Picking the right boarding stable, Does it meet my needs?.

Over the last couple of weeks I have been talking about what to look for in a boarding stable as it pertains to the horses safety.  Today I want to talk about what the facility has to offer you.  The first thing you need to do is prioritize what you want in a riding stable.  The second biggest factor is  cost, thirdly is distance and accessability.
If you are into trail riding then a indoor arena isn't necessary, but if you are into schooling and jumping throughout the year they are a must particularly in colder climates when it gets dark very early.
If you want a few lessons see if they are offered or open to having you bring in a coach.  Check to see if you will be competing for arena time with a riding school.
Work out a budget.  As you all know there are always extra costs to having horses other then board.  Be realistic about how much you can afford and does the cost warrant spending that kind of money on a facility you are only getting out to once a week.  Be sure to factor in the cost of gas when working out your boarding budget.  Remember your horse is not impressed with fancy stalls or heated lounges, if you can live without them so can your horse.

Distance is a big factor in selecting a barn.  We all lead busy lives these days so time is of the essence.  Ask yourself do I really want to be driving 40 minutes each way to the barn and try to get in 3-4 rides a week?  Also consider the cost of gas and wear and tear on your vehicle to drive that distance.  The distance is very important but so is the direction.  Will you be dealing with rush hour traffic or dangerous road conditions come winter.  Figure out when you are going to ride, is it an easy commute from the office or home at the time you plan on riding?  I found the best way to make time for riding is scheduling it into your day timer.  Talk it over with your family and come up with a schedule that works best for everyone.  Riding time and a happy family life is a delicate balance you'd  hate to have a horse to ride and knowone to share the joy you derive from it with.

Tomorrow I will talk a little more about stables and your needs.
Thanks
Steve Wawryk

Picking the right boarding stable. Feeding and Care for Pasture board

The last few posts I have talked about what to look when accessing the facility today I want to touch upon the care that will be provided. 
It is pretty simple, you can be boarding at the nicest well cared for boarding facility but if the staff doesn't take proper care of your horse it's all for not. 
So you finally found a place that looks good; safe pastures good barn and a  nice arena, now it is time to talk to the staff and see what care thay will provide for your pasture boarded horse.
The first thing would be to ask how many horses will be on the pasture, You don't want more then the pasture can handle and overcrowding may cause fighting.  A safe number is no more then 1/acre here in Southern Ontario. 
Another consideration is the horses they will be turned out with.  Is your horse low man on the totem poll or herd boss?  Will geldings and mares be mixed and what ages are the horses.  If you have a very old horse consider his safety when turned out with much younger feisty horses. 
Ask if the pasture and run in shelter is picked of manure on a regular basis, proper cleaning keeps insect infestation and worms down.
Ask about a herd health vaccination program, horses sharing the same pasture should be wormed on the same program.
Another consideration is water, Do they have access to clean water, are troughs automated and heated or are they filled daily. How often are they cleaned?
Another consideration is feeding when pasture is gone.  Ideally they will have access to hay constantly, if not  are bales thrown out to them and how is it distributed.  You would hate for your horse to not get his share because another horse won't let him near the pile.  Horses need to eat throughout the day particularly in the winter as the  processing of their food provides them with body heat.
Ask to see how often the herd is checked on. I new someone who's horse was severely injured they were not informed for days because the person managing the stable couldn't bother to take a look out in the pasture. This is very important because we all like to take holidays and we can't get out to ride every day so we want to know and trust that the people we are paying to look after our horses are doing just that. 
Next I'll talk about the things to ask about boarding your horse in a barn.

Picking the right boarding stable, barn and riding arena

The last couple of posts I have been talking about what to look for in selecting a boarding stable. Today I'll talk a little more about the barn then get into things to look for when considering the indoor riding arena.

If the stalls in the barn have windows in them make sure that they are guarded with metal bars, this will keep your horse from putting a hoof or his nose through the glass. I saw a horse who did just that and it was not pretty. Play attention to the lighting, not only should provide good lighting throughout the barn but they to should be protected from being struck by a horse or something else. I have first hand experience with a light breaking over top a horse and I can tell you it is not fun picking broken glass out of a horses rump.

If you are looking at a facility with an indoor riding arena there are several main things you should look at. Once again you and your horses safety are the first concern.

Is the riding arena clear of equipment, or do you have to navigate around tractors being stored or jumps and standards left lying all over the place.

Are the kick boards of adequate height (4ft min) and do they slope away from the wall. By having them slope away this will prevent you from being rubbed or banged against the wall when you go cantering by.

Look at the lighting does it provide enough light or is it dark and cast shadows everywhere?

Pay close attention to the footing, is it soft, safe and provide good traction or is it made up with whatever was convenient? A big concern is dust; a dusty arena is not only dirty to ride in but also dangerous to you and your horses eyes and respiratory system. Make sure to ask how often it is oiled or else you could be in the middle of a dust storm within 15minutes of your ride. Look at the size of the arena is it going to meet the needs of the activities you want to pursue.

Some other little extra perks to consider are viewing galleries and warmth of the arena. I don't believe you need to heat the riding area but a heated viewing gallery with a washroom and a place to sit is nice to have. A fridge to keep a lunch and a cold drink is all the better.

I have ridden in all sorts of arenas from swanky polo arenas with leather clad lounges to steel glad equipment shed. Most recently I had the opportunity to play indoor polo in a Coverall poly building and I must say I loved it. The lighting was great, it was warm and the clear span trusses provided plenty of room. I strongly recommend them.

