|
|
Discussion on Giving advice to boarders
|
| Author |
Message |
Member:
stek
|
Posted on Tuesday, Mar 24, 2009 - 5:28 pm:
We have a couple boarders at our farm that are relatively new to horse ownership. They frequently ask my advice and opinions, which I am always happy to share.
I am also careful to point out that my opinions are just that, my opinions based on my experience, and they should do additional research to learn as much as they can rather than relying on what I say as the horsey gospel.
While I'm flattered that they value my opinions, I really want to encourage them to learn from other sources too. As you all know there are not many things all horsemen agree on, and I don't want to come across as a know-it-all.
In addition there are times when my advice might not agree with that of another person (a recent disagreement with a trimmer comes to mind), and rather than them saying they are just doing what I say I'd like them to own the decisions they make about the care of their horses.
I have already said flat out 'this is your horse, you need to learn as much as you can so you can do what you think is best.'
Can you offer any other suggestions about how to politely push them out of the nest?
Thanks!
|
Member:
hollyw
|
Posted on Tuesday, Mar 24, 2009 - 6:48 pm:
Shannon, sounds like you are doing fine. You can't make them leave the nest . . . they have to want to do so, and that will come with their increased knowledge, assuming they want to learn and not be spoon fed.
Do you have teaching/training videos and books available to give them to use? I have the videos and books of a few different trainers, and try to make the info available when questions arise. Another good way to "spread out the learning" is to gather with other horse-lovers for activities, potlucks, etc. The different people, different methods, and different horses will bring up lots of different issues that can be discussed.
|
Member:
shanson
|
Posted on Tuesday, Mar 24, 2009 - 8:41 pm:
Only additional thing I'd suggest is to recommend this site. It's the best resource on the Internet and has helped me enormously, starting about 10 years ago when I was a dead beginner.
Of course, that never stopped me from also milking experienced folks like you for all they were worth! 
|
Member:
stek
|
Posted on Wednesday, Mar 25, 2009 - 10:56 am:
Thanks guys. Sharon I have suggested this site, I agree that it's an excellent resource. And I don't mean to imply that I resent giving advice at all, after all we all started out as newbies didn't we! And I will remain in debt to all the people who have mentored me over the years and who still do today!
Good suggestions Holly, my very first riding instructor was always sending me home with books and magazines, now I know why! I was thinking of doing a couple BBQs this summer that might help too. All you HA folks are of course invited!
|
Member:
ekaufman
|
Posted on Wednesday, Mar 25, 2009 - 3:25 pm:
Hi Shannon,
The only thing worse than overly dependent boarders are boarders who don't listen to one bit of sense! As hard as it is to prop up newbie owners, it is much harder to stand back when the non-listeners start making terrible mistakes, and don't care to hear the feedback. Good luck with putting yours on a reasonable path.
|
Member:
erika
|
Posted on Wednesday, Mar 25, 2009 - 3:57 pm:
Oh yeah, Elizabeth, I agree!
How about making up a small sign with this website on little tear-off tabs and hang it in the tack room or wherever they gather?
I swear, if I ever board, I will be the best boarder ever. I have had a few here, some better than others, but none of them ever know how hard it is to take good care of horses and the farm!
|
Member:
imogen
|
Posted on Thursday, Mar 26, 2009 - 3:08 am:
My friend Sheila who has had a livery yard for about thirty years employs the tactic of moaning loudly to the other boarders and waiting for them to gossip. Risky but it seems to work for her.
The fact that she is extremely generous and good with her advice probably helps... she is great at getting up rider's confidence. The thing that she REALLY hates is parents who will not devote the time/money to take an enthusiastic child out to competitions and instead dump the child for the day at the yard to keep them out of town/trouble.
Imogen
|
Member:
dsibley
|
Posted on Thursday, Mar 26, 2009 - 7:50 am:
I just went thru the ordeal of the 'know-it-all' boarder. She insisted on dumping feed into an already overweight horse, and has now thrown him into a metabolic disorder and likely early laminitis. Her feeding protocol was set up by an 'equine nutritionist' who I will liken to the guy on the back of the wagon selling Dr. Bob's Snake Oil. According to a call to the company, he is not a nutritionist but the area sales rep. But this woman swears by every word that comes out of his mouth. "We can make a fat horse fit. We can turn fat deposits into muscle. Just feed more of our stuff, don't ride your horse, and see results in just 30 days or we'll take more of your money, guaranteed!"
Bottom line, when the vet came out and tried to talk some sense into her, she pulled the horses out of my barn and moved them someplace that is more sympathetic to her line of thinking. I had given her my opinion, as had numerous other people, but then just shut my mouth and tried to let her figure it out. However, when the 'guru' recommended adding four pounds of alfalfa pellets to an already overloaded diet, I refused. Told her if she wanted another 4,000 calories added, she would need to come out twice a day and do it herself. I wasn't going to kill her horse.
