Make Boarding Work For You

Some stables are so in demand they have a waiting list. Others seem to be built with a revolving barn door. You can find a suitable boarding facility if you first decide what you must have in a boarding arrangement and what you absolutely can't tolerate, and then accept that you aren't always going to be in control. It's simple, really. All it involves is straightforward communication.

The fact of the matter is that the person in charge of the boarding stable - whether it's the owner, trainer or barn manager - ultimately makes the decisions. Since the stable must cater to the needs of more than one client, specific barn policies are the only way to do it. It's up to you to find a stable with rules that work for you.

Initial Decisions
Just as with any major purchase, it's smart to have a checklist you can use when you visit different facilities. It will give you a visual way to compare the objective elements of your visit, such as whether they have jumps or trails or a lesson program, so you can weigh the cost. After that, factor in subjective observations, such as whether you think the staff is knowledgeable and if you have enough in common with the other boarders you'll interact with, whether you plan to or not.

Turnout is a huge issue. You know how much of that your horse needs and what will happen if it's taken away. Access to trails is important to some riders, while others can't imagine being at a stable without an indoor arena. And most riders want a large, safe arena in which to work their horse.

You also need to find out if the hours that the stable is accessible suit your needs. Some have a "lights out at 9 p.m." rule, while others are pretty much 24-hour operations. Many stables have one "dark day," where the stable is closed, except for staff to care for the horses, and some don't allow access on major holidays.

Consider how important a lesson program is to you. You may want or need access to a trainer and appreciate a regular weekly lesson. If you have a favorite trainer, find out if he or she is allowed to instruct you on that property. Some stables forbid it. Other riders might consider lessons a pain in the neck, with "strangers" in and out all the time and the "lessons have the right of way rule" annoying to their riding schedule. There are pluses and minuses to boarding at a stable with a professional trainer-manager, as that trainer may "advise" you at times when you'd rather have privacy.

Weigh the overall size of the facility. Ask how many horses are on the property and what the maximum capacity is. Find out how many acres support these horses. Fifty horses on 10 acres might be rather cramped - or you might love the camaraderie of many people with their horses. Remember to visit the stable during the peak riding hours of 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. and on Saturdays, when most working horse owners are in the barn. Check your own most likely barn times to be sure you'll be comfortable if you'll be there at these times.

Busy barns generally have specific health requirements for the horses in the facility, ensuring they're all properly vaccinated and regularly tested for diseases. This is a good thing, as it protects the boarders, especially in barns with a lot of traffic in and out of the facility. Heavy traffic exposes your horse to more diseases than will be likely in a more private barn, and it may also force you to vaccinate your horse for something you otherwise wouldn't subject your horse to, such as rhino.

Find out if you must follow a specific deworming schedule. Some farms require daily dewormers, while others want paste dewormings with specific drugs at certain intervals. Be sure this works for you. Same with fly control. Do you have to give a feed-through fly-control product? Can you use spray-on pesticides? Is anyone willing to do that for you in your absence - and is there a charge?