Like so many horse owners, you may not have the space to house and pasture your horse at your home. So the question of how much board will cost, and where to find it are first and foremost in your mind if you are not already fortunate enough to have your horse at a good boarding facility.
Prices can range from under $100 to over $700 a month, so pay attention to what is offered or not offered. Read over the boarding contract and make sure you understand exactly what it includes. Will you be charged extra if you want your horse blanketed or if you want any other special care out of the normal feeding, stall cleaning and turn-out? Will you be charged extra if someone at the facility handles your horse for the vet or farrier? Often times, if you request supplements or grain to be given to your horse, you will have to supply them or reimburse the facility for them.
Let’s go over what you need to consider. There is quite a range of choices available to you, depending on where you are located and what you can afford. I would say the dominant deciding factor is going to be what you are able to pay each month. Once you have a sound budget figured out you can determine what you can choose.
FULL BOARD (these are the usual things you get – always verify):
FULL BOARD EXTRAS
(some facilities will offer these – again, always verify):
SOME KEY POINTS TO KEEP IN MIND:
Remember, it’s not just how fancy a facility is, or is not, that you consider when making a decision. It has a great deal more to do with how safe and well-cared for your horse will be, what quality of life will be offered, and what you can budget yourself for.
Happy housing … and - as always - happy trails!
Prices can range from under $100 to over $700 a month, so pay attention to what is offered or not offered. Read over the boarding contract and make sure you understand exactly what it includes. Will you be charged extra if you want your horse blanketed or if you want any other special care out of the normal feeding, stall cleaning and turn-out? Will you be charged extra if someone at the facility handles your horse for the vet or farrier? Often times, if you request supplements or grain to be given to your horse, you will have to supply them or reimburse the facility for them.
Let’s go over what you need to consider. There is quite a range of choices available to you, depending on where you are located and what you can afford. I would say the dominant deciding factor is going to be what you are able to pay each month. Once you have a sound budget figured out you can determine what you can choose.
FULL BOARD (these are the usual things you get – always verify):
- Adequate hay given at least twice daily
- A constant supply of clean, fresh drinking water
- Cleaning/mucking of stall or run-in shed on a regular basis
- Regular turn-out on a daily basis, some facilities offer 24/7 turn-out
- Tack storage
- Scheduled vet checks (you pay the vet)
- Scheduled farrier visits (you pay the farrier)
FULL BOARD EXTRAS
(some facilities will offer these – again, always verify):
- Regular, rotational deworming, administered about every 8 weeks
- Use of an indoor and/or outdoor riding arena
- Riding lessons
- An on-site vet
- An on-site farrier
- Trails for riding
SOME KEY POINTS TO KEEP IN MIND:
- How much turn-out will my horse have? Horses are built to move. Have you seen horses that sit in stalls day after day with little or not turn-out? They never look very happy do they? The ideal situation is a set-up which allows a horse to come and go out of shelter as they desire.
- Does the facility provide good, quality horse-grade hay? Make sure the hay fed is not moldy, and has good color. Make sure your horse will be fed enough hay. Generally the average horse needs between 15 to 20 pounds of hay daily – depending on the individual horse.
- Does a farrier come on a regular basis to the facility? You will want to make sure your horse’s feet are well-maintained. That will require regular farrier visits every 6 to 8 weeks, depending on the time of year and your horse’s needs.
- Does the vet arrive annually or semi-annually for check-ups and shots, and is the vet available readily in an emergency?
- Are the areas where the horses are kept free of protruding nails, screws, etc. that may cause injury to a horse? Horse owners frequently chuckle about how accident-prone horses can be. Making sure a boarding facility is kept clean and free of anything a horse may be injured on helps to keep accidents from occurring. Old farming equipment, metal, glass, etc in pastures and housing areas are accidents waiting to happen when it comes to horses.
Remember, it’s not just how fancy a facility is, or is not, that you consider when making a decision. It has a great deal more to do with how safe and well-cared for your horse will be, what quality of life will be offered, and what you can budget yourself for.
Happy housing … and - as always - happy trails!
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