Are You Ready to Board Horses?

Whether you’ve been around horses a long time or you're brand new to horses, building your own barn can be a challenge.  Location, construction materials, stall types and amenities are all decisions to be made. Another big question is whether your barn will be for personal or business use.

Before we even start, let’s just take a moment to decide if horsekeeping on your own property, especially if you're thinking of  opening it to other boarders, is right for you.  If you’ve never owned horses before, its best to start a boarding stable with a knowledgeable barn manager, workers, and trainers.  You will have total responsibility for your horse and others who have chosen to board there.  Basic and special feeding, deworming schedules, getting horses ready for the vet or farrier, and basic wound care are all necessary skills.  Since every horse is different, new horse owners often have questions about feed, shoeing and general health. It’s very helpful (and comforting) to know that there’s someone at the barn who can answer your questions. In addition, you will be expected to have adequate coverage to look after the horses if you decide to go away for a few days.

Another consideration of keeping horses at your barn is cost of supplies.  Remember that large boarding stables often buy hay and bedding in bulk because they have the room to store it.  This helps with cost.

Vet visits are another cost that can be reduced. Vets charge a “farm call” fee in addition to any medical treatment.  With a large stable full of horses, it is likely that one or more people who like also like to talk to or see the vet.  You can usually split the farm visit fee with another boarder.  Spring /fall shots and dental visits are another way to save money.  Boarding stables often have “shot clinics” where the vet comes out and all the shots are done at one time.  The same is true for dental work.  Again, this saves you the cost of the farm call fee.

Finally, farrier services can be difficult to find if you only have one or two horses and live in a remote location.  Farriers often like to work where they can set up once and shoe numerous horses.  

Finally, there’s the camaraderie principle.  This doesn’t have a cost, but after a few months of keeping horses at home, you may find you miss the social aspect of being at a barn.  It’s nice to talk to someone after a good lesson or have a shoulder to cry on after a bad one. On the other hand, if you are the barn owner or manager, your privacy will be in jeopardy as clients feel free to stop by your home at any time.

If boarding horses at your home still sounds like a good idea, the next step is doing a business plan.  It's a necessary step to ensuring that your barn is a success.