How do I look for a boarding center?
I’m looking into leasing a gelding(for free) and I would pay for all boarding, training and farrier expenses and half of the vet bills(nice, eh?). horse would be "mine" and would come with a fitted close contact saddle and tack and blankies. I would provide love and grooming equipment :).
The place he is now is just too far to drive every day, or even every other. I would be out once a week and some weekends(my gramma lives nearby) but not much more as I work weekends and have church, etc.
so I’m looking for a place closer to home. What are some questions to ask and things to look for?
My big thing is there has to be good care and safe facilities. No chicken wire fencing!(seriously, I’ve seen this)
Also, if he has the close contact saddle, can I use this for dressage?
ANY other tips are much appreciated!
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3 Responses to “How do I look for a boarding center?”
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first figure out what type of riding you plan to do the most…trail riding? dressage? jumping? barrel racing? Hunting? Then figure out what a boarding stables would need for the things you plan on doing.
Trail rides: trails (of course)
dressage: fairly good sized arena
jumping: the jumping equiptment
barrel racing: barrels
And so on
Then figure out if you are okay with just an outdoor arena or if you want an indoor or both. Call all the people with stables around you and ask about their boarding. See what it includes. All Day Turn Out? And so on.
You can use a close contact saddle for dressage, but you couldn’t perform professionally with it.
Another tip is, if you find a stables that sounds like something you want, make an appointment to go and visit the stables. Talk to the other boarders who board there. Are they happy with the board?
you can use a close contact or ap saddle. It wont work tthough if you go up in to thr upper dressage levels.
Where do you live? If you live in the midwest this is a great website for finding a boarding stable.
http://www.stablesdirectory.org/ocrsd.html
If you live in SE WI I am in the process of purchasing a farm and will be looking for a few boarders!!!
As for questions, how much turnout do they get? All day? A few hours? How often are the stalls cleaned? Are their any extra fees for things like blanketing, feeding supplements etc., what does your board cover (mine covers food, shavings, turnout and worming), if they are on dirt turnout (no pasture) are they given hay when they are turned out?, what are the hours for the facility? Can you use your own farrier and vet or do they require that you use theirs?
Things to look for: Nice fat healthy horses with shiny coats, clean stalls, clean barn (no cobwebs), check out feet to see if they are getting good farrier care. Ask to see the hay and feed bins. Check to see if they have good hay and feed, make sure it is not moldy.
Also ask check out their turnout. Do they just throw them all together or do they make sure they watch to see who gets along and who doesn’t and will adjust accordingly. Also look to see how many horse they have in each turnout situation (you don’t want overcrowding).
Ask for a copy of the boarding contract to read through (and make sure you do) before you decide.
I suppose you can use a close contact saddle for dressage but you are not going to be sitting correctly for dressage. A close contact saddle will sit you more forward. If you want to do dressage I would get a dressage saddle.