| Choosing the right boarding facility for your horse | | | | barn with adequate ventilation, clean water buckets |
| depends largely on the type of horseman or | | | | and tanks, good hay, and knowledgeable staff. Also |
| horsewoman you are or aspire to be. There are | | | | check for safe conditions, proper stall size, and a |
| three main types of boarding typically available to a | | | | property owner familiar with horse care. Many partial |
| horse owner. The one that's right for you will depend | | | | care facilities also offer lessons in some discipline for |
| on your individual situation and budget. There are | | | | the more serious equestrian. |
| three main types of boarding - Rough Board, Partial | | | | Full care board is the "top shelf" version of a boarding |
| Care, and Full Care. | | | | facility and the most expensive. These facilities |
| Rough board is one of the most common types of | | | | usually have it all - a horse barn, indoor and outdoor |
| boarding available. Usually the cheapest of the three, | | | | arena, and maybe even trails. At these facilities you |
| rough board is straightforward and simple - pasture, | | | | are, just as the name suggests, paying for the "full |
| loafing shed, and water. Rough board usually includes | | | | care" of your horse. Your horse will be stalled every |
| hay in the winter, but no grain or supplements. It's | | | | night, turned out every day, and fed both hay and |
| possible to find one that offers trail access if trail | | | | grain. Some places even include the exercising of |
| riding is the type of riding you do. But, beyond that | | | | your horse into the full care price. Full Care facilities |
| there are not many amenities at a rough boarding | | | | are geared toward people who want to focus all |
| facility. This is not to say that they aren't acceptable | | | | their time on riding their horse-not caring for the |
| facilities - just know they usually won't have a fancy | | | | day-to-day needs. Many hunter/jumper riders, |
| barn or indoor arena. | | | | eventers, or western pleasure riders prefer to spend |
| A good rough boarding facility will have roomy | | | | their time training and preparing for their next show |
| pastures or paddocks with acceptable shelters and | | | | and board at full care facilities. |
| fresh water. When viewing a rough boarding facility, | | | | A good full care facility should most importantly, have |
| you will want to check for clean water and safe living | | | | a trained and knowledgeable staff. After all these |
| conditions. Avoid facilities that have obvious unsafe | | | | people are taking "full care" of your horse, so make |
| horse shelters or visibly filthy conditions. Use cost as | | | | sure they are qualified. Also, given that full care is |
| a consideration, but make the final determining factor | | | | pricey, make sure you are getting what you pay for. |
| the safety and proper care for your horse. | | | | The horse stall should be cleaned daily and fresh |
| A Partial Care facility is usually one with a barn. Some | | | | water available at all times. Consider it the equivalent |
| also offer an arena to ride in. In most cases your | | | | of your horse staying at a 4 star hotel and expect a |
| horse will have access to a stall and the "partial care" | | | | good quality of care. |
| portion of your agreement may vary. Sometimes it | | | | Choosing the right facility might take some time, but |
| may be stall and hay but no grain; others come with | | | | will be well worth it when you know your horse is |
| a stall, hay and grain, but the owner is responsible for | | | | being well taken care of. Also, remember to always |
| the cleaning of the stall. If this is the way you have | | | | make sure you check out any facility in person |
| decided to go, check out a few facilities, compare | | | | before taking your horse there to stay - it's |
| what each has to offer and consider what is most | | | | important to see it for yourself. After all, you're |
| important to you. | | | | footing the bill and your horse is well worth the extra |
| A good partial care facility will have clean stalls, clean | | | | effort. |