I find these sort of threads interesting. But IMO it would more interesting and educational if people would include what they paid for board. Self-care, field, full board “soup to nuts”. And the general location. Size and scope of the farm. If the comments are from BO that would be great also.
Just a suggestion.
What a balancing act - we’re going into a non-pony club area with a pony club mindset. It’s interesting because we consider the horsemanship exhibit to be common sense - but it’s not.
So we’ve struck a balance of including the most basic of things in the boarding agreement. And then having a second Code of Conduct and probably a rules list. It’s been very interesting to hear people’s perspectives.
[QUOTE=gumtree;7912409]
I find these sort of threads interesting. But IMO it would more interesting and educational if people would include what they paid for board. Self-care, field, full board “soup to nuts”. And the general location. Size and scope of the farm. If the comments are from BO that would be great also.
Just a suggestion.[/QUOTE]
Good point:
Self Care = $150 per month, per horse.
Dallas, Georgia
Farm Size = 28 acres total, 12 is fenced pasture for the horses.
What ever I want- no one is here but me and Mr. Mukluk!!!
Major rules at our barn include all riders must wear a certified helmet when mounted and younger minors must also have them on when retrieving their pony from a paddock. Proper footwear is required…no open shoes/sandals, etc., are permitted in the barn outside of the tack room and gallery and they are not recommended even there. No smoking is permitted in or near the barns with a preference for no-smoking. Use the lights…turn them out when you are done. Clean up after yourself…always…and that includes sweeping up debris in the grooming stalls BEFORE you leave to ride after tacking up. Minors are not permitted to jump without a barn instructor present…parents do not count. Minors who are not in the advanced riders group may not ride without an adult present. Riders who are leasing must be in the lesson program with a minimum of two lessons per month, preferably weekly. Free riding during lessons is permitted with courtesy and attention to safety of the students coming first. There are technically no set hours for access by boarders…it’s 24/7…but it’s a good idea to notify the BO if something unusual is in the cards, such as late at night or very early in the morning.
One additional rule…do not disturb the BO in her home without good reason and preferably with prior notification, unless it’s a true emergency. That’s a very reasonable request for an owner who lives on-property.
Our BO will permit an outside instructor occasionally for a clinic, but that has to be arranged by her. The arenas are available for rental by other trainers/barns, but it must be pre-arranged. (this is to help out a few small local facilities that don’t have an indoor or who want to school over a larger course in the big outdoor arena)
Not sure if I missed this in other’s replies -
everyone must have a valid Coggins and renew annually
Everyone must be on a worming and vaccination schedule. If it is not the ‘standard’ for the barn (if horse has special needs) barn manager should be advised. Also dentistry.
Sadly I have seen boarders who attempted to skimp on the regular stuff to save money.
If there is a communicable disease in the area the barn owner/manager has the right to limit activities (i.e. no showing, or require proof of destination if trailering off property if another area barn has strangles, for example).
some insurance will be sticky about time of day - i.e. close at 9pm.
good luck
If I ever had a boarder which is unlikely. I would expect him/her to clean up any horse poops left outside of stall/paddock in a timely manner-preferably immediately. Keep things as you found them. I’d be pretty picky and only board to someone I know- preferably someone with whom I could go trail riding. Preferably someone who could do barn chores when I am away! I could see having a boarder as a win-win if I had the right person.
Need for and how long a Coggins is good for is state specific.
I do agree that the barn owner should have a list of minimum requirements for vaccines and such that the boarders have to follow.
You might want to think about having a rule in place about breakage. I’ve been in a couple of barns where there is always one person who continually destroys the jumps (and they were adults). Also, what will be your policy about horses who break the boards on their stalls. Do you pay, or the boarder?
Wear enough clothing to be properly covered. We don’t want to see your bra straps (or other) nor your crack…
Yes we really do have this rule, mostly for the teenagers who think they gotta show it all off.
Clean up after yourself. We have one boarder who thinks this does not apply to her, she literally left a pee puddle in the aisle one day…walked off and went home.
If your horse requires ‘above and beyond’ then YOU need to be responsible to pitch in (even if you’re on full care) and help, or expect to pay a lot extra to cover everyone else doing it for you.
