| When choosing a boarding facility for your horse, you | | | | horse and at least 3.5m by 3.5m for a large horse. |
| must first decide on the type of stabling you require. | | | | - Height. Are the stall doors high enough that if a horse |
| The main types are: | | | | runs in with its head up, there is no risk of injury? Are |
| Full Board. Full board includes all the routine items | | | | the ceilings high enough that a horse cannot hit its |
| normally required by a horse. The monthly fee covers | | | | head? |
| the facilities (stall, paddock/pasture), materials (bedding, | | | | - Safety. Is the stall safe? Does it have any protruding |
| food), and labor (mucking out, feeding, keeping an eye | | | | nails, wood slivers or metal bits that the horse could |
| on the horse's health). Additional services which might | | | | injure itself on? Are the walls and door solid enough |
| be provided include: regular brushing down of the | | | | that a horse cannot kick through (if it can kick through, |
| horse, periodic shower, exercising. | | | | it can injure its leg, or become trapped and breaks its |
| Partial Board. In this case the stable manager provides | | | | leg). |
| stall space (a box), along with paddock and/or pasture. | | | | - Cleaning. The stall should be clean, dry and not smell |
| However, caring for the horse is the responsibility of | | | | (in particular, not smell of ammonia). Stalls should be |
| the horse owner rather than the stable manager. One | | | | cleaned at least once per day; twice if the horse |
| needs to consider what happens if you are unable | | | | spends the majority of the day in its stall. |
| from time to time (e.g. work commitments, family crisis, | | | | - Ventilation. Does the air smell clean, or does it smell |
| away on holiday) to perform all the daily requirements. | | | | damp or musty or stale? If the stable is closed at night |
| Do you need to find a friend to do these or will the | | | | and opened for airing in the morning, the best time to |
| stable manager do them for you? In the latter case, | | | | check (if possible) is just before the stable is opened |
| what are the additional fees? | | | | for airing as this is the time when ventilation issues will |
| Pasture Board. Pasture is simply a fenced in area. It | | | | be easiest to detect. |
| provides food (grass) for the horses and exercise. | | | | - Pests. Are there any indications of rodents or |
| There are normally a number of horses on each | | | | excessive insects in the stall areas? If so, this is an |
| pasture, providing a social group. This is usually the | | | | indication of problems. |
| least expensive type of stabling, as there are no stalls | | | | - Time. A horse which spends most of its day in the |
| to clean and no bedding is provided. However, it is not | | | | stall is receiving less physical and mental exercise than |
| suitable for all horses (e.g. old, sick or weak horses), | | | | one which has substantial access to paddock and |
| especially during very hot or very cold weather. | | | | pasture. However, young horses (and very old horses) |
| Pasture Access and Quality | | | | often appreciate a few hours alone in their stable each |
| Except for short rest periods, horses generally prefer | | | | day so that they can sleep and relax in peace. |
| to spend as much time as possible on pasture rather | | | | - Bedding. The type and thickness of bedding is |
| than in their stalls. The amount of access they have to | | | | important to the mental and physical well-being of the |
| pasture each day and the quality of the pasture will | | | | horse. |
| largely determine how happy and healthy they are. | | | | - Water. Horses should have free access to water |
| When evaluating the pasture for your stabled horse, | | | | and most stalls are equipped with drinkers for this |
| factors to consider include: | | | | purpose. Care should be taken that the pipes do not |
| - Quality and quantity of grass. Too little grass or poor | | | | freeze during cold weather, depriving the horses of |
| quality grass and your horse may not have enough to | | | | water. |
| eat. Alternatively, if it is too rich, your horse runs the risk | | | | - Salt and Minerals. Horses require salt and minerals. |
| of laminitis. | | | | These are normally provided in the stalls, although a |
| - Physical Safety. The fencing should not have holes | | | | few stable managers provide them on pasture instead. |
| or breaks, as this could allow your horse to wander | | | | - Lighting. Plentiful natural light is better for your horse's |
| off into danger. Electrical wire is normally safer than | | | | physical and emotional health. A dark stall is depressing |
| high-tension wire (which can cut and even main your | | | | for a horse and tends to promote unhealthy fungus |
| horse if he gets tangled in it) or barbed wire (which | | | | and mold growth. |
| can cause injuries). The fields should be clean of any | | | | Food and Water |
| objects which could injure the horses (e.g. pieces of | | | | The quality of food and water varies greatly from one |
| broken fencing wire which has been left about can | | | | stable to another. As food is one of the major costs |
| tangle around a horse's legs and cause serious | | | | for stable owners, the tendency is to reduce both the |
| injuries). | | | | quality and quantity in order to make the stabling |
| - Maintenance. Are the fence posts solid (not rotten, | | | | business more profitable. Points to consider: |
| not loose in the ground)? Are fence boards in good | | | | - Quality. What are the horses fed? Are the hay and |
| condition and without protruding nails? Is fencing wire | | | | food supplements of high quality, or just the cheapest |
| taut (not sagging or lying on the ground)? Is the amount | | | | available? |
| of horse droppings on the ground not excessive? | | | | - Quantity. Do the horses get all the food they need, or |
| - Weeds. Certain weeds are toxic to horses. | | | | is there a quota (e.g. only 1kg of food supplement |
