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  Discussion on Does your boarding barn provide free-choice hay?
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Member:
stek

Posted on Tuesday, Aug 21, 2012 - 4:29 pm:

Here's a question for those of you that board out your own horses or accept boarders at your farm.

Do you/does your barn provide free-choice hay, regardless of the amount needed for your horse, at the same board rate?

We are a small private farm that takes in a handful of boarders. In the past, we've always offered free-choice hay, though our board agreement puts a limit of 20 pounds of premium quality hay per horse.

We've always had horses of different sizes and conditions, so the hay cost per horse averaged out and we gave free choice without worrying too much about it.

However in calculating how much to buy for next year I've come to the realization that we've been feeding upwards of 40 pounds per day per horse. Our clientele has changed from a mix of horse sizes to the point where all but one of our boarders are drafts/TBs/warmbloods 16.2-17.3hh. My own horses are very easy keepers so the average on the boarders is certainly higher than that.

After doing some quick math it is not feasible to keep going at the above rate, as if we do we won't even break even on consumable costs (feed, bedding etc) much less cover the cost of labor and or (heaven forbid) make a small profit.

I'm trying to determine what is a fair way to handle this with our boarders - raise rates across the board, or charge more for the horses that eat more, or ??

Your input would be appreciated.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Wednesday, Aug 22, 2012 - 7:49 am:

Hello Shannon,
The rising cost of hay in most parts of the country probably make this a common concern. It would be best if the board accurately reflected the individual cost of maintenance but whether this is practical will depend on management. Is it feasible to calculate what the individual horse is eating? If the horses only receive hay in the stall then it is feasible to bill hay separately. If the hay is placed out in the communal pasture this becomes harder. You could prorate the feed costs added to the board based on the horses weight: total cost of hay / total weight of horses in lbs = hay cost per lb.
DrO
Member:
stek

Posted on Wednesday, Aug 22, 2012 - 11:10 am:

Thanks Dr. O. Yes hay costs are staggering; they have risen more than 50% for the same quality hay in the last couple years. I am just glad we have a good source of high quality hay, lots of areas of the country aren't so lucky.

Our horses are fed separately in the barn and as a group in the pasture which makes it a little difficult to calculate exact consumption per horse.

What you suggest is a good idea. I've also considered going to a cost-plus model where care and facilities are a fixed cost and then feed is calculated separately. But we have a couple absentee owners and I'd rather be able to make the judgement call if a horse needs more as I'm the one assessing condition on a daily basis.

Thanks for you input!
Member:
jhyrick

Posted on Wednesday, Aug 22, 2012 - 11:58 am:

If you'd like to email me at JHyrick@aol.com, I can send you a board agreement that states minimums covered, and fees and costs for additional. It was a contract I had to sign in order to board at a facility near my home.
I board, and I would prefer a cost plus, as I own Arabians, and they weigh on the average about 900-1000 lbs. I resent paying the same as an owner that has a large horse such as a Warmblood, that obviously takes more grain, hay and bedding.
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