Questions for new boarding barn - insight (sorry if repeat)

[shadesofbay3]

hi all

i am moving barns and touring a nice barn tomorrow that has a good reputation. regardless i want to make sure i ask plenty of questions and thought i would see if anyone could think of one i might have missed

for background - i have an older mare who currently has a suspensory, so whatever questions are relative that that that i need to ask, hit me with it!

here’s what i have:

-do you have the ability for individual turn out?

-who is in charge of the deworming - myself or the barn?

-is alfalfa offered? if not, could i provide it?

-What time is turnout in summer?

-are there flat paddock(s) available for her recovery process? (suspensory)

-How much hay is fed and what kind? How many times a day? Will it be a problem to wet it? is it fed on the ground or hay nets?

-Hay in field in winter? Round bales?

-What kind of grain?

-Tack trunk – Can I provide my own?

-Trailer parking?

-In the rare chance I am unreachable, how are decision for emergency care made for my horse?

-Climate controlled medication storage? (like a Lounge?)

-Fridge/freezer available? (for treats/ice boots)

-Hot/cold water in wash stall?

-fee for holding for farrier/vet?

-are horses checked daily for injuries? lost shoes?

thanks guys

[Scribbler]

@shadesofbay3

hi all

i am moving barns and touring a nice barn tomorrow that has a good reputation. regardless i want to make sure i ask plenty of questions and thought i would see if anyone could think of one i might have missed

for background - i have an older mare who currently has a suspensory, so whatever questions are relative that that that i need to ask, hit me with it!

here’s what i have:

-do you have the ability for individual turn out?

-who is in charge of the deworming - myself or the barn?

-is alfalfa offered? if not, could i provide it?

-What time is turnout in summer?

-are there flat paddock(s) available for her recovery process? (suspensory)

-How much hay is fed and what kind? How many times a day? Will it be a problem to wet it? is it fed on the ground or hay nets?

-Hay in field in winter? Round bales?

-What kind of grain?

-Tack trunk – Can I provide my own?

-Trailer parking?

-In the rare chance I am unreachable, how are decision for emergency care made for my horse?

-Climate controlled medication storage? (like a Lounge?)

-Fridge/freezer available? (for treats/ice boots)

-Hot/cold water in wash stall?

-fee for holding for farrier/vet?

-are horses checked daily for injuries? lost shoes?

thanks guys

Prioritize your questions. Put your deal breaker questions first. For me, these would include turnout times and conditions, and feed routine and feeds. Barn hours if any and any restrictions on arena use like no longeing or a big lesson program. Any special care the horse needs. Also for me I 100 % need trail access but that I would determine ahead of time via Google maps.

Group your questions together. Honestly I would do a check list and print it out.

Start with your most important questions and then you could have subsidiary questions. Some of your questions could be you silently observing sounds smells horse condition etc.

Start with your most important deal breaker question. For me:

Is there turnout? For how long each day? Solo or group? What kind of turnout areas? Is there turnout shelter? What do they do bad weather? Some of these you can answer just by looking at the facility as you take your tour.

Feed. What feed is included in board? Can I see the hay? Can I see the grain? Can I supply extra supplements? If you don’t like the answers to the feed questions then, can I supply my own grain or hay? Etc.

Also go with what you see rather than what’s promised for the future.

Do you need to use the barn farrier or vet? What’s the charge to hold for farrier or vet? Is there a charge for blanket changing?

Things like worming are relatively trivial, it doesn’t matter who shoots the goo tube down your horses throat

Basically the importance thing is to find a place where you and barn are on the same page on the spectrum of 24/7 total care to DIY. I’ve always been in self board so I’m total DIY

[Laurierace]

I would start by explaining to them what kind of care exactly your mare needs. Ie stall rest, hand walking, wraps etc. you may not even get to your own questions if they are unable to accommodate her special needs.

[No1]

If your mare is on supervised turnout, make sure there will be someone to actually supervise the turnout, with a paddock that is easily visible from the barn or wherever the person will be.

Check the footing in the paddock that your mare would be turned out it. It doesn’t matter at all if it’s flat, if it is also 6 inches deep of sand or mud. Deep footing is much worse than a little incline. Same for any arena you may be riding her in when she’s coming back to work.

In addition to everything Laurierace said.

[S1969]

@Scribbler

Start with your most important questions and then you could have subsidiary questions. Some of your questions could be you silently observing sounds smells horse condition etc.

Exactly. The list above is ADHD in writing.

I would actually expect a boarding barn to present the answers to feed and turnout without having to be prompted. That is, by definition, the whole point of a boarding barn. In fact, if a boarding barn doesn’t start with feed & turnout, I might actually cross them off the list.

But presumably they will say “We feed 3 types of grain, and if you want something else you need to provide it and we charge a handling fee. We feed hay 3 times a day in stalls, and there is grass/hay/nothing in turnout.” Then you can ask additional questions. E.g. “oh great, I wanted to ask whether your hay includes alfalfa, and if not, whether I can provide?”