I have a clause in my boarding contract that offers a potential resolution to disagreements as to care or health of the animals. It stipulates that the owner and I, in this situation, will split a barn call and discuss the situation with a vet (of the owner's choice) to help resolve the disagreement. I have discussed this in advance with all area vets and they are all for this. Keeps stable owner and horse owners off the phone griping about each other.
So, yeah, I would rather have a boarder who is a total newbie than one who relies on unsound judgement and advice and will not listen to other opinions. I could almost guarantee that if he's left on the same course, this horse will be either totally useless or dead in a matter of six months or less.
One book that I have lent repeatedly to newbies here (and some people who have had horses for years) is "Horses for Dummies"}. If they can get over the title, it gives some great basic knowledge without fear of too much empowerment that they might not be ready for.
|
Member:
nightwin
|
Posted on Thursday, Mar 26, 2009 - 8:20 am:
I own and manage a 30-horse boarding facility; I call it a "NO SHOW" barn. I am fine with parents DrOpping off their kids (13 and older) to simply enjoy being out-of-doors and loving their horses. Too many kids spends their free time in front of screens. And frankly, I think the stress of showing can suck the fun out of owning a horse. However, parents sign a contract acknowledging that we are in no way responsible for their kid's safety, and kids cannot ride unless an adult is present.
Yes, I have clients who become enamored with, say, their new trainer who still believes in feeding her own horses twice a day with copious amounts of sweet feed, or the latest handsome farrier to ride into town, switching to his recommendation of feed (at their own expense), but if they don't ask my opinion, and it isn't killing their horse, I have learned to bite my tongue and let them they figure it out themselves. (Just like we handle our kids.) And heck, maybe learn something new. Too many times as it is, when I have to be the bearer of bad news (eg "your horse is lame") the boarder becomes irrationally irritated with me. I carefully pick my battles.
|
Member:
stek
|
Posted on Thursday, Mar 26, 2009 - 11:40 am:
Great point, I would much rather have a boarder who is open to advice and opinions than one who does things that make me cringe and won't listen to reason. 
Imogen, lol! I expect the gossip happens regardless of my moaning, but will keep that trick up my sleeve for future use.
Our business is small, just 5 horses right now with room for 10 eventually, so we are able to be fairly selective and I try to avoid potential conflicts up front by turning away clients who raise red flags for me. You can never foresee everything, though.
Our contract does state that horses go on my feeding plan by default, unless a medical condition requires a special diet which I am happy to accommodate. I love the idea about having a consultation with a vet if disagreements arise. We have our spring vet checks coming up and that will be a good place to encourage a Q&A session.
Overall I'm very happy with the group we have right now, just want to keep it that way. Thanks, as always, for the excellent advice!
|
Member:
kathrynr
|
Posted on Friday, Mar 27, 2009 - 8:01 am:
Shannon I applaud you for wanting to empower your boarders with knowledge and allow them to be a part of their own horses decisions on care. Until last year I was a boarder at a barn that catered to newbies(they took care of everything) but as you learned and wanted to make small suggestions on care etc they were all frowned upon, no matter how correct you were, it was a very negative environment to many of us.
So now I have my horses here and I care for them myself under the advice of the fellow horsepeople near me and this amazing site. All of us are thriving and it was because of people like yourself giving me the confidence to step up and do.
I am still a work in progress and reference this site all the time for advice.
They are lucky to have you, keep pushing!
|
Member:
dsibley
|
Posted on Friday, Mar 27, 2009 - 8:36 am:
I, too, was a boarder until 2 1/2 years ago when we were able to build our own place. My first boarding experience was much like yours, KatR, where the owners had the attitude of 'my way or the highway'. I like to try to be open to suggestion, and by all means will admit if I am w-w-w-wrong (hehe), hence the clause in my boarding contract.
There are some issues that I will be totally inflexible on: worming, shots, coggins, etc. Things that affect the health and safety of the entire barn if not done properly. On other issues I will continue to try to lend an open ear and keep my mouth shut. However, if I am asked an opinion, I will still give it if I have one that is well-reasoned (ever notice how those can come back and bite you in the rear???).
I will also give kudos to Dr. O for this fabulous site, as I have quoted his sage advice on numerous occasions. One of my former boarders is even a member now!
|
Member:
stek
|
Posted on Saturday, Mar 28, 2009 - 12:39 pm:
Thanks for the kind words, Kat! Isn't it amazing how much more you learn, and how much more quickly, when you are able to keep your horses at home. I try to keep in mind for our boarders that they are naturally more interested in riding than the day-to-day stuff, there are so many things you never even consider when you only see your horse once or twice a week.
Dieliz, like you I do have a few critical things that are my way or the highway. I'm not terribly good at keeping my mouth shut about the rest .. surely the root of some of my problems right there...
|
|
|
