What to look for in a horse boarding facility

Finding a place to board your horse is a stressful endeavor. Sometimes you are limited in your options, due to your remote area. Perhaps you know certain barns or stables that you know to stay away from. Your intuition is your best source. You know your horse; you know what makes him happy, nervous, and angry. These are all factors that you should keep in your mind when looking for the right facility.

Gather a large list of places; do some research at feed stores, and tack shops. There might be some places you never knew about, hiding in the woodwork. The smaller facilities tend to be much safer, since it is a small operation, and fewer people oversee it. Call each place for an appointment; this is much more professional than showing up, and the owner or manager will have the time to show you around.

First, look at the horse's health. Are they skinny? Do they have shiny coats? Are they together in one field or separated? It is best to keep your horse in it's own pasture, but with horses near by. Having your horse in a large group is very intimidating at first, and can eventually lead to injuries. If there is a barn, make sure to spend lots of time looking at it. See if the aisles are cluttered. Are there rubber mats on concrete? If yes, that is good. Concrete is a very slippery surface, especially if it is wet. Are the horses tied with cross ties? Do they have hitching posts to tie to? Be careful of cross ties. If your horse has never been in them, he might not understand that he is tied. They can not see the ropes very well, and get nervous from the tugging on either side of their cheeks. This could cause a very ugly and possibly fatal accident. Also, make sure the ropes are secured on bailing twine to the tie ring. You want a horse to be able to break away from it's tie; you do not want a horse down, and have to cut a rope to free it.

Is the tack room tidy? Is the office tidy? Can you keep your supplies in either of these places? Make sure you are going to be comfortable here. It is important that you carve your own space in the facility for your things. If you feel like you will not have a space, don't board there. It is far to stressful to have people using your things, or having it exposed and possibly stolen. If you feel like you can work something out, like building a locker, approach the owner with it. Watch closely how she reacts, and set a time for it to be completed. Use this as a test to see if this person is trustworthy, efficient, and genuinely wants you at the facility. The best reaction would be "great idea. All of my boarders should have their own place here."

When looking through the barn, watch the stalled horses. Are they pacing? Are the stalls clean and tidy? Ask questions: how often are the stalls cleaned; do these horses get turn out time; how much and how often are they fed; what kind of hay do you feed; do I supply my own grain; do you mind feeding my horse a special diet every day, three times a day? If you want your horse in a stall, make sure it's cleaned at least two times a day. Also, if you can have turn out time, take it. Your horse will be so much happier. If you find the horses are nervous, and pacing, I would suggest finding another facility.

When you are asking these feeding and stall questions be sure to ask what veterinary work is required when boarding. If the answer is "none", leave! You want a place that requires at least worming and coggins. I would also want to require 5 way, flu, strangles and any vaccine that the disease is in your area (i.e. Potomac Fever). Your horse should not be subjected to any of these illnesses. It should be a requirement of the facility to have proof of vaccination, and have the horses vaccinated two weeks prior to boarding. This gives the vaccines time to build the immune system, and makes it safer for the facility. I would also suggest that the facility require a vet certificate/physical check be completed, but that is the discretion of each facility. Find your comfort level for vaccinations and what should be required.

Now, once you have gone through the barn, take a nice long walk outside. Walk the pastures. What is the fencing? If it is barbed wire, leave. Smooth wire is tolerable, make sure it is tight, and flagged or has a top wooden rail so the horse can see it. Barbed wire is a major hazard; if horse get caught, the barbs can sink into their skin and slice arteries, possibly killing the horse. Do not tolerate it! Wood or synthetic fencing is ideal with three to five panels for each section. Watch to see if it is maintained well. Make sure there are no nails sticking out or the wood is rotten. Wiggle some posts, making sure they are secure in the ground.

Do the pastures have adequate grass? If not, are the horses fed hay? They should be. Do the pastures have an adequate water source? If it is a creek, does it run year round, and do you have to break ice often? If there are automatic water systems, look to see if they are clean. Ask if there is a heater in each one, and what temperature it warms the water to. If you find the water source is a tub, make sure they keep it clean, and fill with fresh water one to two times a week. Also, make sure they have heaters in the winter to prevent freezing.

If you find you like the facility, come back and watch a riding lesson, or people working their horses. Do a little research on the place before completely committing your horse and yourself to it. You want to see happy relaxed horses. Anger and rage are obviously not what you should be getting yourself into. Watch a lesson to see if the instructor can communicate well. Is the horse happy? Does the student seem to be learning? Even though you might not want to take lessons, this is a good indicator of who you will be communicating to. Also, notice the arena footing. Is the horse slipping? Is it too deep? Think about what you need for your horse in an arena. Does it meet your standards? Make sure it is large enough for what you need.

If everything seems good and meets your standards, sign a boarding and riding release. Have a wonderful time at your new facility, and I hope it works well for you. A happy horse is so important, and finding the right place is a crucial element of that.