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Horse Boarding: Am I too picky?
I recently bought a filly, and am in the process of training her. Unfortunately, I am going to a school that is located 3 hours from my home, so I have to board her here as well. The first boarding facility I had her at had good facilities, but they didn't keep them up. She went through a paddock fence because the voltage wasn't high enough (I could hold the wire in my hand for minutes). Then they fenced off old hay ground, that was probably 50% alfalfa and 50% clover/grass mix. She ended up colicking- which they didn't notice, even though she was aggressively kicking at her stomach & sweating up a storm. They refused to put her in a paddock afterwards, stating that she'd run through it before, and wanted to leave her in her stall, even though they had heard the vet say she needed to be placed in a paddock. They got angry that I called a vet in the first place, and said they could have treated her with painkillers and she would have been just fine. It was a mess... I got her out the next day.
The place we're at now has wonderful facilities, which they do keep up, and excellent care. But they just lost all of their pasture leases, so horses are rotated on small grass paddocks (which have already become dry lots). Horses in the "big barn" pay $500/mo for full care; I'm located in the "small barn" and pay $325/mo for self-care (everything included except I clean my own stall & pay for bedding, and I don't have an automatic waterer). They recently decided that all "small barn" boarders (all 2 of us) shouldn't have access to the paddocks that do have a bit of pasture, but instead should be put on the dry lots and fed lots of hay. So my filly was put in with 4 other young horses, and they fight over about one small square bale a day. They wanted to move her because she was "beating up" all of the others- but I'm quite sure it's because she's hungry. She's usually incredibly passive amongst other horses. I also clearly stated at the beginning that I didn't want this mare to get beat up, because she has to attend a keuring later on down the road. Now she has several scars, and I'm afraid her hair will grow back in white. Normally this wouldn't bother me, but she was expensive, and her looks really do have to be preserved until the keuring is over with (preferably afterwards as well, but you get my drift). I asked for her to be put in a small paddock by herself, but they don't have the room. I was also told that I only pay $30 more than horses left out on the dry lots continuously. I think that was their way of telling me to "shut up" and be happy with what I have. Needless to say, I'm planning on moving her to another barn as soon as I find one with suitable pasture and facilities.
Am I being too picky of a boarder? I don't nag, I try not to demand anything other than that they take care of my horse. Her getting kicked up is regretable, but not the end of the world. Horses will be horses. But most of the time I feel like I'm being treated like an idiot. One lady told me that they were putting my horse in with a gelding so that "she could befriend him, and then he would protect her when [they] put them both in with the other young horses." I was shocked at her ignorance.
I feel like I have to be forceful about her care, and I hate being that way. I paid someone to take care of her stall while I was away for 3 days, and I came back and noticed that she's dropped a lot of weight. I think that because I see her everyday, I just don't notice it. It really struck me. I've asked before for them to increase the amount of hay she gets, but I don't think they are. I have to sneak her hay every chance I get, which makes me feel shifty, and angry at the same time. Typically they feed them a flake in the morning & at night, and she has to share a square bale with 4 others during the day. But as I said, she's a growing girl, and a light draft breed, so she needs a lot of food!
Please give me your opinion on my actions. If you board horses, tell me what you look for in a boarder. And if you are a boarder, give me your advice and opinion. This sounds like a stupid question, but I'm not just asking for clarification on this. I'd like to know what other boarders have gone through, and how you all dealt with it. This is the first time in about 5 years that I've boarded a horse. Thanks!
Thanks for the answers so far! I tried to be pretty careful about picking a suitable stable, but as a student, I also live on a budget too. The first one would have been okay if the management had been different, and this one just doesn't have the pasture needed to support the number of horses they have. The one I'm in right now is considered one of the top facilities in town (okay, probably THEE top facility), but everything started changing after I signed the contract and got her in there. We only stayed a month in the first stable, and it will be 2 months in this stable. I never thought I'd have so much trouble finding a good stabling facility! I can deal with catty people, criticism and etc. I can't deal with mistreatment of my horse.
Thanks for the answers so far! I tried to be pretty careful about picking a suitable stable, but as a student, I also live on a budget too. The first one would have been okay if the management had been different, and this one just doesn't have the pasture needed to support the number of horses they have. The one I'm in right now is considered one of the top facilities in town (okay, probably THEE top facility), but everything started changing after I signed the contract and got her in there. We only stayed a month in the first stable, and it will be 2 months in this stable. I never thought I'd have so much trouble finding a good stabling facility! I can deal with catty people, criticism and etc. I can't deal with mistreatment of my horse.
