Re: Boarding Facility
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: 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
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
Re: Boarding Facility
This message is from: "jgayle" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Hi from Aberdeen, WA I wonder if looking into cost of insurance on such a facility is not a place to start? Jean Gayle Author 'The Colonel's Daughter" Occupied Germany 1946 to 1949 Send: $20 to Three Horse's Press 7403 Blaine Rd Aberdeen, WA 98520
Re: boarding facility
This message is from: "Jean Gayle" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> You remind me of my first experience with a boarding facility. The lady ruled with an iron fist which more than once was waved in my face. When she was mad at you you knew as your horse was moved to the worst stall! What a delightful day when I woke up that first morning in my new home and looked out to see my boy grazing in the field. Jean Gayle Aberdeen, WA [Authoress of "The Colonel's Daughter" ] http://www.techline.com/~jgayle -Original Message- From: James Rollins <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Date: Thursday, July 08, 1999 11:10 AM Subject: Re: boarding facility This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (James Rollins) I have been reading with interest the information on boarding. I grew up in New Hampshire and I always boarded my horses there and have
Re: boarding facility
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (James Rollins) I have been reading with interest the information on boarding. I grew up in New Hampshire and I always boarded my horses there and have experienced different types of boarding facilities. The one thing I remeber in particular is that boarders should have their own tack and equipment area. I have seen where some boarders took advantage of the owner's supplies and tack. This is discouraging for all at the stable. As a boarder it is also dissapointing to arrive ready for a good workout and find that the owner is riding and driving and using all the areas for these activities. A tentative schedule of use of these areas is very helpful. I agree with the full board policy as it insures that all hores will have clean stalls, and hopfully coordinated vet and farrier schedule which saves everyone time and money. By no means should anyone other than the owner be allowed to ride a boarded animal without written permission from the owner in advance. The most gorgeous barn I boarded at was a morgan farm where I was the only boarder. It had all the bells and whistles but it also had an owner who disliked my morgan show gelding and much too late I found out my gelding was being abused. The owner was walking into the stall with a whip and bucket of water and throwing the bucket at my horse and whipping him. Luckily I was a wittness to this upon approaching the barn one day. Naturally we left that barn. I think these instances are very rare in boarding and I was happy at other facilities but i think people really need to check things out. I was a young girl when this happened and I might have handled it differently had I been older. Well, I went on longer than I expected... A good boarding facility, run well, with rules well known to all is valuable to an area in need of horse care. I agree with the folks who say to have all contracts in order. Kathy Rollins
Re: Boarding Facility...
This message is from: "B. Hendricks" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Hi Julie: Did I write to let you know that the photos and etc. arrived safely? If not, I meant to. Just a quick note to let you know. Bonnie Please visit my web sites: Commissioned Horse Portraits, Oil Paintings, Prints, Books http://www.hendricksgallery.com and http://members.xoom.com/BHendricks/Gallery1.html
Re: Boarding Facility...
This message is from: Julia Will <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> We board a few Fjords that have been purchased here, and have a wonderful group of people to interact with, share ideas and riding times with, and otherwise enjoy. We do a full board arrangement,and have had no trouble with anything. (Fjord people being nice like their horses!) We just built a new facility, and went with Morton. Also with 6' livestock curtains down the full length of both sides of the riding arena, which give wonderful light and air. Ours are on an electric motor and operate with a remote..very convenient to use. In the winter they let in plenty of light but block the wind, and in the summer we have them open and it is like riding in a pavilion with the sunshine and air. Morton guarantees the roof for 50 years against wind and snow damage, which is a nice plus. Our box stalls are also Mortons design and I am very happy with them. We paid the extra buck for insulation under the metal roof, and are very glad we did. The arena is always cooler than the outdoors, and on these sticky 90 degree days, several of our mares and foals have the run of the arena during the heat of the day. No bugs there either. Julie in muggy New York
Re: Boarding Facility...
This message is from: "Jean Gayle" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> One of the first things I would do before planning is check into Insurance and it's cost as it is extremely high and some can not get it at all. Jean Jean Gayle Aberdeen, WA [Authoress of "The Colonel's Daughter" ] http://www.techline.com/~jgayle -Original Message- From: Jon A. Ofjord <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Date: Sunday, July 04, 1999 5:19 PM Subject: Boarding Facility... >This message is from: "Jon A. Ofjord" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > >Hi Everyone: > >We are looking for ideas and input. We are thinking of starting up a >boarding facility because there is a need for this in our area. What we >would like to hear are any ideas or opinions regarding horse boarding >>
