Re: Another Overnight Stabling Guide

[Teddy Lancaster <Teddy@runningbear.com>]

I personally don't think any are as good as Bruce McAllister's...

Teddy

Linda B. Merims wrote:

> Just this past week I discovered to my chagrin that Bruce McAllister's
> North American Horse Travel Guide has gone out of print.  Nobody I
> called has it anymore (SportTack, Dover, Amazon.com, State Line,
> Robin Bledsoe, Knight, Barnes and Noble, Borders, Book Stable, etc.)
> Many of them have something called "Hawkins Guide" which lists regulations
> and vets and emergency trailer service places nationwide, but which
> does *not* list stabling accommodations.
>
> The story I got from Teddy Lancaster at Running Bear Farm was that
> McAllister is getting a bit on and decided it had just gotten to be
> too much to revise and has let it go out of print.
>
> So I've got 1000 miles to go with my horse over two days, in our first
> long distance jaunt.  What am I supposed to do?
>
> At a small local tack shop I discovered another overnight stabling
> guide.  Evidently this book is one that is available through the
> Automobile Association of America (AAA).  It is called:
>
>   _U.S. Stabling Guide:  The Country's Comprehensive Guide for Horse
>     Transportation in the United States and Canada_.  336 pages.
>     By James Balzotti.  $24.95.  Balzotti Publications.  5 Barker
>     Street, Pembroke, MA, 02359. 1-800-829-0715.
>
> I've got the 3rd edition, for 1997.  Balzotti Publications says it is
> updated annually.  As near as I can tell, the thing does not have an
> ISBN number.  (There is an ISSN number on it:  ISSN:1083-4036.  But
> I'm not sure if that's for this book or a different book from Balzotti's
> called _Best Horseback Riding Vacations_.)
>
> I never took a good look at McAllister's book, so I cannot tell you
> whether this is as good, better, or worse than the North American Horse
> Travel Guide.  The listings are compiled by five regional agents.
> The listings are by state.  For each state there is a map that shows
> fairly clearly where the towns are in which there is a listed stable
> that will take overnighters, so you can look at your route and tell
> pretty quickly who the candidate farms are.  Then, each farm is
> listed. Here is a sample listing:
>
>   Washington State...
>
>    Deer Park
>    Blue Haven Stables
>    Randy & Pamela Heiman.  W. 8516 Staley Road [99006]  Phone:  509-276-7968.
>    Directions:  Located 4 miles west of Hwy 395 at Staley Road Exit.  Call
>    for directions.  Facilities:  19 indoor stalls, indoor arena, 40 acres of
>    pastures and paddocks, 1/4 mile outdoor track, feed/hay & trailer parking
>    available.  Has jogging machine for horses that goe sup to 18 mph for race
>    horses.  Breeds, trains, & sells American Saddlebreds.  Farrier on premises.
>    Call for reservation.  Rates:  $15 pernight; $75 per week.
>    Accommodations:  Motels 6 miles from stable.
>
> The number of farms listed per state varies from pretty dense coverage
> with 37 listings for Tennessee, to rather middling coverage like 24
> listings for New York state, down to pretty sparse coverage with
> small numbers like 7 for Iowa.  Some of the listings are B&Bs that
> can put you up for the night as well as your horse.  The book says
> the listed farms are not guaranteed to be inspected in advance of
> listing, but if they receive two complaints about any listing, it is
> inspected by one of the regional agents before they will continue to
> list it.
>
> I was able to find a place right near where I want to make my overnight
> using this guide, so it has served its purpose for me.  And at the moment
> it seems to be the only game in town.
>
> I have no association with these people whatsoever.  With McAllister's
> Guide unavailable, I believe people will be keen to know that some
> alternative exists.
>
> Linda B. Merims
> lbm@ici.net
> Massachusetts, USA