Lay-up Facility... What do you look for?

[mlranchtx]

I have a small ranch and am thinking of opening up to boarding a few lay-ups.

I have plenty of experience with horses, both TB’s in general and horses on stall rest. I know they can be destructive and a little nutty.

I have a few contacts in the local racing industry and I wouldn’t only be looking for TB lay-ups but really anything that need long or short term stall rest or pasture board.

I guess my question is, what do you look for in a layup facility? We live on the farm, have 93+ acres and a brand new 8 stall barn. I plan on getting a hot walker and covered round pen so I have the ability to hand walk in any weather. What else am I not thinking of that would be necessary?

Also, if you have a horse that needs 6 months off, for example, would you sent him to a lay-up facilty or just keep him at the track? Maybe I’m on the wrong track all together…

Thanks for any suggestions!

[DickHertz]

Daily Individual Turnout
Good fencing
No cheap feeding programs
Good hay

[QHJockee]

I n addition to Dick’s suggestions, I like to make sure they are comptent and have comptent help along with being quite adept at bandaging, and giving IV shots. A skilled farm vet who is experienced in lameness. Also a farm that is not going to nickle and dime me to death.

[Acertainsmile]

I agree with QH…so many hunter barns want to charge owners for blanketing, fly spraying, etc… racetrackers like a set price, period…and good bandaging is a plus, also a good vet that comes when you call.

Also be prepared to handle a colt, if you dont, you can bet that will be your first client!

[summerly]

Must have

We just opened a training and rehab facility and I would say a truck and trailer is a must in case of a late night colic.

[Windswept_Farm]

We lay up several horses throughout the year, and time and time again the owners ask for good grain, good hay, and a safe turnout. Particularly, that means we stock 3 different types of hay, and have about 4 to 5 different type of feed that we feed on a daily basis. Turnout with and without grass is always nice too. For lay-ups, we have a flat daily rate based on what the owner wants. If it just needs rest, maybe something like getting over ulcers, would be a little different then a horse that has a slab knee, or a bowed tendon that would require leg work. We only hand walk lay-ups for safetly reasons to, so that can be time consuming, but our clients like it. When I have paid to lay up horses in the past, it drove me nuts to get nickle and dimed for turnout, leg work, giving my horse a shot etc. There is a lot of work in providing good lay up service.

[VirginiaBred]

@DickHertz

Daily Individual Turnout
Good fencing
No cheap feeding programs
Good hay

And a flat pasture/paddock space. I visited a facility that spoke of lay-up space and most were on a hill!

[Brockstables]

Perhaps a small area for individual turnout when they are ready for it, such as a roundpen with good footing, or a small paddock.
We also have one stall with a camera that connects to the house so we can monitor overnight if needed.
Plus the other suggestions!

[DiablosHalo]

I have a layup facility in the MidAtlantic and most of my clients ask about:

Individual turnout
Size of paddocks (my 13 range from solid round pen to 2 acres) for turnout
Feed type (quality)
Hay type (premium mix- they do not want junk hay!)

Those are the main questions. Some ask more, but you definitely want to have good answers for these questions!

Also, I offer to ship from the track- so they know I have a rig should something happen.

Good luck! Racetrack business is 90% word-of-mouth so if you do good, you’ll do great.

eta… I agree with pp… do not nickle/dime TB owners. When you have a lay-up… blanketing, fly spray, holding for farrier, etc are expected for that level of care. Have set rates for each type of service you offer and do not have “add ons”.
ie… I have a day rate for turnouts, stall rest, conditioning (on Equiciser), etc. My rate chart is included in my boarding agreement. They know what they will pay for each level of care.

[Full_Stride]

I’d love to do lay-ups. I love doing rehab and nursing. This is a great thread.

Any suggestions on how to find clients? Is a flier on the bulletin board at the track office good enough?

Always nice to have back up plans in case your full time job suddenly disappers ::looks at ceiling and whistles::

[DickHertz]

You can buy ads in the condition books for like $50. If you aren’t close to a racetrack then I wouldn’t bother. Offer to pick up the horses for free if you are close. When people layup they want something that is easy and not time consuming. I would also consider creating a basic website and do google ad words advertising.

[Full_Stride]

I’m an hour from Tampa Bay Downs. Is that too far? Closer than Ocala…

[DickHertz]

I would think there would be a bunch of layup farms in that area. You might have a tough time. Your best bet would try to find one owner with a lot of horses and just work something out with them or network directly to trainers at Tampa Bay. An hour is pretty far to do it for free.

[Evalee_Hunter]

[QUOTE=Full Stride;3860357]
I’d love to do lay-ups. I love doing rehab and nursing. This is a great thread.

Any suggestions on how to find clients? Is a flier on the bulletin board at the track office good enough?

Always nice to have back up plans in case your full time job suddenly disappers ::looks at ceiling and whistles::[/QUOTE]

Interestingly enough, one successful approach was a flyer (8-1/2x11 color brochure, 3 fold) which we direct mailed to trainers. We made up the brochure & had it reproduced at Staples. We also bought plastic brochure holders & put brochures in them in tack shops frequented by racing people. Other than that - word of mouth. A friend of my daughter works in a tack shop - talks up the race trainers that come in.

I doubt a bulletin board flyer would help but who knows? Certainly print advertising in publications that reach race trainers might be useful. Other than our flyer, we have not had success with print advertising.

I wouldn’t forget about approaching all the vet practices (equine & general large animal) in the area & also looking for other short term clients. For example, are there warmblood inspections in the area? Let the hosting farms know that inspection candidates can stay overnight if more stalls are needed. Are there shows or events in the area? Again, you might get overnight clients from there. Some people want something better than a temporary tent stall.

I think it is pretty hard to get the confidence of race horse trainers unless you have contacts on the track (a trainer or two that know you & will send you horses & maybe talk you up). Depending on your sales skills you might convince track farriers or track vets to hand out your business cards as they work.