[RC] Boarding facilities - Mike and Laurie Hilyard
My horses are in the backyard now (thank goodness)
but when I boarded in Texas, what I wanted most was:
1.) Pasture board (even if it's only a half acre),
a shelter with no flapping metal or nails, and secure fences OR at least 12
hours of turnout so my horse could be a horse.
2.) A dry spot to put my lockable tack box for
horse care items. I hauled my (cheap) saddle back and forth - I figure if
you board and leave your saddle there, you are asking for trouble.
3.) Unless the barn is burning, NO ONE should use
anyone else's halters, ropes, lunge whips, buckets, etc. I wanted to find
my stuff where I left it.
4.) A flush toilet (with paper).
5.) A communication board for interesting-to-know
items - like when a farrier will be out, and the number to call if you want said
farrier to see your horse; peple looking for a riding buddy/training partner;
upcoming local competitive events (rides or shows); barn announcements (worming
days, vaccination days, etc..).
One of the things I remember being most shocked
about when I first started to board was the number of horses that never left
their stalls, other than for a brief, 15 minute turnout in a small arena - if
they got that. I remember when a pretty paint mare had a foal - and the
poor thing was a month old before it set foot outside of the 12x24 stall it was
born in. I always wondered what kind of bone or muscle it could
develop.\
Also - IMO although you may be able to keep vermin
out of the feed storage rooms, you will never be able to keep rats or mice out
of an open barn, unless you are infested by barn cats you don't feed
well.
