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Posted on Tuesday, Mar 28, 2000 - 1:18 pm:

I am starting a horse boarding stable and would like a smaple of an agreement spelling out what the boarder recieve and what is expected of the boarders.

Also any tips on what boarders are looking for in particular.

Thanks

Jackie

Posted on Tuesday, Mar 28, 2000 - 2:04 pm:

Jackie,
We have had to board our horses for the past few years due to moving around the country and the one thing we want in a boarding stable is good consistant care for the horse. A lot of people start out with good intentions of doing what is best for the horses, then find out it is too time consuming or too expensive, and cut back on hay or checking on horses or whatever to save time and/or money. Most of all, be honest about what you expect from the boarder and what you are willing to provide and stick to it.
Kathleen

Posted on Tuesday, Mar 28, 2000 - 4:52 pm:

We have been boarding horses (up to 8) for about 20 years. At the beginning I tried to be all things to all people and their horses. I was there when they were there (we didn't live on the farm) so they wouldn't ride alone. We stayed open so working people could ride after work without rushing out at dark. We installed lights, graded rings and religiously cleaned stalls. We mowed and raked and harrowed pastures. The board covered our basic expenses such as the added utilities for the lights and the insurance as well as the material supplies needed by each horse (feed, hay and bedding) as well as for our own horses. What it did not pay, nor does now, is our time and labor. As a stable owner what made me feel very resentful is when a boarder started to regard me as an extended servant, to do things for their horse they were able to do but didn't feel like it (like multiple blanketing systems subject to change on a whim...."oh, could you please take off that sheet under the two blankets and put it on top so the blanket doesn't get dirty...I'd come but it's soooo cold out" stuff like that) And that person's equipment was all patched together and raggedy! Or the boarder who freely dumped bags of bedding into their horse's stall or passed out hay to everyone because they wanted to treat the barn...all without asking. We were never penny pinchers but when you run a stable you certainly are aware of the cost of hay and shavings. Then there were the people who never cleaned up after themselves or would ever think of picking out their horse's clean stall because you as the owner are SUPPOSED to do it. So, as it is with most things in life like jobs, relatives, organizations etc. the things that will bug you will be from the people and not the horses and it will be the inconsideration dealt to you because the boarder thinks they are paying for the privilege to treat you that way.

On the other side of it, and just recently, I have been a boarder with horses in training. I look for consistent care by people experienced with what they are doing. I don't expect frills. I do expect a clean stall, water at all times in a clean pail and regular turnout. And sometimes it is hard to find these basic requirements. One thing that makes me nervous in my horse's care is if a stable has too many "helpers" feeding, turning out etc. esp. when they employ cheap labor with questionable country of origins who do not speak English and have a very rudimentary, if any, knowledge of horses. I've seen horses stuck with forks by frightened stable help and a total disregard for a rider's safety by these folk because they simply do not know what they are doing around horses. If a horse is sick, has not eaten, is injured they do not know enough or cannot communicate what they see. It's very scary. Most barns will have a manager but that person only works certain hours. I have always preferred smaller, owner-managed places with minimal additional help but that brings you back to where I am and where you are proposing to put yourself. The time, labor, committment and responsibility are awesome. We go "in" and "out" of business often. Boarders leave and we vow never to replace them but then get lonely and when an appropriate call comes, let someone in. Over the years I have had some great boarders who became friends and some awful people who almost poisoned my life. Screen carefully and after all this I found the best thing is to have people who share your particular interest and viewpoint. If you don't compete don't have a barn full of people who do because their demands and nervous tension will affect the barn. If you do compete don't have a bunch of "petowners" who won't stimulate and give you feedback in your interest. If you believe in caring for horses as natural as possible don't have a barn full of people who never want their horses turned out (might get dirty) or given hay (might give them a belly). If you are all somewhat on the same wavelength it will be much more pleasurable for all concerned. I have at present all unattached mature women without children. Some are better riders than others but we all share a common experience. They love their horses like children and the horse comes before their own ambitions. I would not add a male boarder to this mix because it would change the mood nor would I add someone with a young child for the same reason.

Hope this helps. Boarding horses is like adopting new relatives. Or a hotel where the guests never leave. It's not just about the horse.

Posted on Wednesday, May 3, 2000 - 12:44 am:

I board our two quarterhorses at a family owned facility, and have watched boarders come and go. Sometimes I feel that they may not have been given a fair shake; and sometimes I have wondered how the facility owners could stand the boarders as long as they did. I have seen the people who run the boarding facility get "abused" regularly.
When you are boarding your horses, that's what you are paying for... boarding. Some boarders will leave their DrOppings, so I am cleaning theirs before I can groom at the grooming post. Some have taken our tack and grooming stuffs, if they can't find their own. Once, one of my Tom Balding bits and headstall went home with someone else, and returned a few weeks later. Ok, I'm pretty forgiving. I know that because I try help out, and try NOT to be a "high maintanence" boarder, I get a fairly good rate. The thing that I see that bothers me most is when someone will bring in a newly purchased, well trained horse; and proceed to ride it without learning HOW to ride correctly. Should the people who run the facility speak up and offer suggestions - sometimes not welcome? Or should they bite their tongues and get it in the end when they are blamed for the horse blowing up? What about people who leave their teenagers at the barn to spend the day with the horses? Should the managers guide the teenagers when they are riding way to fast and hard for the horse's health, with their bare feet in the stirrups? I think that you need to anticipate all kinds of situations, and try to set guidelines for your boarders' behavior, and approach the issues as honestly and as reasonably as you can. The issue of what to do when you see dangerous actions on the part of the boarders, as well as unsafe actions, is a tough one. One thing is for sure, if horsey people aren't happy, they sure do GOSSIP and that can hurt you badly.

