Lol. No. I do not have boarders. I meant at my “real” job I haven’t had a raise, while my barn expenses just keep going up. Just another way I am feeling the pinch of horse ownership.
I have said many times that I don’t want boarders anymore for many of the reasons others cite: primarily, just about no one wants to spend $700+ for a private “backyard” type of barn but that’s how much board would have to be to make any sense at all for me, between feed & labor costs - let alone capital improvements. Kinda like @Texarkana mentioned above: I don’t have hot water in the barn, and I have done just fine with it. But boarders want hot water. I get it - it is nice to have! But I can’t justify that expense for myself, let alone essentially subsidizing it for a boarder or two.
and I love the variety.
Or cheap.
She is 6, 1300lb, and will probably top out at 18h. Other than RB/alfalfa her only source of calories is hay until the grass comes in. She did come out a little fat this winter. We have grass half the year, so now is about the time my hay costs decrease once the grass is fully in. She is also out 24/7 - I’ve noticed horses on full turnout do better but also tend to need more calories to keep weight as well, as a general rule.
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