Boarder Relations

As the owner of a 6 stall barn and the manager of our boarding program, I have learned the hard way in dealing with boarders. In our area we get $200.00 per month per horse; this includes a stall with run, water, boarder supplies feed, bedding. We do the feeding, watering, and stall cleaning.

For some reason, this is never as simple as it looks when written down. Potential boarders always want a price break, they can't afford $200 per month so they want to pay $150 per month. If I agree to that price, they will end up being the most annoying people in the barn. I guess it is Murphy's Law in action. The cheapest people seem to want the most from you... adding supplements, 2 or three kinds of pelleted feeds mixed together, hay fed a certain way, water buckets in a certain place. No consideration for how difficult it may be to reach the buckets!

I have had to put my foot down, it is really too bad. But, no more making deals. If you can't afford to pay board for your horse, you just shouldn't have a horse! Owning and caring for horses is not cheap, even if you have your own land. But, for a person who lives in the city and boards their horses, the cost can become prohibitive. This must be considered.

Some tips for Boarders
    *  Don't expect your barn manager to give your horses special care if you can't pay for it. If you have horses with special dietary needs or medical needs, you should pay your barn manager extra for completing the additional tasks. Or do it yourself.
    *  Bringing in 2 or more supplements to add to feed is asking a bit much, please find a supplement that has everything in it your horse needs, or prepackage them yourself.
    *  Expecting your horses to be fed three kinds of pelleted feed, with supplements, and oils, or herbs...or, and..additonally...
    *  Bringing in extra feed containers and expecting the horse not to knock them over, and expecting your barn manager to check them several times a day to make sure they aren't knocked over.
    *   Your barn manager is not your counselor. If you have personal problems, talk to your friends, parents, pastor, rabi, or priest. Don't expect your barn manager to stand there and listen to an hour of whining.
    *  Clean up after yourself and your horses when you are going to leave. And make sure the stall door or gates are securely latched.
    *  Don't expect to come into the house to visit everytime you arrive and before you leave.
    *  If your horses crib or chew wood, causing damage to the fences or stalls, please take care to attempt to stop their bad habits or at least offer to contribute to the repair of the damages.

As you can see, these are some of our pet peeves. It is just a matter of good communication, consideration, and common sense. I know we enjoy having boarders on our property and in our barn, but, the responsibility to be "friends" can be overwhelming for a busy family.

This article may be reprinted on your web site if you include this entire paragraph , with live links, when copying it to your site. Copyright 2004-2009, Pam Hunter, Hunter's Pony Farm http://www.huntersponyfarm.com

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