When you board, its just not board you offer. People will be coming out to your facility to ride, care for, check up, groom, all that stuff we do for our horses. It's that stuff that can lead to problems, I guess. Some don't come out at all, and you have to call and beg them to have their horse see a ferrier, vet, whatever. If you are a people person, you'll do fine, but like everything else, it's not easy!

Posted on Wednesday, May 3, 2000 - 10:36 am:

I would decide on my "barn rules," post them and review them with each potential new boarder.

I'd have a service agreement - what services I'd provide for the boarding fee and which ones cost extra. I'd have a "notice policy" - how soon I could tell someone to leave and how soon someone could tell me. I'd have a suggestion/complaint forum - box, etc. in the interest of customer service.

I'd have a plan for how to handle someone who wants to hold a stall while the horse is away for a period of time - showing, clinicing, etc. Do you pro rate the board? Give a discount? Charge the same amount?

I'd probably not try to make a living running a boarding facility. I'd like to be able to ask non-compliant or irritating people to leave without worrying about paying the bills.

As far as advice - unless it was a safety or abuse issue, I would not offer it unless asked. Then I'd begin with, "This is what seems to work for me ...."

I would charge for my time related to lessons, coaching, etc. Again, fees, scheduling, 24 hr. cancellation policy, etc.

Decide who holds the horse for the farrier and vet and whether to charge if you do. Do you want everyone to use the same farrier/vet or allow them to do what they want willy-nilly? You should have all horses on the same worming program - again, include this in the service agreement and associated charges.

Besides a method for suggestions/feedback you also want a designated area for tack storage and any restrictions on "how much or how big" an area someone's tack box can occupy. (I've seen some that could house a family of four!) Consider the security - saddle thefts are common.

Carry liability insurance. If your state has an equine liability law, post it. Have a lawyer written release of responsiblity that everyone signs, parents for children.

Decide what you are going to do if a horse is severely injured and the owners are not available to make decisions relative to high vet fees or putting the animal down. Get it in writing. I know of a horse that would have had a long, torturous death had not the vet and boarding facility own decided to put it down. Luckily, the owners understood - not all do.

Decide if you'll allow people to "reserve the ring" for lessons, whether they can bring their own trainer in and if you'll charge a "ring fee", how you will know who is allowed to ride their horse, etc.

Sounds like fun, doesn't it? I'm glad I'm the boarder, GRIN.

Good luck. I'm sure there is more to consider ...

Posted on Wednesday, May 3, 2000 - 12:15 pm:

Bonnie D-
I just read your post and wanted to say that, in my opinion, if someone is doing something that could be potentially dangerous to anyone or anything around them, they need to be stopped. I have also come to the conclusion that subtlety doesn't work. You can be polite and still make your point, however. As far as the other stuff goes, unless your asked, your better off not to offer advice. Even though you may get asked, if it isn't what someone wants to hear, they may get upset anyway. Unfortunately, there are people out there who own horses because they think it's cool but they are clueless as to the care and responsibility it takes to have one, not to mention the love and devotion you should have for you equine companion. You can't do anything with people like that but hope they sell the poor horses to someone who will care for them. As far as people who compete goes, well...I've seen good and bad. I, personally, ABSOLUTELY REFUSE to keep my horse stalled and not feed it hardly anything to avoid that "belly". I have a 14 mos. old registered Paint who has done well as a weanling in halter and always has outside time, hay, grass, grain...etc. etc. He's getting ready to start his show season for this year and looks just as good as any other halter horse. He gets dirty, so what, I give him a bath. No big deal. He plays just like he should. Horses need that, I think. Anyway, good luck with your boarding, maybe someday you'll have them at home and not have to worry about it. :0)

Posted on Wednesday, May 3, 2000 - 1:01 pm:

Does anyone have any thoughts on what to do in a boarding situation when the manager disagrees with the way you handle your horses? I have a situation where the manager has decided that my horse is a spoiled rotten bxxxxxxx and that he needs to learn how to behave. Now, I do not just leave him there and not go up - I am there all the time. What I heard happened is that he was not "leading" properly - she had to walk him to another barn on the property to have a shoe replaced by the farrier - so she beat him with a dressage whip. This behaviour is to me inexcusable - I have the respect of my animals that they will follow me anywhere all I do is drape the rope over my shoulder or carry it - they walk behind me. This however, is not acceptable to my barn manager I guess. I am leaving the barn as this is just the final icing on the cake but I want to know what other's think on this subject or have dealt with any similar situations. I work so I have to depend on the manager to take care of these types of things.

Posted on Wednesday, May 3, 2000 - 2:28 pm:

Karen-
I think your doing the best thing you can by leaving. I'm wondering if there's some reason your horse doesn't like the manager. I wonder what else has happened to him there that he doesn't lead well for her. It's been my experience that horses behave different for different people, they are very capable of drawing their own opinions. *grin* I don't believe that most horses act up for the heck of it, I think bad habits, attitudes, etc. come from mishandling of some sort. I think I would have beaten HER with a dressage whip if it were my horse. ;0) But, that's me. I ,too, lead some horses with the rope thrown over my shoulder since I know I can trust them and they wouldn't do anything. I don't do that with all of them, though. I would say the manager has a personality conflict with your horse and it's best to move him as soon as you can. It sounds like you have a good relationship with your horse and I wouldn't worry about what she thought about how you handle him. Sounds to me like she is the one who can't handle a horse. But, that's my opinion. :0)
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