definition of "private" farm/stable?

[morganpony86]

What is the going definition for a “private farm/barn/stable”? I thought it was a place that did not accept outside boarders or clients, meaning it was just a family & close friends.

But as I’m searching for a trainer & farm to send my youngster to for a few months, I’m coming across a lot of websites that say they’re “private” farms, but they clearly offer training & list as such in their services. Normally I wouldn’t bother contacting them if they call themselves private, but perhaps it means something different than what I’m used to.

[Bluey]

I expect there are different definitions of private.

For us, it is a location that is not open to the general public.

You may conduct business there, if a stable giving lessons, training for the public or selling on consignment, that would mean you can access the place only by appointment or they give you a set time the gate will be open or a key/code for their gate.

A public stable has less restrictions, are open to the general public certain hours, etc.

If you are interested in those barns, why not calling them to see how “private” they may be, where they set the private/public limits?

[alibi_18]

Around here, it can either be a real private farm own by someone who doesn’t take boarders at all.

Or be a private farm, run by a family that doesn’t have a riding school (with school horses) or offers trail rides to the public. They can offer services like training and pro rides on the boarders’ horses; some places allow outside trainers as well.

[Jealoushe]

I use this term, my farm is private because it’s not a business, however I do have one boarder and would take a horse on for training. Not open to the general public, but for those we choose.

[Abbie.S]

Huh. This is an interesting question. My first response would be, based on my experience on most farms around here, that they are almost all “private”. I don’t know of a single farm that would be welcoming of a general member of the public just showing up on-site.

So in that sense of the definition, I don’t know of any truly public facilities.

[Plainandtall]

My daughter was taking riding lessons at a boarding/training stable which also had a few school horses.

Then they went “private” which for that facility meant they only offered lessons to people who were boarding within their facility or leasing a horse from them. The pay by the hour lesson students were considered “public”

Her last lesson was the first time she cantered. Boy was I bummed. Still haven’t found an alternative lesson stable.

So there are many levels of what is private.

[WannabeDQ]

In my area the public barns have a string of lesson horses and anyone can sign up and take a lesson. The private barns only have boarder/personal horses and only give lessons to those boarding there.

[AmarachAcres]

Everywhere I’ve been “Private Facility” meant all services were for boarders and not open to the public.

Plenty of riding stables offer lessons to anyone who walks through the gate, some do trail rides, pony parties, etc… Those are not private.

[AmarachAcres]

[QUOTE=Plainandtall;7751377]

Her last lesson was the first time she cantered. Boy was I bummed. Still haven’t found an alternative lesson stable. [/QUOTE]

Have you tried asking on a facebook group or her old trainer if he has any recommendations?

[morganpony86]

[QUOTE=Bluey;7751304]

If you are interested in those barns, why not calling them to see how “private” they may be, where they set the private/public limits?[/QUOTE]

I plan to, but was just curious as to what others’ definitions were. As I said, I’ve never heard of a “private” farm that wasn’t a large facility meant only for the owners. I was simply surprised to see what supposedly looked like a boarding facility, that was open for public to board their horses & train, calling themselves private.

[ArabDiva]

Think of it as private in the sense that a yacht club or a country club is private – it’s a facility only open to members or their guests, with visitors by appointment only.

I board at a “private” farm owned by my trainer. There are 16 boarders as well as school horses and a flourishing lesson program. We are a dressage-focused facility, host several clinics a year, and pony club.

My trainer and her husband live onsite, and the farm is at the end of a private road shared with several other houses. There is not a sign for the farm out by the main road–only at the farm entrance. She started referring to it as a “private facility” on the website and posted “Private Facility - By Appointment Only” signs after multiple times having people (non-horsey) drive up the driveway, with no appointment, expecting to be able to hop on a horse and go riding, or let their barefoot kids run rampant around the farm. We’re not a petting zoo.

[Texarkana]

Interesting thread.

My definition of “private farm” has always been a place that generally does not accept outside boarders/clients and does not offer services to the public.

A private farm can be as small as someone’s backyard setup or a huge training facility that only caters to a specific family or organization.

In my mind, once a farm advertises services, they’re not what I consider “private.” I can think of some exceptions, though-- like a private facility leasing stalls to an outside trainer who operates a public program. Or a large private farm hosting the occasional show or clinic. I would also still consider a breeding farm “private” if they only offered their advertised services to their breeding clients and affiliates.

ETA: Although I’d bet if a farm advertising services is calling themselves “private” on their website, they are probably just hoping to deter people from showing up unannounced.

[trubandloki]

My definition of Private is that the place is owned by a person (or persons) not the town/count/state (which there are none of in my part of the world, that I know of).

[saultgirl]

[QUOTE=trubandloki;7752707]
My definition of Private is that the place is owned by a person (or persons) not the town/count/state (which there are none of in my part of the world, that I know of).[/QUOTE]

My definition is the same - any barn owned by a person/persons/Corporation.

[kasjordan]

[QUOTE=Plainandtall;7751377]
My daughter was taking riding lessons at a boarding/training stable which also had a few school horses.

Her last lesson was the first time she cantered. Boy was I bummed. Still haven’t found an alternative lesson stable.

So there are many levels of what is private.[/QUOTE]

Aww, this made me sad for you and her- that’s right when it starts getting awesome for them!! I hope you find somewhere she can continue.

[Chief2]

The barn we board has a lesson program for boarders and for non-boarders who are accepted into the lesson program, fields a show team, and participates in Pony Club and IEA. It is family owned and operated, and they consider it to be a private LLC barn.

Until I got on this board, I never heard of a public barn. I believe it involves the town or county owning the barn and property, and allowing the public to use it, but it is not common here in New England. Most barns here, regardless of whether they are considered commercial or non-commercial operations, are privately owned and operated, and thus considered private barns.

[wcporter]

I keep my horse at a woman’s house who has 4 horses of her own and 5 boarder’s horses. There is no trainer on site and she does not advertise her farm (i.e., no website, flyers, etc.); boarders come in through word of mouth or mutual connections only. I definitely consider her private.

[Paks]

I would say a public barn is one the offers lessons or rental horses (as in by the hour not leased) to people who don’t have horses at the barn. This means a lot more foot traffic by people who don’t have that much knowledge or investment in horses.

[skykingismybaby1]

Maybe New Jersey is different but here public barns are owned by County Governments. They usually offer lesson packages, therapeutic riding, educational programs and are open to the casual public. I board in one and the emphasis is on education and public awareness. Private barns are owned privately. They may offer lesson programs, boarding and training and may or may not appreciate “drop in” visitors.

[Marshfield]

[QUOTE=morganpony86;7752298]
I plan to, but was just curious as to what others’ definitions were. As I said, I’ve never heard of a “private” farm that wasn’t a large facility meant only for the owners. I was simply surprised to see what supposedly looked like a boarding facility, that was open for public to board their horses & train, calling themselves private.[/QUOTE]

FWIW, I always thought the definition was what you had in mind. But, now that others mention it, I see how it could refer to stables that don’t have offers available “for rent” for trail riding and/or don’t allow public visitors and given how many folks have reported coming home to find strangers in utterly inappropriate places on their farm, I can certainly understand folks hanging a “private” sign at the end of the driveway