When the link to this post, I was thrilled to see the subject line and more so when I read the article. This is really good information especially for a horse owner even if you board your horses yourself. Because guess what? You will still have people wanting to do things that sound good but are not good for your horse. If you board your horse, please take the time to read and save this article for future reference. Thank you Ms. Griest! —Ed.
BOARDING BARN CONFIDENTIAL
Boarding barn owners reveal their biggest pet peeves.
By Allison Griest – @allisongriest | January 15, 2016
Today, most people don’t have land or riding facilities on their own property, so they opt to keep their horse at a boarding facility. As a horse owner, selecting a barn can be a stressful process. Your horse’s well-being and the enjoyment you get from your barn time hinge on making the right choice. As the barn owner, addressing every individual client’s needs (and horse’s needs) can be a challenge, along with maintaining a safe facility and harmony among the residents, both horse and human alike.
We talked to two different barn owners about what they appreciate in a boarder, and about what they never want to have happen at their barn. For privacy, their names and locations have been changed, but we can assure you that all the stories are real.
Safety Offenses
As a barn owner, Kimberly R. from Ohio considers safety her top priority.
“I teach a lot of young kids, and often parents have the rider’s younger siblings with them at the barn,” says Kimberly. “I need every person at the barn, rider or not, to practice safe horsekeeping and horse handling. There is no other option.”
However, she reports that’s not always what happens. Safety offenses she’s seen include:
• Tying a horse to a movable object such as a portable round pen.
• Tying a horse to a trailer with the reins instead of a halter and lead rope.
• Hauling horses in unsafe trailers.
• Attaching a cinch incorrectly.
• Bringing dogs out to the barn that are aggressive toward other dogs, horses or people.
“One time I even had a boarder leave the barn and call me about 30 minutes later,” Kimberly explains. “She asked me to put her horse up. She’d forgotten to put him away herself.”
Joel K. in Texas has been running his boarding facility for over 30 years, and he says most of the time, the problem with difficult boarders is that they don’t want to listen. They simply don’t trust the barn owner as a knowledgeable horse professional.
• See more at the full article »
What makes a good client?
Being a valued part of the community at a boarding barn goes beyond paying your bill on time. Kimberly believes all clients are good clients—until proven otherwise, of course. To her, a good boarder:
• Follows the rules.
• Does not make up new rules.
• Is not an absentee owner.
• Is respectful of other people and their belongings and doesn’t borrow equipment without asking.
• Takes care of her own equipment, including grooming supplies and tack, and puts it away before leaving the barn.
• Picks up after her horse. (We all know manure doesn’t magically move to the manure pile. Someone has to put it there!)
To Joel, a good client is easy to describe. A good client has a true love for horses. Every other hurdle that can potentially present itself at a barn can be handled, but if commitment to the horse is missing, his job as barn owner can be difficult.
Finding the Right Barn and more at the full article »
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Horse Looking Out From Barn
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