Horse Stables

Horse stables and boarding facilities are important to the overall care and well being of your horse.

Embarking on the route to select the right boarding stable can be somewhat stressful if you are unsure of what to look for.

Sometimes the most difficult part is knowing where to start. Below we will discuss how to find the right horse stable including all the things you should be looking for and how to get the ball rolling.

How To Begin Your Search

Word of mouth is a powerful tool in the horse industry. Each place I have boarded horses at in the past began with recommendations from people I trust. It is easier to trust that your horse will be well cared for if you are able to judge based on someone else's experience.

If you don't have a large network of equine-related friends or you are new to the horse boarding process, getting started can feel a little overwhelming. Your first step in searching for a barn to board your horse begins by getting some information on a few places you may know of that are local.

You can get names of local horse stables by checking in the phone book, searching online, or on bulletin boards in your local tack or feed store. Make sure you have a list of what is most important to you in a boarding facility. Do you want your horse in a stall or outdoors? Would you like to have access to an indoor area to ride or are you happy with riding outdoors? Would you like a place in the barn for your tack?

Once you have a few places in mind, start by calling the owner to set up a time to visit the facility. If it is any place worth your time and money, the owner will be happy to show you around the property. Calling first is recommended as opposed to showing up unannounced.

What to Look For in a Visit

Upon arrival to a horse stable, make note of your experience interacting with the owner. If you choose to board your horse there you will have to interact with the owner(s) frequently and it would be easier if they were pleasant and easy to talk to.

When inside the horse stable you want to check how clean a few key areas are. You should also consider the time of day and how busy the barn is before making too harsh a judgment.

Do take note of how clean the aisles and tack room are, but keep in mind if you are visiting on a busy weekend afternoon there is bound to be some mess and disorganization.

More importantly you will want to take note of the size and condition of the horse stalls. Are they clean and appear to be in good repair? Look at the overall condition of the horses in the stalls. Do they appear to be well fed and for the most part up to date with farrier care?

Speaking from personal experience, there are some weeks at our boarding barn when help is scarce so you should also keep this in mind. If the stalls are grossly neglected you will notice it by the smell.

If you get a chance to walk outside look at the size of the turnout areas. Does there seem to be enough room? Is there sufficient grazing grass? Any hazardous items in the pastures such as old cars or tires? Check the fences surrounding the turnout areas and make sure they are constructed out of material meant to contain horses.

Fences made of barbed wire are not good at all. You horse could easily get caught in the fence causing severe injuries. If the fences are smooth wire make sure they are flagged properly so horses can see the fence. Also make note if the fence is in good repair. Fence damage does happen, but it should be repaired in a timely manner.

It may be helpful to make a list of the things you want to see while you visit each horse stable. More than one visit can also be arranged if you are trying to decide between barns. Use it to your advantage to see how accommodating the barn owner is. Each facility should be willing to answer any questions you may have.

What Services Are Included?

Once you have one or two horse stables narrowed down, make sure you understand what services are included in your board. Each stable will have similar but different fee schedules. Pricing for stall or pasture board may also be different.

Some stables are full service, while others may require you to clean your horse's stall. Usually these differences are reflected in price. Find out how often the horses are fed and what type of feed they use. Are they willing to add in supplements to your horse's feed if your supply it and what may they charge for doing this?

What local veterinary or farrier services do they use, or are you on your own? It is good to know this so you are aware of which veterinary clinic will be called in an emergency.

Are you looking for some additional riding lessons or training for your horse, or are you planning on remaining independent in your riding activities? some facilities offer these services and if it is something you may be interested in make sure you inquire about any potential offerings of these services.

What Facilities Are Available?

The facilities you have available to you can play a big role in helping the decision making process. It depends on the type and amount of riding you prefer. If you prefer to trail ride outdoors mostly, then an indoor arena may not be as important. If you would like a place to ride on a regular basis even on a rainy day, then you may prefer to use an indoor arena.

The more facilities at your disposal, likely means a higher price in horse board. In the barn you may want a safe place to store your tack or an area to bathe your horse. Not all horse stables will have a wash rack, but most will be able to offer you a place to store your tack.

When it comes to facilities at a boarding stable, it boils down to what is important to you. After all, you are paying the bill so you should make sure you find a place you are happy with.

The Paperwork

Ok so you have finally found the perfect horse stable for you and your horse. Now it is time to make it official and sign on the dotted line. Before you do, stop and make sure you READ THE CONTRACT! Not all horse boarding contracts are the same. Make sure you fully understand when your payments are due, what are the fees for additional services, and what the rights of the horse stable are should you fail to pay.

A quality boarding stable will require a minimum standard of care for all new horses coming in. You will have to provide proof of current negative coggins and possibly proof that your horse is up to date on regular shots. If there are no minimum health care standards, you may want to reconsider boarding at that facility. In many cases it is a required part of the contract that you follow a standard health program each year.

You will also likely be required to sign a liability release. This releases the horse stable from liability for your equine actions while on their property.

It is a good idea to make a copy of all the paperwork you sign. It provides you with the ability to refer back to the paperwork if you ever have a question about a bill before calling the barn owner. Being informed on the contract you sign is you responsibility, it is not the responsibility of the barn owner to remind you.

Staying informed is also a great way to protect yourself from any potential errors in your bill. If you truly have a concern over something you were charged for, you can approach the stable owner as an informed consumer.

Good Luck:
Now you are ready to get going on finding that perfect horse stable. Keep in mind all the things we discussed above and take into account any word of mouth information you can get about some of the boarding stables you are considering. Trust your instinct about each place when you visit, and don't settle for something you may not be happy within a few months.

Remember you are paying the bill and with board not being very cheap these days, make sure you are happy and getting what you want and pay for.

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