| Depending on the weed, it can cause immediate or | | | | horse/day)? |
| long-term health issues. If the pasture is weedy, check | | | | - Frequency. How often are the horses fed? It should |
| that none of them are of a poisonous variety. | | | | be at least twice a day and preferably more (access |
| - Size. A substantial pasture provides more mental | | | | to quality pasture qualifies as a feed). |
| stimulation, greater emotional satisfaction and more | | | | - Water. Do the horse have adequate access to clean |
| exercise opportunities. | | | | water |
| - Shelter. Is there adequate shelter on the pastures for | | | | - Buckets. Are the food and water buckets kept |
| all the horses? Note that strong horses will often bully | | | | clean? Is old food removed each day and the buckets |
| weaker horses away from shelters, so a generous | | | | cleaned out well, or simply new food dropped on top? |
| amount of shelter is required if all the horses are to | | | | General |
| benefit. | | | | One needs to consider how the stable is run and how |
| - Drainage. Is the pasture well drained, or do pools of | | | | the horses are treated. Here one needs to look around |
| water form during wet weather? Standing in water | | | | at: |
| can be very bad for horse hooves. | | | | - The owner/manager. He (or she) sets the standards |
| - Other Horses. A horse is a herd animal and | | | | and general tone for the stables. |
| consequently requires the companionship of other | | | | - Talk with him about his experiences with horses and |
| horses. However, it is important that all the horses in a | | | | with running a stable. Does he give an impression of |
| given pasture are compatible, to avoid excessive | | | | experience, ability and dedication? |
| fighting or bullying. | | | | - Ask what he thinks of your horse and what special |
| Paddock | | | | care it might require; if the stable manager takes the |
| Many stables have limited pasture access, but provide | | | | time to carefully examine the horse (including hooves |
| a paddock instead. Although pasture access is | | | | and teeth) before answering this is a good sign but if |
| preferable, a good paddock can be a reasonable | | | | he replies after only a cursory examination then one |
| substitute. Factors to consider when evaluating the | | | | may wish to go to a stable where the manager is |
| paddock facilities include: | | | | more attentive. |
| - Size. A horse will prefer a large paddock to a small | | | | - Ask if he has any objection to using your own |
| one. If the horse has substantial access to pasture | | | | veterinarian and farrier. Even if you are happy to use |
| then the size of the paddock is much less important | | | | his, one might be concerned if he does not permit |
| than the case where the horse has no access or only | | | | other vets and farriers. |
| limited access to pasture. | | | | Horses. The appearance of the horses is a good |
| - Access. A paddock which is freely accessible to the | | | | indication of how they are treated. Are they |
| horse (e.g. through an open door from its stall) will be | | | | overweight or underweight? Do they have shiny |
| of greater value to a horse than a paddock to which it | | | | coats? Do they appear alert, active and happy? Do |
| has only limited access. | | | | they appear nervous or have nervous behavior (e.g. |
| - Construction. The paddock should be secure and | | | | pacing, swaying back and forth, chewing on wood)? |
| should have a suitable surface. Most surfaces (sand, | | | | Are they well-groomed? Pick up the hooves of a |
| wood chips or gravel) are satisfactory for a horse | | | | couple of horses to see it they are well maintained and |
| with good hooves. However, a horse with hoof | | | | appear to have been recently cleaned. |
| problems may require a softer surface (e.g. sand, | | | | Stalls. Are the stalls clean and tidy? Check not only the |
| wood chips). | | | | bedding but also the drinkers, feeders, and salt/mineral |
| - Sharing. There is nothing wrong with a shared | | | | trays. Do all the horses have salt and minerals? |
| paddock, provided that all the horses get along and | | | | General Facilities. How do the various facilities look? Do |
| there is no bullying. However, if there are conflicts | | | | they appear clean, organized and well maintained? A |
| between the horses, individual paddocks are often | | | | lack of consideration for the facilities can be an |
| more suitable. | | | | indication of broader issues. |
| Stall | | | | Staff Behavior. How do the staff behave around the |
| In almost all stables (unless one has opted for pasture | | | | horses. Do they appear interested in the horses? Do |
| boarding), the horse will spend a considerable amount | | | | they talk to the horses and treat them gently, or just |
| of time in its stall and in many stables the horse will | | | | drag them along behind them? Do they appear mature, |
| spend the majority of each day in its stall. | | | | experience and knowledgeable (or just cheap labor, |
| Consequently, this aspect of your prospective stable | | | | however loving and well-intentioned they may be)? |
| needs to be carefully evaluated in terms of: | | | | Other Clients. If you have the opportunity, talk to other |
| - Size. The size of the stall is very important, especially | | | | horse owners to get their impression and experience |
| if a horse spends a substantial amount of time in its | | | | of the stables. However, don't put too much trust in |
| stall each day. A small stall is physically uncomfortable | | | | this, as they may be friends of the stable manager or |
| and forces a horse to lie down in its own excrement | | | | they may be novices who are not experienced |
| as there is no additional place available. The minimum | | | | enough to make a reliable judgment. |
| size for a stall is a matter of debate, but we | | | | Local Veterinarian. Like other clients, it can be useful to |
| recommend at least 3m by 3m for a standard size | | | | ask the local veterinarian his opinion. |