BO teaches very beginning beginners, so be aware and cautious if you ride when they are in the ring.
Outside instructors are on a case by case basis, insurance required.
All of my rules have to do with respecting the facility, staff and other boarders. It is adults only so there are no rules about when you can ride or how you do it. Whether you can jump or what kind of boots/helmet you wear. I find that offensive (especially the ones about dress). I would never board somewhere that told me what to wear or what I could do with my own horse. All people have to sign a liability waiver to be on the property in any capacity. After having a group of disrespecful boarders I’ve amended my board contract to specify that breaking the rules is grounds for immediate eviction.
Basically ours are things like always cleaning up after yourself, outside and in the barn. No turnout in the arena (which tears up and ruins the very expensive footing). No amount of board income would cover having to re-do the arena footing (this is my most absolute rule, I’ve asked people to leave over this). No garbarge in the muck bins. No hair down the drain in the wash rack. Lights always off after use. No turning up the heat. Absolutely no borrowing of other people’s things ever. Tools (brooms/forks) must always be returned where they belong. Our barn is private so it also includes no un-authorised visitors. We are very small with a net zero budget, so any extra work to staff (like a mess left behind by a boarder) or facility damage makes a huge impact on our operation.
I really want to have a rule about footwear - but thinking the most I can say is no sandals/flipflops - in other words feet must be completely covered.
You can say that proper footwear or appropriate footwear is required, but define it: Closed-toe shoes or boots with a low heel.
Thanks everyone - the insurance company wants to know if I require helmets for all OR for all under 18; OR all when jumping/speed events; OR not at all. So far I’ve said all under 18 and all when jumping/speed events. We’ll see, I would love to require them for everyone, but not sure my market will bear that.
You can always explain that in order to satisfy the insurance company/keep boarding rates down, you require all riders to wear helmets. If your boarders aren’t used to this requirement, understanding the insurance angle may make it easier for them to grasp your perspective.
Check with your insurance company regarding whether you need to post the helmet and no smoking rules.
For a good reminder (you can add your own rules as well):
http://www.zazzle.com/barn_rules_dry_erase_boards-256159520849271717?rf=238969727029590657
[QUOTE=PlanB;7911384]
Rule #1
No Boarders.
The end.[/QUOTE]
Amen. Although my last boarder was wonderful…she’s had two horses with me over the years. Wish she had another!
Hours? 7AM - 9PM in winter, 10 PM in summer. Latitude/leniency when showing, but requires notice. That is, if you need to leave at 4AM for a competition, let the BM know in advance.
Non-family member guests? Signed release, well fitted helmet, hard soled closed toe shoes with heels.
Smoking? No. Never. Nowhere on premises.
Helmet use? Always, everyone while mounted.
specific rules for when jumping? Must be an adult present, watching the ring. Minors may jump 1 day/week outside of their regular lesson.
If you have a XC course are there rules for it’s use? Is it always available to boarders or is there an extra fee? No extra fee, always open, footing conditions permitting. If closed, large notice posted in the barn aisle.
what about stadium jumps that are on the property? If you move them, put them back.
Longeing if there isn’t a separate area? Ring is never closed to boarders, but lessons have the right of way. Lungers are responsible for containing their horse to one area of the ring.
outside instructor use? No, unless barn sponsored clinic for which BM has made the arrangements.
tack/equipment borrowing. School tack/barn tack and equipment may be borrowed with prior permission, boarder tack may not be touched.
Handling for the vet and farrier is included in the board price, IF you are using the barn vet and farrier. If you wish to use a different vet or farrier, that is fine, but you must make the scheduling and handling arrangements yourself.
Vaccinations and worming are to be done according to the barn’s schedule and protocols for your horse’s situation and use (horses in a closed herd that never leave the barn, horses that travel locally and horses that travel/show extensively.)
I really want to have a rule about footwear - but thinking the most I can say is no sandals/flipflops - in other words feet must be completely covered. Closed toe, hard soled shoe with heel. No sneakers, no sandals, no high heels. Yes, you really have to be that specific.
Clean up after yourself.
Clean up the barn aisle BEFORE you leave to ride.