I agree that I would keep maintenance questions to the end; deworming hopefully won’t be a deal breaker regardless of who pays for it.

I would definitely be looking at the condition of horses while you’re there, as well as the actual turnout paddocks - is there grass, hay, round bales?

I took lessons at a place that had turnout but a trainer who said that “horses don’t like turnout!” And, the way they managed it, they didn’t. The odd horse would be removed from the barn and thrown out into a bare, solo turnout with no hay or water. If it was winter, they would take off stable blankets as well. Not surprisingly, they didn’t want to be there. It was very weird.

[CHT]

I would email a list of “deal breakers” before going to the barn. That saves you and the BO time, and you will have it in writing just in case.

I agree with simplifying and grouping your questions better.

[Scribbler]

@CHT

I would email a list of “deal breakers” before going to the barn. That saves you and the BO time, and you will have it in writing just in case.

I agree with simplifying and grouping your questions better.

I would phrase it as must haves. That is just less bitchy high maintenance sounding

For me, it would be:

Is there trail access?
Is there turnout?
Is there pasture turnout?
Is there a functional riding arena, indoor not necessary?
Are there operating hours or days barn is shut?
Are there multiple hay feedings per day?

Yours will differ especially if this is the layup horse.

These are all structural or basic issues that the barn manager can’t or won’t change for you. For me at this point, starting with trails access weeds out about 75 % of boarding barns around here especially the nicer ones. No point going out and falling in love with a facility and then realizing it has no trails access and is landlocked in the midst of farms and small acreage on a busy road.

Obviously many people dont care, but I just use this as an example of putting your major needs first.

For a layup horse, your biggest need is going to be how much the staff can help with details of rehab care. Will they hold for vets, farriers, body workers? Can they give meds? Can they give IM injections? Can they wrap legs correctly? Can they handwalk and administer sedatives as needed? Are they capable in person power, skills, and work ethic to help you follow through on the rehab plan or will some air head 13 year old barn girl toss the horse in the big pasture one day and let a buck N run fest ensue that reinjures the tendon?

Then, how much extra will they charge you to do these tasks well?

[Casey09]

Personally I would ask for a copy of the the contract you would be signing, as well as the barn rules. That should answer a lot of the questions. I would ask if I could look at those and then visit. I would write down a list of things I was interested in finding out, but show up and give the barn a chance to describe their program. After that, I’d take a look at the list and ask about anything that hadn’t been answered.
I hope that helps.

[Scribbler]

@Casey09

Personally I would ask for a copy of the the contract you would be signing, as well as the barn rules. That should answer a lot of the questions. I would ask if I could look at those and then visit. I would write down a list of things I was interested in finding out, but show up and give the barn a chance to describe their program. After that, I’d take a look at the list and ask about anything that hadn’t been answered.
I hope that helps.

Oh yes look at contract, it will spell out a lot of stuff! And rules.

[fivestrideline]

Good advice above - get that contract and the rules.
I hope you’re starting all your conversations with “I have a suspensory rehab horse, is that something you have done before and can accommodate?”. A lot of barns aren’t set up and don’t have the staff for that, or will expect you to do everything yourself.

Do you have an understanding of the rehab routine your vet has prescribed? Does it include small paddock turnout and handwalking daily, or are you just going to turnout in a flat paddock and see what happens? The first method (a year of small turnout and progressively increasing exercise) is a big reason why rehab specific barns exist, because most regular boarding barns can’t accommodate it. The latter is more doable on average, but the barn needs to know before you tour.

You’ll rule out a lot of places by starting here, since the barn you need after your horse is back to work isn’t often the same as the one you need during rehab.

[SMF11]

Big picture: look for happy horses and happy people. See if there’s low staff and boarder turnover (that will give great insight into whether people are happy!). Ask for references! Their vet, and current and former boarders. Be prepared to offer references: the BO where you are currently, your vet, anyone else relevant (trainer?).

[CindyCRNA]

Who works there is a big deal. I agree with you on finding out who handles the horses. My last barn hired help who had 'horse experience". That meant his girlfriend had some horses at her grandparents place. He had no idea what a flake was and gave my horse about a 1 1/2" slab (I’ve never seen a flake that small!) for lunch and that was all my 17 hand guy was going to get for 6 hours. He left there with a raging case of ulcers.

At my new barn, there is paddock turnout only but lovely individual pastures but you have to turn your horse out yourself so that’s what I do. I am only 6 min away so he stays out in nice weather and I bring him in at night during the winter so 2 trips per day. My barn also does not blanket but the barn is heated to 60 so he only needs a blanket for turnout which I’m in charge of.

I want him to have an overnight hay bag so I make it up and set it in front of his stall and they hang it. So I think if you have special requests but are willing to either cater to those needs yourself or at least expect to pay extra, you SHOULD be able to get what you need within reason.