4 Tips For Boarding Your Horse
Owning and riding a horse is a great joy for many people. But since a lot of people don't live on a property large enough to build a barn with horse stalls, a large number of horse owners choose to have their horse boarded at a stable that offers such services. Boarding your horse somewhere near your home can be a great experience, but you need to be prepared and understand your responsibilities. If you plan on boarding your horse in the near future, use the following tips:
Always Have a Contract
Before transporting your horse to a boarding facility, it is absolutely essential to have a written contract in place. Your contract should outline a number of things, such as where your horse will be kept, how it will be fed, vaccinations that are required prior to boarding, and what extra expenses you may be responsible for (such as medical care, exercise, and blanketing). In addition, make sure the contract explains emergency procedures, the stable's safety rules, and what areas of the facility you are free to use.
Pay Attention to Cleaning Up After Yourself and Your Horse
While you are paying to have your horse boarded at a stable, it is still important to clean up after yourself when using the facility. Don't forget to sweep the alleys after grooming your horse and always clean up manure from the rings or arenas that you may use with your horse. Before leaving, make sure that you always store your equipment properly to prevent others from tripping over it. Some stables may offer credit if you clean your horse's stall yourself-- refer to your contract to see if this is an option.
Prepare for the Unexpected
People who own horse boarding facilities are typically horse-lovers, but you need to be prepared to take care of unexpected events for your own horse-- you can't assume that someone else will. In the event that your horse needs the care of a vet, farrier, or another equine practitioner, you will need to make the arrangements. If you are not able to do so, you will need to budget for the extra expense of having the stable manager take care of the arrangements.
Don't Handle Other Horses
When you're visiting your horse at the stable, avoid handling other people's horses. This includes moving a horse to another stall, grooming, feeding, or giving treats. While you may think you're being helpful, you could cause more harm than good if a horse is on a special diet or requires care that you may not be aware of.
Contact a company like Rarin' To Go Corrals for more information and assistance.
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