Horse Boarding
Horse boarding is something that many people have to consider before purchasing a horse. Boarding a horse can be expensive, but there are many with a great passion for horses and they would never be able to care for them at home. Boarding a horse also has many advantages such as other horse people to ride with, better facilities than many owners can afford to have at home, and also someone else to do the bulk of the care. So let’s look at some guidelines for choosing a horse boarding facility.
How many parents have heard the words, “Mommy, I need a pony!” or “Daddy, can I have a horse?” More than one suburbanite parent who has never even touch a horses nose has had a girl or boy who has been in love with horses since they were three years old. So once buying them pony wallpaper, model barns with horse stalls, and Breyer horses doesn’t satisfy the aspiring equestrian athlete any longer, many parents opt for riding lessons. This is a good way to introduce them to horses without taking on the responsibility of owning one.
Horse inside stall, Photo from Flickr.com vw4ross
A year or two goes by and the interest grows. Then the words once again surface, “Mommy, I need my own pony!” Taking the trainer or instructor’s advice about size of horse to purchase, age of horse, and experience of horse based on the child’s ability, age, and interest level can avoid a lot of problems in the future. Some of the most satisfied horse owners I know are the ones who listened to the teacher and bought a horse that the teacher helped them choose. Purchasing a horse or pony that the child had already ridden is a good idea. Taking lessons on a horse before buying it gives a very good low-pressure introduction and try out time.
Boarding a horse at the same horse barn that gives the lessons is usually fine. But by and by circumstances in the owner’s lives can change. This may mean the family has to relocate or downsize their monthly expenses. Allowing a child to take a horse or pony with them can really make the transition easier for them. So now let’s look at ways to choose where to move the horse to.
The best first step is to ask the current barn owner if they could recommend another equestrian center in the new town. Also ask if there are any barns that they would warn against going to. The next step is to get on the internet or look in the phone book and begin calling stables. Usually they are listed under a header such as “Horse Boarding and Training”. It is usually wise to avoid listings such as “Horse Rentals”. These places are more geared for hiring horses instead of caring for horse owner teams.
Top Questions To Ask About Horse Boarding
Here are some very important and insightful questions to ask when calling a horse barn or facility.
1. How many horses do you have at the barn?
2. How many acres do you have?
3. Are the horses turned out regularly?
4. What type of fencing do you have?
5. What size pastures do you have?
6. Do you offer riding lessons and boarding?
7. What type horse stalls do you have and what are the dimensions?
8. Do you have a fenced in riding arena?
9. Are most of the riders Western or English?
10. Does your barn go to horse shows?
11. Are there any riding trails near by?
12. How long have you been in business?
13. How much is the horse board?
These answers give you an idea of what kind of horse boarding facility it is. It is best to avoid any places that have barb wire fencing. For a young or inexperienced horse owner it is best to choose a facility that offers both horse boarding and lessons. Horses are very different if they are kept inside all the time. A lazy pony can become very hard to handle if it is not turned out regularly. So choose a place that has pastures that are at least five acres and leave the horses out for several hours each day. Having an indoor arena is nice, but in many cases just an outdoor riding ring with sand footing and wood fencing around it is sufficient. It is also wise to be informed as to which type of riding most of the people do. If your child likes to jump then a barn that has all driving horses might not be a good choice.
Amenities that can increase the price of horse boarding would include an indoor arena, proximity to the city, and how nice the barn is. Just like people view homes before they decide which one to buy or rent it is also a good idea to include horse boarding barn viewing with scouting out the new area. Take the list of the top four or five barns, give them a call and ask if you can stop out.
Commercial barns are usually very active all during the days, especially after school, so it is even a good idea to just get directions and then drop in unannounced. Then you see what a normal day at each barn looks like. Take a look at the horse stalls and see if they are unreasonably dirty or if they have fresh horse bedding and stall mats. Look at the resident horses and notice if they are fat or thin. Walk along next to the paddocks and pastures and see if the fencing looks in good repair and if there is grass in the fields. All stables fight mud and dirt, depending on the season, but it is not hard to see that horses are standing in nice size corrals and paddocks or if they are all crammed in together with mud up covering their hooves. Mud is not unusual by any means, but look to see if each pasture or paddock has a dry place for the horses to stand- somewhere that they can get away from the mud.
Also take a minute and watch a riding lesson. Compare the instructor to the one that the child is used to riding under. Watch the rider and see if the teacher upsets them or if there is a good working relationship between the two.
Moving to a new area is hard enough, but taking the time and patients to research a horse boarding barn is really worth it. Changing schools and relocating is very hard on kids, so getting to take their treasured horse friend along with them is very important to them. Choosing a place with large horse stalls, nice size fields, fenced in riding arenas, and a resident teacher can make the transition much smoother. Boarding is also something to seriously consider when you purchase a young horse.