Hope this helps with making your decision in selecting a boarding stable

Steve Wawryk

www.horselife.ca

Picking the right boarding stable,Barn Safety

Last week I touched upon the hazards to look for in the pasture your horse will be kept in. Today I want to look at some things to look for when selecting a safe barn to keep your horse in.

I don't believe horses are fussy weather a stall or barn is well painted or has fancy brass hooks and handles. If that's what floats your boat go for it it but don't make decor the number one priority in selecting a barn. Once again put the horses safety and well being first.

Look for a well ventilated barn, you can tell by just sniffing, if it reeks of urine it probably isn't that well ventilated,Make sure the stalls are strong, safe and free of protruding objects your horse can get caught up on. Look particularly close at the partitions between stalls and around the stall handles. The stall should also be big enough to comfortably allow your horse to get up and lie down, for an average size horse a 10x10 is good.

Check to see that the isle is wide enough to bring your horse in and out of the stall and turn around . I like a minimum of 8 feet.

Are the cross ties secured properly or are they put together with baler twine and cheep snaps?

what is the flooring like is it slippery concrete or textured. This is a real concern in wet winter climates.

What is the lighting like, can you see as well at night as during the day.

Is the area for tack in an organized,dry, clean enviorment away from bedding and other things that can get in your way or wreck your expensive tack.

These are just a few things to think about. Tomorrow I will continue with barn safety and talk about indoor riding arenas.

thanks

Steve Wawryk

http://www.horselife.ca/

Picking the right boarding stable. Pasture safety.

Yesterday I spoke about the importance of a facilities fencing as it relates to the horses safety. I'd like to continue on the subject of horse safety and talk about the pasture and paddock area.
Any of you who already own a horse know how quickly a horse can find trouble. They just can't help it because of their curious nature. Eliminating the risks is key to keeping your horse from suffering a serious injury or even death. Over the years I have seen some real messes, I was even once at a training facilities where old tractors and dirt bikes had been left out in the same pasture as the horses brought in for training. I left the place thinking what kind of effort is this trainer going to put into training horses when they can't even haul a rusty old tractor out of the paddock. This sort of situation is just asking for a horse to cut themselves. A pasture should be free of old equipment, junk pile, baler twine or any other items a horse could get themselves caught up in. Make sure water troughs and feeders are well maintained and free of sharp edges. The out building should be in good repair and free from protruding nails. If sheet metal is used on the run ins the edges should be capped.

It would be nice if the paddock was free of burrs but in some places this is almost impossible. . This just means a little more grooming time. I suggest you stay on top of the burr situation though because a mated tail and forelock can be a real annoyance to your horse.

If the horses are brought in and out for feeding or stalled at night ask that the halter be removed. Too many horses have hung themselves out in a paddock or even in a stall because their halter got caught on something. If they need to wear a halter make sure it is a break away halter.

Ideally the paddock or pasture will have plenty of natural shelter, shade and running water. Uneven terrain and some rocky out crops. These natural settings help keep a horse from getting bored protected from wet and cold and can also be beneficial to maintaining barefoot horses. A muddy area is also ideal to help give added moisture to dry hooves in the summer or in warm climates. This usually occurs near the watering area.

Make sure the pasture isn't overcrowded. In my neck of the woods where pastures get plenty of rain and sun in the summer we can put about 7 to 8 horses on a 10 acre plot from may to October before any hay needs to be fed. Overcrowding can also lead to insect infestation from manure build up. Ask the barn manager if the paddocks are picked clean of manure.

I hope this gives you some idea of what to look for in a facility particularly if you want pasture board. Next post I we will discuss what to look for in the barn area.

Thanks

Steve Wawryk

www.horselife.ca

Picking the right horse boarding stable.

It has been a while since my last post with summer vacations ending kids going back to school and giving lessons and have been a little lax in my postings. Today I want to talk about picking the right horse boarding stable. I have been boarding horses for almost 20 years now and have probably been at 10 different stables some great others not so good. Over the next couple of days I will talk about things to look for when picking a stable.

The well being and safety of your horse is of the utmost importance. This sounds pretty basic but really it is the most important aspects of boarding and probably the broadest to cover. One of the most important aspects is fencing. There is all sorts of fencing out there today from monofilaments to tapes and steel pipe each have their pluses and minuses. At the end of the day the fence must contain your horse safely.

If you are located on a busy highway you will want very strong sturdy fencing to contain your horse, electric wire temporary tape or a strand or two of braided rope may not do. You will want a stout fence that your horse would not consider trying. Look for 5ft high and 4 strand or boards wide.

If you have a horse that may try a fence a line of electric wire may help.

Also consider the size of the pasture or paddock. If your horse if on 3000 acres you could get away with a strand or two because they are not going to try going through the fence with that much room. If they are in a small paddock I suggest a stronger fence with 4 strands. Ideally something that will not harm the horse if they get caught up in it.

Make sure the posts are well set not broken or leaning over. I have seen a horse hit a old wood post with his face, the results were not good.

I find that fencing is a good reflection of how a stable manages the other aspects of their business. If the fencing looks haphazard and thrown together chances are so are other parts of the stable.

check back tomorrow for more tips on selecting a boarding stable

thanks

Steve Wawryk

http://www.horselife.ca/