Boarders are responsible for replacing broken cross ties or broken jump equipment. (Sadly, this didn’t work. It was always Nobody and Not me who broke cross ties and jump poles and there were never any witnesses.)
I did not have rules about hay, feed and bedding - boarders were welcome to put a little feed in a can to catch their horse, or to throw an extra flake of hay. Might not work at all barns.
Turn out all lights and lock the tack room if you’re the last one to leave.
Boarders are welcome to use the tack room washer and dryer, however, do not leave the barn and leave them running.
No riding out alone for children under 16.
All riders riding out must put the details on the whiteboard - who’s going, where, when, when they expect to be back.
No minor should be made responsible for the supervision or safety of another minor.
And what are the penalties for failure to follow the rules? What seems to work for enforcement?
For most people, a gentle reminder and an explanation of why the rule was in place was all that was required.
For others, only the threat of being evicted seemed to work.
The hardest one to enforce was the cleaning up the aisle before leaving to ride.
[QUOTE=WeDoItAll;7909740]
We’re preparing to open our facility and trying to figure out what rules we want:
For example -
Hours? Very lenient due to variety of boarders and shows
Non-family member guests? They are under your control and your responsibility
Smoking? Not on premises
Helmet use? Mandatory
specific rules for when jumping? No
If you have a XC course are there rules for it’s use? Is it always available to boarders or is there an extra fee? N/A
Longeing if there isn’t a separate area? No riders when someone longeing.
Bedding use expectations (if it’s bulk and self-care)? Bulk, use what you need if you clean your stall. We have stall mattresses so we don’t use as much.
paddock cleaning for self-care - what are the contracted expectations? No self care
outside instructor use? No, private show barn
tack/equipment borrowing. not allowed, each person has to have their own daily/show tack
drama/bickering? Not tolerated, 2 people evicted last summer for this.
I really want to have a rule about footwear - but thinking the most I can say is no sandals/flipflops - in other words feet must be completely covered. No sandals or flip flops allowed unless just stopping to see a person, not allowed near horses.
And what are the penalties for failure to follow the rules? What seems to work for enforcement? Most of the time it’s a strict warning, but as I said 2 were evicted to serious barn drama that had negative consequences. [QUOTE].
I’m in a new barn, so we’ll see what the unwritten rules end up being, but basically the rules that were spoken when I came was treat the barn as your own and low key/no drama.
Clean up after yourself, clean up after your horse. Helmets required. No smoking. Use as little toilet paper as possible, no flushing of “feminine products.”
We don’t have many rules at the barn where I work…
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No running around the horses.
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No screaming around the horses (use your indoor voice).
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Don’t walk around the horses butts. They can kick if startled.
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You must always wear a helmet when you ride. It doesn’t matter if you are an adult or child (this rule was getting ignored by a few adults, but we think we got it fixed).
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Listen to the riding instructor at all times!
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It is the riding instructors job to make sure the barn is clean and things are put away after the horses are used. (we were having a problem with this as well, as there are two other instructors aside from myself and we all have a place where we prefer to put things when we clean up, but I think we have this fixed now, as well…).
We are a camp barn and use our horses mostly during summer for our summer camp programs.
When I first opened our current facility, it was in an area and at a time where it was a little tough to have a helmet rule but I did anyway. As a business/property owner I wanted to protect myself from liability as much as possible. On a personal level I never wanted to face someone I knew having a devastating but preventable head injury. In the first few years I had a number of clients and trainers who struggled with this rule, but I held firm and I never lost a client over it–people were annoyed but complied, some had to go out and purchase helmets to do so! Nowadays there is a lot more helmet awareness. I would strongly encourage you to think about this issue. Liability is a serious matter for a farm owner.
Think about the type of clients you’re marketing towards.
There are basic safety rules, like wear helmets, appropriate footwear, no smoking, supervised children & dogs, etc. Those are the important ones, IMO. And the basic “clean up after yourself” type rules.
Your policy on property damage should be in the boarding contract, I would think.
Then there’s everything else :lol:. I’d never board somewhere that had a written rule against bra straps showing - that’s hilarious! But there are definitely barns that cater to the crowd that shows up in shined tall boots, tucked-in polo shirts, and a belt. Which is fine, but you have to know who you’re marketing to.
