a hard act to follow. It took many months and a lot of miles to find another stable that felt right to me, and I learned a lot in the process. In this article I’ll share my thoughts about what to look for and how to look for it, and what questions to ask.

Take Time to Look
The other boarders and I were fortunate to have such a long lead time to look for a new facility. It took each of us several months to find the right place. Give yourself as much time as you possibly can—at least three or four months. If you need to move quickly, don’t settle for something you won’t like for the long term. Find a suitable temporary situation, and then keep looking.

Write out your image of horse heaven. It will vary with every horse and owner. Know where you’ll be willing to compromise when the time comes, but start out with a vision of the perfect place for your horse.

Figure Your Budget
Boarding situations vary hugely in cost. Figure out what you need to buy each month to care for your horse, including feed, supplements, deworming, hoof and vet care, transportation, clinics and shows, and an emergency fund. Whatever is left in your budget after that is what you have to work with when determining where you can afford to board your horse.

As you research boarding facilities that interest you, refer to your budget list and run the numbers. You will probably discover that you have to make compromises. You may want to find a stable with a covered riding arena, for instance, but such places generally cost more. If your horse’s food and dewormers are included in the boarding fee, it might offset the additional cost of the arena, or you may decide that indoor riding is not within your budget right now.

Be sure to include time and logistics in your cost scenario. You may find a great deal on a self-care situation, but if you work full time and live many miles from your horse, the amount of money and time you would spend commuting might not be realistic.

Remember that your horse’s safety and good health are the most important considerations. Never make your compromises in those areas.

Consider Geography
Determine the geographical area for your search. Knowing the answers to the following questions will help you define how big this area can be: Do you commute to work? How far are you willing to drive? How long will it take to get there? Is it convenient for riding with friends? Is it close to activities you enjoy, such as trail riding, or shows? Can your instructor easily travel to you, or can you and your horse get to him or her?

Check online, phone books, and community boards at local tack and feed stores and public arenas to locate boarding facilities in the area of your search. Ask friends or others who live in that area if they know of a suitable facility. Take a drive and look around. If you see a place you like, check for a sign with a phone number to call later. If there isn’t anyone around to talk with, you might leave a note at the door. Needless to say, don’t go through any closed gates to do this!

Make a Visit
Check out every place that interests you in person. You can only truly evaluate a place if you see it for yourself. Take along a friend for a different perspective. Together, you are less likely to miss anything of importance.

Bring a list of questions with you for the facility owner/manager, and take time to write down the answers. When you are visiting many facilities, there is a lot to remember. Talk to the person in charge of the actual horse care, and—if possible—talk with other boarders. Don’t hesitate to ask direct questions.

Ask how long the facility has been in business, what their methods of horse handling are, what background the staff has, and whether someone is on site 24-7. There will no doubt be a contract for boarders to sign; ask to see one, then read it thoroughly. What are the responsibilities outlined for you? What are the rules you must follow? Some boarding places seem very informal, but if a conflict ever comes up, the contract is there for your protection. Know what’s in it!

Location & Living Conditions
Take a tour and check out everything, including the pastures, paddocks, barns, and outbuildings. Is the facility on a busy road? Set back from the road? Easy to get into and out of with a horse trailer? On flat or hilly ground? In a flood plain? Open or nestled among tall trees? Know your preferences. Are the horses on pasture 24/7 or in a stall most of the time?

The following list will provide you with many more things to consider and questions to ask about the living conditions of your horse’s potential new home:

Barn: Is the barn dry, clean, and well ventilated? If hay is stored there, is it dry and fresh-smelling, free of mold and mildew? Is there a tack room with a locked door where you can store your gear without worry about dust and theft? How much space will you have for your gear? Is there a wash rack with warm and/or cold water available? Are there cross ties or other safe methods to tie horses in the wash rack and barn aisles? Is there a phone in the barn for emergencies? Is there a clean and organized message board available? Are the barn doors left open at night for better ventilation? Is there an evacuation plan in place for fire or other emergencies? Is there a list posted with contact information for horse owners, farriers and veterinarians? Is there a restroom or portable toilet for boarders, and is it relatively clean?

Stalls: Are stalls large, with good ventilation? Are they clean and odor-free? Are walls smooth, with no stray nails, hooks or splinters? What type of bedding is used, and how often is it changed? What is the flooring underneath like--firm and flat, or is it rocky and dished? Rubber mats are generally the best for horses to stand on. Cement or concrete are definitely not suitable. Can horses see outside? Is fresh water available at all times? Is food laid on the ground, in a feed bin or in wall-mounted racks? Who cleans the stalls and how often?

Paddocks and Pastures: What is the fencing like--steel pipe, wood or vinyl? Is it safe or will horses get loose or cut on nails and loose boards? Do stalls have individual attached paddocks? What type of footing is used? Is there sufficient drainage so horses are not standing in mud, water or urine? How often are paddocks cleaned? Are pastures well maintained and regularly dragged to spread manure, or are there weeds and/or toxic plants? Be sure to ask about winter conditions, too; is there sufficient drainage to prevent mud and standing water? Do horses have access to shelter and fresh water at all times?

Turnout: When the facility advertises “turnout,” does that mean into a paddock or a pasture? How often, and for how long? Alone or with other horses? Is there room enough for the horse to run and exercise? Do you pay extra for someone else to turn your horse out each day?

Companionship: Are horses in a pasture or paddock with other horses, or in adjoining areas? Which horses are pastured together, and how are they introduced to one another?

Next month we'll finish by looking at boarding facility amenities as well as food and health concerns.