If there are personal lockers/bins/closets, note how large they are, if they lock and what you think you could store there. If not, find out how other boarders handle their personal tack, grooming supplies and other equipment. Are you willing to turn your car trunk into a makeshift tack room?
Talk to the boarders, at least saying hello to gauge the overall friendliness of the barn. This is a personal determination. Some of us like chatty, enthusiastic barn friends, who comment on everything. Others prefer people who have a more laid-back, private demeanor. Either way, you should believe you will fit in well with the people at the barn. If you're a strict boots-and-breeches show rider who gets into every new trend, but the majority of the boarders are trail riders who don't know a diagonal from a lead, you may feel out of place. Watch how other boarders ride and care for their horses, as this can give you feedback on the barn's general training and management levels.
Your barn visits - always visit at least twice before making a decision - should include an opportunity to watch the person in charge at work. Observe a lesson, if possible. Or watch that person work with his or her horse or interact with a boarder or barn complaint. Drop in at the time you'd normally go visit your horse. You can use this information to determine if you like the overall aura.
Finally, assess the extras in the barn. You're paying for everything, whether you use it or not. If the barn has fancy door handles on every stall, incredible PVC jumps that look like they'd fit in Madison Square Garden, wash stalls, laundry, microwave - the list is endless - you can rest assured that these items are factored into your boarding cost. If you'll never use a jump, you may not want to board at a facility that emphasizes keeping up with the latest jumper trends.
Paperwork
In this litigious society, few business owners are going to take on a student or boarder without a contract and liability release. Be sure the contract is legally binding and that both parties sign once you've decided to board. You need to ensure that the specific items in the contract are ones you can live with, including:
Who makes emergency decisions and who is responsible if a blatant emergency is missed or ignored.
- The insurance the stable carries vs. what you're expected to carry yourself.
- The payment policy, including due date, late fees, interest, etc.
- What occurs if you fall a month behind in payment. What about two months? Three?
- Exactly what expenses the stable owner is responsible for vs. what the horse owner is responsible for (mortality insurance on the horse, hay, grain, supplements, farrier, veterinarian, dentist, tack theft, lost items, injury by your horse, injury to your horse by a fellow boarder, injury to you or a third party, destruction of property by you or your horse). If your horse eats more or less grain or hay, is your fee adjusted up or down to compensate? Are there feeding limits or requirements? If your horse must go on a special diet, can/will the stable compensate (for example, if your horse is diagnosed with EPSM, will the stable ensure a low-carb/high-fat diet)?
- How much notice you receive when rates go up.
- How much notice you must give if you decide to move out.
- Whether there is a minimum lease arrangement involved. (Do you have to stay a year?).
- The exact costs of any "extras" you might desire, such as if the facility offers clipping services, tack cleaning, turnout (if extra, specify how much turnout costs) and so on.
You might find it helpful to request a sample monthly bill, based on your current needs.
Bottom Line
Shop around. Compare costs among the stables in your area, weighing what you're paying for vs. what you really need and want. Make a list of what you simply can't live without and what you absolutely can't live with.
Finally, be open with the stable manager. He or she wants you to be happy in the barn, as otherwise you're just another boarding-facility headache. With a little foresight, you make the boarding relationship work for both of you.
