This message is from: "Terry Hale" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Brigid,
What a lot of useful information. I'm printing all my responses and putting
them in a folder. Heading off to a week of vacation now. We'll see if this
closes. Gulp. I think it's pretty darned close!
I appreciate and can relate (cuz I'm older and have made mistakes) to some
of the hints. We DO NOT want to interfere and/or clean stalls. You get
what you pay for. Sounds like I have good access to trainers and barn
managers.
Funny you hit on one of the things I like the most. The social aspect. At
my old barn where I used to board, I have made, and still have, wonderul
friends.
Thanks again, and I will for sure keep ya'all (got that slang from my
daughter in Louisiana) posted.
Roni
----- Original Message -----
From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <fjordhorse@angus.mystery.com>
Sent: Thursday, November 17, 2005 1:56 PM
Subject: Re: Boarding Facility
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Hi Ragnhild-
Congrats on your new property!
I've been a barn manager for the past 8 months at a brand-new place here
in my neck of the woods. I've learned a whole lot about what to do and not
do.
Very smart to not plan on doing the physical work yourself; at first it
seems doable, even fun, but believe me, after three months you will sell
your soul to the devil to avoid mucking another stall. Hire competant
staff and pay them fairly. It's tempting to hire someone on the cheap
because they need a helping hand or whatever, but you will regret it when
they don't show up, use drugs, or move their 19 cousins on to your
property.
Make a manure plan, now, before it piles up and you don't know what do to.
Hauling it away is the best, but also the most expensive, route. Research
the options in your area and decide what is best for you.
Check with local authorities to make sure you do everything legally. There
are many rules about keeping equines and many permits to be applied for.
Doing your homework will save you a lot of trouble and expense later.
Having a resident trainer is a great idea. Try to find out what people in
your area need in the way of instruction. Make sure the trainer has
appropriate insurance and lists you as an additional insured. Having a
barn manager is also a great idea, but remember to give him/her the
authority they need to run the place. From personal experience, I'll tell
you it's frustrating to have a facility owner who makes decisions contrary
to what the boarders might want, because the heat falls on the manager.
The upside of having boarders is the social aspect. Under good
circumstances, people will make friends, help eachother, and ride
together. Screen your boarders carefully, and do ask for references. I
found out the hard way that some of our new boarders had been kicked out
of their previous facilities, for good reason!
Have fun and keep us posted,
Brigid Wasson
SF Bay Area, CA
