Question for Field Board Providers

[Spyder]

I have been doing low-key, casual field board at my non-upscale farm for many years. I have an largish farm with lighted indoor, outdoor & trails which some people find attractive. Pastures have safe fencing and run-in sheds. While I have a barn with a tack room for boarders’ stuff, with a bathroom, I do field board only because I am not interested in all the work involved in keeping horses in stalls. My own horses like being outside. And I do all the horse care and field maintenance.

My own theory of field board is, I provide the place, hay or pasture and feed 1x/day w/supplements, and if I see something wrong I call the owner. Only. Anything else – vet, farrier, blankets, specialty feeding, etc. – is ‘self care’. Although in the past I have let boarders do self-care layup in case their horse needs a temporary stall.

I have had some great boarders and some other long stories as I am sure that you do, too. I guess getting screwed over is my own fault for trying to be nice to a 2-horse boarder last year who, after being here through the pandemic, was very late with the board money and left owing me hundreds. Burned, I have had no boarders since but have an acquaintance who has been repeatedly asking to board at my farm because my farm “has everything” and promised to be low maintenance. I finally caved.

My question is: If you are offering field board with, emphatically, no horse-related amenities, do you require a security deposit in case you have a particularly thoughtful boarder who leaves owing you hundred$? Why or why not?

Also, I have never used a written, signed contract – or previously been burned. Any ideas where I can find a contract template?

[clanter]

have not boarded since the early 1990s but then it was first month And last month at the inception of the relationship…and since I was out the area I had a credit card (well the horse had her credit card) for all other expenses

[B_and_B]

Start as you mean to go on! You have an opportunity to write the contract the way you want it, as you have no current boarders. I would require a security deposit, a field boarder can still easily do hundreds or thousands of dollars in damage. Consider the cost of a fence breaking horse, or someone whose horse tears up a field, or someone who leaves a hose running and fries a well pump, or someone who manages to do something stupid to the door for the indoor, or…

[Mohan]

I would treat field boarding like regular board just priced for not having a stall, shavings and the labor involved with that. If you would ask for a security deposits with stalls then ask for one.

I’m a field boarder who will pay the stall price if that’s the only way my horse can get stall rest if necessary. If that’s not a requirement I pay the field board price. The places I have boarded at are typically $200 less a month than stall board with the only difference being no stall. All offered care is the same.

I would definitely have a contract if only to outline what you do provide and it can’t be argued down the road.

[Bluey]

Ask your insurance company.
They may require a signed contract if nothing else for liability if boarders or their animals cause problems.

[trubandloki]

A security deposit is more to cover damages. Why not ask for last month’s board at the start of the relationship?

[furlong47]

If you have no boarders currently, it’s a great time to reevaluate your contract (or lack thereof in this case) and policies. First month, last month, and security when they move in. The security deposit is only to cover damages and if there aren’t any it’s returned. The last month’s deposit protects you from people who don’t give notice (assuming that’ll be in your contract) and just bug out, plus those who stop paying. If someone stops paying, don’t allow that to go on for months and months racking up thousands of dollars. They either work out a plan with you and stick with it (in the case of temporary financial issues), they’re out, or you file a lien. Look up your state’s process now so you’re prepared in the future.

[mmeqcenter]

I’ve only seen show barns require a deposit. Why don’t others? Because most horse owners would likely be a bit miffed about it and decline to board there, as people (HOs and BOs alike) seem to have a very hard time recognizing that boarding barns are, in fact, businesses. As in all industries, you have to read the market. If your target audience isn’t accustomed to paying a deposit, it will likely turn away potential (good and bad) clients.

But IMO, it’s not a bad idea, and possibly something barns should start moving to as standard as it gets more and more difficult to offer boarding services in general.

[Spyder]

Thanks all, for your thoughts. New contract. Security deposit. Yeah.

[clanter]

@Spyder

New contract. Security deposit. Yeah.

might want to check your state laws regarding security deposits. Some require a security deposit to be held in an interest bearing escrow account that benefits the client (some municipalities also have this requirement)

[furlong47]

@clanter

might want to check your state laws regarding security deposits. Some require a security deposit to be held in an interest bearing escrow account that benefits the client (some municipalities also have this requirement)

And even if this isn’t required, it would be good practice to set the deposit and/or last month’s board aside in some account where they’ll be separate and not be spent. I’ve seen other poorly run businesses that take security deposits (think wedding type providers, etc) get in trouble when they just shove all the money into one account and spend it right off the bat. Months or years later they need to return the deposits and the money is no longer there…

[walktrot]

The state of Maine has statutes that establish specific requirements for care of horses by owners and keepers… They require sufficient feed to maintain normal body weight and additional feed for underweight horses to attain normal body weight. Each horse must have access to their share of feed. There must be enough hay and grain on the premises. Unlimited access to sufficent clean water to maintain hydration. There also are specific requirements for sheds for size and construction. Extra protection, including blankets if needed, for protection.

My interpretation is that those requirements must be met in the absence of a contract. I moved to a 20-horse barn where my horse had a stall with uninterrupted access to a large runout. We were there for 18 months until I had to put him down at age 28. The barn changed hands and the rookie BO and her inexperienced attorneys created an “agreement” not contract. I added additonal language to the agreement but did not receive a signed copy from the BO. They made an effort to absolve themselves from liabiltiy for negligence including the death of a horse. They also said that the agreement was not a bailment for their responsibiity for caring for a horse. My vet told me that they couldn’t avoid liabitly for negligence in court.

My prior barn was 45-50 horses. He was outside for 19 years. She had a detailed contract that included how emergencies would be handed including contacting owner and calling a vet… Also, things like use of facilities such as the indoor. Field/pasture board should be a “money maker” because there is so much less work involved in caring for the horses. Board was about $200 less than stall board. She fed round bales. Most of the outside horses were fine without grain, so I supplied my own when he got older and needed extra calories and nutrients.

She took last month’s board with a 30-day period of notice. She also included payment for worming.