Newsdate: Tue 18 November 2014 - 06:30 am
Location: SAN DIEGO, California

In a blog for SmartPak, Jenny Harris has some important tips for horse owners who board their horses. Boarding a horse is one way to be engaged with horses on a regular basis and works well for many people.

Insights into boarding your horse

As Jenny notes, "As a former barn manager and current full boarder, I thought I would share some tips on how to maintain a successful partnership with your fellow boarders and your barn professional.".

However, being considerate of the people who run the boarding facility and taking a full share of responsibility as a horse owner to help keep the facility in tip top shape are important for everyone concerned including the boarding horse(s).

As Jenny notes, "As a former barn manager and current full boarder, I thought I would share some tips on how to maintain a successful partnership with your fellow boarders and your barn professional."

1. Pay your bills on time
   Horse keeping is expensive. Orders of hay, grain, shavings, vet bills, farrier bills, facility rental, etc are all expenses that must be paid to run a barn. Income is needed to cover these expenses, and it is needed in a timely manner to keep the business running smoothly.
2. Read your boarding contract, understand it, and abide by it.
   Barn rules and regulations are in place for several reasons. Your boarding contract is meant to protect the barn professional, their boarders, you, your horse, and all of your rights and safety. If your barn operates on a set schedule of hours, visit the barn during those hours. Horses and barn professionals need rest and privacy too. If your contract requires 30 days notice, and you leave without any, you could end up in court. If you have questions or concerns, make sure you talk through them with your barn manager.
3. Leave things the way you found them.
   This includes the ring, the tack room, the feed room – any shared space in your barn. If your horse poops somewhere outside of his stall/paddock/pasture, most boarding facilities would appreciate if you pick it up. Certainly some full care facilities will do this for you, but in most shared spaces, your horse’s poop is your problem. Maybe suggest your barn keep a muck tub and spare pitchfork in the ring, the grooming stall, and/or the wash stall.

By Jenny Harris