Board exchange advice

[enjoytheride]

I was recently looking for someone without a horse of their own who wanted to ride and show my (very) green large pony. I’d haul them to shows and lessons, pay for some of the shows myself, and in exchange they’d get to ride as often as they wanted and do 20 to 30 minutes of barn chores a few days a week.

I was literally laughed right off the internet.

This is how I rode while I was in college so I guess I assumed people like me (poor adults who wanted to ride) still existed.

For me, I feel like your arrangement would work minus the mowing/fence repair/picking things up. There was a period where I separated from my ex where I really struggled to make ends meet let alone keep my horse and an arrangement like this would have been perfect.

[Okgirl]

Thank you. I guess it’s just finding the right fit. I’m flexible with the exchange and new to this situation.

[trubandloki]

@Okgirl

The prospective boarder only lives minutes away but doesn’t negate the amount of help I am asking.

If there is a specific person in mind who is interested in this arrangement, it really does not matter what all of us strangers on the internet say, it only matters what you and this person think is a fair deal.

To someone who has no option for having land to have a horse, but does not like the hassle of a boarding barn, your set up (where they are basically in charge of all things) might be dreamy to them and they might be more than willing to do your horse care in exchange for the use of your place.

So talk to this person and see if you are anywhere near on the same page.

[Okgirl]

Thank you. I just want to be fair in the exchange. Appreciate everyones feedback!

[Bluey]

@Okgirl

Thank you. I just want to be fair in the exchange. Appreciate everyones feedback!

One way to be fair would be to put a value to everything you offer and to the jobs to be done.
Then you can fairly distribute the work and pay or be paid for whatever each one does/uses.

You are providing the land and your side of insurance and whatever else you are doing in the boarding end of the situation, then the helper is providing their end of it.
All that has value, figure each one and go from that.
If the arrangement is working very well for you, make some concessions later.
If not, have a way to adjust so you are not subsidizing someone else’s horse habit too much.

Doesn’t has to be 50/50, just play it by ear.

[seabreeze]

I have my boarding contract set up so that each time the boarder does the barn chores, her board is discounted $X. If she does it a few times a month, she still owes me money for board. If she were to do chores more than 15-20 times, I would be paying her.

As for other farm maintenance jobs, I would pay that separately.