10 Answers
- ?Lv 49 years ago
I am not a boarder but we do have boarders at our barn. It is one thing to be a picky boarder who thinks that they are the only person to have a horse and that their horse is the most amazing thing in the world and nobody else's horse matters but it is another thing to demand that your horse gets good treatment and isn't starving half the time. I understand that your horse had to share a pasture with other horses because that is what happens at boarding facilities, they can't have a separate pasture for each horse but they should not be putting horses with horses that constantly fight and don't get along and they should be giving enough food for a growing foal and 3 other horses.
You should definitely go look into finding a new barn to board at. you would be surprised that a lot of times a good lesson barn will have some of the best boarding because they have to take care of lesson horses so they understand what it is to make sure that your horse is healthy and a lot of them will have smaller barns for the people who will mostly or completely take care of their own horses.
- AllAroundQHLv 69 years ago
It's your right to decide what you want, but it's their right to decide what they will offer. In other words, they aren't in the wrong just by refusing to accommodate your wishes. You have the option to leave if you are unhappy there.
Is she also fed grain? If she's fed grain plus a minimum of two flakes a day, being on a dry lot shouldn't hurt her. My gelding is stalled most of the time (turnout for a couple of hours on grass, only if weather is good), and he is worked hard daily yet maintains a good weight with grain twice a day and hay once a day. If your horse isn't getting grain, or if she is losing weight despite it, ask if it can be increased or added. My barn will increase or decrease feed as needed, no extra charge. You can always buy your own grain if they have a limit on what they will provide.
If you want something different than what they offer, provide it yourself or change barns. The first barn sounds negligent, but the second doesn't. They're providing what they said they would and that's all they have to do. It's unfortunate if it doesn't work for your horse, but it's not their fault.
- 9 years ago
I used to board horses before I went to college, and I never treated my boarders like this! I had some very picky people who boarded at my place, but I bent over backwards to fulfill their wishes, even if it meant stopping by the barn on my lunch break to give a horse medicine. It sounds like all you want is reasonable care, not pampering. I don't think you're too picky, and I do think you should move your horse to another barn that's smaller with fewer horses and more hands-on care. That might be hard if you're looking for indoor arenas and nice facilities like that, but it might be worth the sacrifice to get the needed care. Your poor filly needs much better care, especially if she's in training and still growing.
Hope this helps! And good luck training her!!:)
- FinleyLv 79 years ago
Both of those places sound sh!tty.
If I were you, I would be a lot more careful before just dropping off my horse at any place and hoping for the best.
I would research the new place, look carefully at everything and talk to the other boarders and talk to the barn owner and make 100% sure that it's exactly what is best for my horse.
If there is anything out of line, I'd move.
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- 9 years ago
I don't think your being too picky. It sounds like you've had some bad luck! Maybe you should try to find a place to keep her that's not an actual boarding stable. Instead find someone who is looking to lease out their pasture. In my area there are a lot of people that advertise having pasture room for a few horse's and many have shelter too.
- ?Lv 59 years ago
you should be picky. in my opinion, going by what you said, both of those places are not fit for boarding. at any boarding facility the first priority should be the welfare of the horses. they need to be fed and watered properly according to the needs of each individual horse, have stalls cleaned daily with good bedding, have ample turnout and be checked every day for any problems. some places arrange for farrier service and vet. be picky and get the best deal for your horse.
- ?Lv 45 years ago
My horses are actually not too choosy, even with the incontrovertible fact that, i'm VERY choosy approximately what they have. whilst i do no longer provide treats lots, I provide commonly granny smith apples (their admired) and carrots. additionally, Buckeye makes treats that are suited in aspects and are available in apple, carrot and peppermint flavors. They love the peppermint so i purchase a bag on social gathering as actual peppermint goodies are actually not stable for their tooth.
- 9 years ago
your not picky.if they have boarding at their barn, it should be suitable for any horse, and they need to care for your horse when you're not there, after all people pay tons of money to board
- 9 years ago
first of all, it your horse your decsison. i ahve five. I know what it is like to board. If you cant finsd a place though, you might just be to picky.
- 9 years ago
Just want to say, when it comes to your horse, you can NEVER be too picky!