Part-Boarding Part 2: Taking the Plunge

So you’ve finally decided to elevate your riding from a weekly lesson to part-boarding a horse. This is a big step so you want to make sure you know exactly what you want and what to look for before taking the plunge.

Here are a few things to look for and avoid before getting into a part-boarding agreement.

Find an appropriate level of mount. Make sure the horse you are going to board is well suited to your skill level. I think it is okay to challenge yourself at this point by riding a little more horse then what you have been riding in lessons but be honest with yourself and the person whose horse you will be riding. If you are not an expert rider don’t claim to be. Have the owner ride the horse first then you ride it, this is a good way to see if the horse is what the owner claims it to be and it allows you and the owner the chance to see if everyone is well suited and happy with the match up.

Make sure the horse is sound for riding, there is nothing more frustrating then paying for a horse that is too sore to ride or is only sound for “light riding” when what you want is a horse that can giddy up. A vet check will do this or have a knowledgeable friend help you out.

Try to find a location that will allow you to do the riding you want to do. If you are interested in trail riding then look for an appropriate barn that has easy access to trails. There is no sense part boarding at a hunter jumper barn when you want to work on trails. Be sure to check that the barn hours and accessibility to arenas, sand rings and round pens are going to work with your schedule. You don’t want to part- board at a facility if you plan on riding at night and the barn closes at 8PM or you have a lot of lessons to work around.

Make sure the barn is located close enough that you can get out and ride as often as has been arranged. Be realistic are you willing to travel an hour each way to ride three days a week?

So you think you have found the appropriate horse and location now it is time to talk finances and expectations with the owner. Negotiating terms with owner is often the toughest part for some people. In my business dealings I always want both parties walking out of the agreement happy with what they got. You don’t want to feel you have been taken advantage of and you don’t want the owner to feel like you are trying to short change them. This is particularly true for a part boarding agreement, ticking off the owner is a sure fire way of ending the arrangement.

The things you will need to discuss are the available dates; can you take the horse off the property or to shows? Talk about access to tack and having friends coming out to watch. Have a clear understanding what will happen if the horse becomes lame, usually the owner takes care of vet bills. I would caution anyone who is asked to cover vet bills, medications or supplements you never know where these expenses could lead. I strongly suggest liability insurance for the part –boarder, you want to be covered if the horse you are riding accidentally kicks someone’s car or rips a gate off. Here in Ontario Canada I use the OEF (Ontario Equestrian Federation) for some of my coverage.

Finally respect the horse the owner and the facilities you are riding at. The horse community is a tight one you do not want a reputation for being a difficult or uncooperative part-boarder. Treat people and horses the way you would want to be treated and you’ll be fine.

Good luck and have fun

Steve Wawryk

Part- Boarding a horse, is it time?

Most people who get into riding usually start their equestrian journey off with lessons. You sign up for riding lessons an hour one day a week, just long enough to leave you eagerly waiting for next week to roll around hoping to build upon what you learned the week before. This goes on for a while and for some it is all the riding they need to satisfy their horse fix. For others it starts to grow a little frustrating, you feel your riding isn't progressing quickly enough. You may become frustrated with doing the same lesson week after week when all you really want to do is get out and ride a horse the way you want to where you want to.

If this is how you are feeling it may be time to look at part-boarding. Part-boarding, sometimes referred to as leasing is a great way to increase your riding time and skill at an affordable price. Basically part-boarding is having limited access to a horse without having to purchase one. Most agreements allow the part-boarder to ride the owner’s horse on prearranged days. The other days are allotted for the owner or other riders access to the horse. Every agreement is unique but the ones I have been involved in had the cost of maintaining the horse( i.e. board, vet, food, tack) falls on the shoulders of the owner all I had to do was pay the monthly fee agreed upon.

I really like part-boarding, it allows you to get in a lot more riding and helps you figure out if horse ownership is the right decision without having to make the expensive mistake of buying a horse and deciding it's not for you.

In my next blog I will discuss the pitfalls and things to look for when getting into a part boarding agreement.

Steve Wawryk

Beat the February Horse Blahs

Winters in Canada can be very long and arduous for the horse owner. If you don't have a riding arena the snow and the cold can really limit the quality and quantity of your rides. Don't get me wrong I love riding on those nice sunny winter days with a fresh powder on the ground but those days are far and few between here in southern Ontario. Most days we are dealing with deep snow, icy conditions, very cold weather or just a very bleak cloudy day.

I'll stop there before I depress everyone reading. Here are ways to help the horse starved rider make it through February without going completely mad.

I like to take this time to start to plan my activities for the summer, a quick cruise of the internet can help me plan out the horse shows tack sales and charity rides and clinics I will attend in the coming months. You will be amazed how quickly your calendar will be filled with horsey events and it gives you something to look forward too.

This is a great time of year to go over my tack and check for any repairs that need to be made. You might as well have it fixed now, better to have it and not need then need it and not have it.

Nows the time to clean out the tack room and get rid of those old unwanted items. Kijiji, eBay or tack auctions are great places to get rid of these items and give you some extra cash to go and buy something else.

February is a great time to start to get back in shape for the riding season, do some stretching lift, light weights or a bit of yoga, remember riding is a physical activity the better shape you are in the better off you will be able to ride.

February is also a good time to set some riding goals. Maybe you want to learn to rope or teach your horse to spin or improve your jumping. Whatever it is now is the time to lay out the plan to achieve this. No horse or person is ever too old or too smart to learn something new; besides it keeps things interesting for you and your horse.

If you can't get away for a 2 month riding vacation in Argentina why not pick up a horse training video, you will be amazed at the selection and different training philosophies out there. One may hold the secret to the break through training method you have been looking for.

Hope this helps, remember only 6 weeks until spring.

Thanks

Steve Wawryk