She has already stated pretty clearly she wants to continue the social aspect of having fewer boarders. Sometimes when everything in your world is taking a crap these little things keep you going.
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Iâd close for a few months and enjoy the quiet and consider re-advertising for boarding.
Gives your husband and yourself a quick break and then you can reach out to your 4 favorites to move back in.
If only voting a few folks off the island, I donât see it going well. As boarders left will be wondering when they will be voted off.
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During the time I was at the last place I boarded, three different boarders were asked to leave. The universal reaction among the remaining boarders was, âWonderful! Itâs about time they got the boot.â And no one wondered if they would be next. They just wondered what took the BO so long to get rid that person.
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Choosing who to keep or ask to go is going to be awkward for all if no one is a bad actor.
If all go and then some are asked back, well, is not easy to move horses back and forth, some may decide to stay put in the new place.
We donât know the people involved, I assume the OP knows what she is doing and if it will work.
Hopefully what has been mentioned will help her whatever she decides.
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First Draft of opening paragraphs:
"Due to continued decline in my health, DH and I have had to make some difficult decisions with regards to (Barn Name), and one of those decisions is to reduce the number of horses boarded on our property and to focus more on our lesson students and boarders in a regular program. We no longer feel that we can provide suitable care and services to (horseâs name here).
We have appreciated having you as a boarder over the years, but we will need you to find a new boarding arrangement on or before April 30, 2025."
I then have a third paragraph that is more uniquely written to say what they should consider in the new barn that would meet their needs better.
thoughts?
@Bluey Not bad actors, just three that donât come out, and a forth who was only supposed to be temporary while she rehabbed her horse- her horse and goals donât fit in to my barn. She knows this, but the barns that do fit her goals donât fit her budget, but I canât make that my problem.
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Sounds just right, short and to the point, good luck. 
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While I understand what you are saying about the social aspect of keeping some boarders, I have a feeling that this may not work out as you would wish. You might want to think about what is really best for you given the nature of humans to put their own interests first, rather than someone elseâs.
OP, give some serious thought to the question of closing to boarders altogether now and not playing the âyou stay, you goâ game, because of the major uncertainties and dramas it will inevitably create.
Because as it does appear that you are going to close boarding altogether sooner or later, there is far less drama to just closing now, and not dealing with the drama of âstayingâ boarders who are agonizing over âwhatâs happening to my board barn?â and âwhat about my horse after this?â.
Unless you have a special group of boarders who will be casual about how long they can stay. If it were me, and I were being offered to stay, but I thought this is only temporary for a year or less, Iâm going, too, the first chance I have at the best next place for my horse.
In fact I was in this situation once and stayed only because of an offer to board there for several more years. Otherwise I had to look out for my horseâs best interests first and take the best situation outside of the current barn, even though I was very fond of the BO/Mâs family.
If â big if â you could offer a few people that opportunity to stay indefinitely in exchange for help with horse care, and they were people who might take you up on that, give it some thought. It might keep the social aspect and still lighten your load.
One nore thing to think about, as it may pertain to you, OP, or maybe it doesnât âŠ
From experience in business:
If you ask for volunteers for a layoff package, the people you wish would stay will leave, and the people you wish would leave will stay.
Basically, you end up with the wrong set of people still in house. The ones who are the least best fit. You lose the ones you really wanted.
The reason is that the âmore difficultâ people know they have a hard time finding another place, for various reasons. They stay because they either canât find another option that sounds right to them, or else because they are reluctant to look. It is easier to stay where they are than it is to try to find something else.
The people who are easy to deal with will work out well in various situations. They will find it much easier to find another place. Downsizing is an indicator of an uncertain future in the current setting. As indeed is the case with your board barn, OP. They read the tea leaves and are able to more easily find the next landing spot, and they take it asap as they donât want to lose it later. They go where they think the future is predictable and stable.
Basically â as with all customer relations â you have to see it from the customerâs point of view. Because that is how they will make their decision. Not what you wish they would do.
Good luck with the best possible outcome for your situation. I sincerely hope this works out well for you.
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My main concern would be that DH seems not be quite on board with boarding any longer.
That may mean is time to fold 'em, reinvent yourself, consider including him on next adventure?
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I can very clearly follow OPâs thoughts. I think I might handle it differently and talk to each person. The person who was supposed to be short term leaves becauseâŠshort term. The three that donât come out? Iâd probably say (over the phone or in person, since they donât come out) something like âmy health complications make it imperative the horses who live here have very involved owners, and I understand your time doesnât allow for thatâ or something like that. Please plan on leaving by April 30th.
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I feel I need to have it in writing, but I think if I see any of them out this week I will say something in person as well. On the phone might be harder for me.
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We had the barn for sale 10 years ago when my doctors suggested I would do better somewhere warmer. We ended up not selling as DHâs mom fell ill, but in the time it was for sale, zero boarders left. I think they trust we wonât leave them stranded.
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As you seem to have good relations with your boarders, this might be a great step to hear what they have to say. Likely those who know you and your board barn best will have the best ideas, suggestions and answers.
Great big hugs as you are approaching this life transition with grace, wisdom, and empathy for your boarders. 
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Looks great to me. I would drop the third paragraph unless youâre providing actual barn recommendations - thatâs the logical question people will come back with if you open that door so Iâd either do it up front or not bring it up at all. Just saying âhere are the things you should look forâ feels a little condescending and unhelpful to me.
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I agree. Let them decide what they need to meet their needs better.
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I think you need to have a pretty firm plan in your mind before you start talking to boarders. In fact, I like the email approach better as everyone would know at about the same time.
One email for those who will need to move their horses (and i agree - no third paragraph) and a simple one for those who can stay, just FYI. If there is a real difference in the two groups other than coming out regularly and being pleasant to associate with, I would add that. Otherwise, just âcutting backâ and leave it at that.
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Clearly the four who will be asked to leave donât fit the OPs business model, and are the obvious ones to be moved on. I wouldnât be very concerned about causing worry in the other boarders with this cull. I do think talking to everyone in person is a great idea, but after an email that gives everyone the information at the same time.
Alternatively, donât mention the future changes in service at all. You know your boarders better than we do. If theyâre able to understand that youâre removing these boarders because they donât fit your business model, tell them that. Leave the restructuring changes until.later.
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I like the email approach â one for those leaving, and one for the boarders that are staying. I have been notified via email and in person, and much preferred email. It allowed the barn owner to send a clear, concise message. In person got very awkward as the BO broke down and had to walk away â it was a divorce/selling property situation, so a lot of emotions involved.
I commend you for taking care of yourself and doing what is best for you. Try fewer boarders and see how you feel â nothing is set in stone and you can change again if it still feels like too much.
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I am not saying this is a bad idea, just tossing out there that many programs allow the person receiving the email to say no to sending the read receipt.
I do think this is an important point (that I chopped down to a partial sentence). Emailing those who you wish will stay will prevent them from wondering if they simply did not see the email that the others are talking about, etc.
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Yes, thatâs true.
Just be sure that the right email goes to the right people!
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