Featured Article (March 2001)

Finding the Right Boarding Stable For You

Often this is the beginning of a conversation with someone looking to board a horse at our barn. In reality, cost is a small part of the big picture when it comes to finding the right place to board your best friend and partner. This article will discuss the ten "C" words to remember when looking for a boarding stable.

1. Cleanliness - What is the first thing you notice when you walk into a barn? I usually notice the smell. It has always been a wonderful horsey smell that transports me to memories of fox hunts, horse trials, and cleaning tack - unless it smells of urine. A barn which smells of horse urine does not have clean stalls. If the stalls are not cleaned sufficiently, your companion will have to stand in a rank-smelling box inhaling ammonia fumes while his feet are at the risk of becoming thrushy due to the excess moisture. A good barn manager, will see to it that the stalls are cleaned, limed if necessary, and fresh shavings added as needed so that your horse has a clean, dry stall to stand in for the 8-12 hours a day in which he lives there. The idea of cleanliness extends beyond the stall to the entire barn as well. What is your overall impression of the barn visually when you walk in? Are the aisles raked or swept? Is the wash stall clean of all manure and dirt? Is the tack room tidy with clean tack put away properly? Are blankets and halters hung up or is stuff sitting around on the ground waiting for a horse to get tangled? A clean orderly barn lends itself to safety.

2. Contentment - Look at the horses when you walk into the barn. Do they walk over to greet you or do they back away as you walk up? What is the expression in their eye? The horses will tell you more about the barn than any barn manager can ever tell you. Happy horses are happy in direct proportion to how they are handled by the people who handle them the most, i.e., the barn staff. Granted, there are some horses who are just grumpy by nature and will pin their ears out of habit so look at the big picture. Watch the people who walk around the barn as well. Do you see smiling faces and hear laughter echo throughout the barn or is there a silence which might be strained? I believe the barn should be a haven, a place to go to ride, relax, and not be distracted by the politics which so many of us encounter in the workplace.

3. Condition - One of the most important aspects of a barn is the condition of not only the horses, but the condition of the facility. Obviously, if the horses you see are skinny with rough coats, you don't want to keep your horse there because your horse will end up looking like that as well. You should see horses in good weight, with bright eyes and shiny coats and well-trimmed or shod feet. The condition of the facility speaks of the dedication of the barn manager. The barn does not need to be new with fancy amenities, although that certainly is nice. However, new or old, are the fences in good repair and safe? (Board, high-tensile, woven-wire). Are the stalls big enough with safe doors and latches? Is the barn well ventilated and protected at the same time? Are the fields in good condition with enough grass to support the number of horses grazing? Or at least good quality round bales in the fields? Do pasture board horses have run-in sheds or woods for shelter?

4. Congeniality -Are the people friendly? When you walk into the barn do people speak or ignore you? Do you feel welcome or do you feel that you are intruding? Is the barn manager someone you feel you could come to with a problem regarding your horse? I hope so because this is the person who will be responsible for your horse's welfare in your absence. Are the people in the barn in your age group? It seems that barns often end up catering to specific age groups such as children, young work adults, or retired folks. Know the group that you enjoy.

5. Communication - It is very important that there is communication between the barn manager and all the clients. Clients like to know what is going on when, especially if it is a larger barn. Is there a board for notices or a newsletter which is published semi-regularly? When are the bills mailed and when are they due?

6. Cost/Convenience - Ahhh, the big question! What does it cost and what does that cost include? Get this in writing . . . in a contract before you board your horse anywhere. You need to know exactly what you are paying for and what you can expect the barn to provide. A general rule of thumb is that you usually get what you pay for in this world. Be wary of ridiculously low prices for board. Keeping horses and the labor involved is cost intensive and cannot be gotten cheaply. How far do you have to drive to the barn? How far do you want to drive? Is a longer drive worth a barn you really love? In considering the location of the barn, consider the amount of land around for riding. If you are a cross country or trail-riding lover make sure there is land available for riding. Price may also be related to location. A 5-minute drive may cost more than a 20-minute drive to the barn.

7. Consistency - Horses are creatures of habit and need to have routine in order to be content and healthy. Feed and turnout times and paddocks need to be consistent. Horses respond positively to the same people handling them on a daily basis. Feed and hay should be consistent in quality and content from day to day and week to week. Routine veterinary care and shoeing need to be done on schedule.

8. Competition Schedule - Are you interested in competing? Or not at all? Find out what your prospective barn does in the way of competing. Are they competing in the same discipline in which you are interested? Not only can the style of riding be different, but the way the horses are handled can be different from discipline to discipline. A saddlebred barn is going to handle horses much differently than a western pleasure barn. Competition barns can be more intense than a non-competing barn. Think about where you will be most comfortable. The facility will also reflect the discipline. For example, a hunter barn will not, most likely, have a cross-country course.

9. Conscience - As I was thinking about what was important to me in boarding, conscience came to mind because it speaks of trustworthiness; the commitment to do what is right. You need to feel completely comfortable and confident with the people who are caring for your horse. If there is a doubt in you mind that the barn manager and/or staff are not trustworthy, don't keep your horse in that barn.

10. Competence - Last, but certainly the most important. Are the staff and barn manger actually skilled in horse care? Do they know what to do in an emergency? Do they administer routine veterinary care in a timely manner? Do they understand the science and art of equine nutrition? Do they understand how horses think and relate to each other? This can be especially important when it comes to turnouts. The barn manager should ask questions about your horse such as "How much does your horse currently eat? What type of grain and hay? How much turnout is he used to and how does he behave with other horses? When was he wormed and has he had his shots? You should expect a lot of questions from a competent barn manager.

Remember to make sure that the care of the horses is supremely important to the barn manger, because your horse is supremely important to you.

1. Always watch; be on guard for safety issues.
2. Keep the barn clean.
3. Cover costs to stay solvent.
4. Communicate, communicate, communicate.
5. Be honest.
6. Look at the horses every day.
7. Have a place to keep boarders equipment safely.
8. Have staff present during open hours.
9. Make boarders aware of costs.
10. Water for horses at all times.
11. Treat the horses well.
12. Create a good atmosphere.
13. Boarders are there to have fun and learn about horses.
14. You have a teaching role as well as a care taking role.
15. Every horse is a champion in their owner's eyes.
16. Let the boarders know what their responsibilities are in taking care of the horse.

Suggestions from the pool of boarders at Blue Ridge Stables, Charlottesville, Virginia.

1. Always put things back exactly the way you found them.
2. Don't use anybody else's stuff without asking.
3. Don't use the barn stuff unless it has been designated "for barn use."
4. Don't feed your horse or do any barn work without checking with the barn manager.
5. Keep your area clean and tidy; clean up after yourself.
6. Do not bring animal or human visitors without checking with the barn manager first.
7. If you use the jumps, please put them back the way you found them.
8. Pay your board bill in a timely manner.