Thinking about getting out of the boarding business...

[FoxHunter2015]

I’m beyond frustrated and burnt out. What was intended to be an extra horse or two to offset the cost of keeping my horses has turned into a full fledged business with half a dozen boarders and a waiting list. I work a full time job and just don’t have the time for it, and I’m tired of doing all the extras for all these horses because their owners never bother to show up. I’m constantly picking feet, changing blankets, and grooming because I get tired of seeing horses with 2 weeks of caked on mud and hair sitting with a heavyweight blanket on over it.

I have a few that work off some board and instead of being helpful it is half assed to the point where I have to redo everything and have asked one of them to start paying full board because I end up having to redo the work anyway. If I dare ask for something to be done properly (for example dumping and scrubbing the buckets that get hay in them instead of just filling up dirty buckets) I get met with complaints and attitude.

It’s ruining my love of my horses and I’m tired of having half a dozen horses in my barn that just sit around and destroy my property because their owners never do anything with them.

So those of you that have moved from boarding facility to private barn, how did you do it? How much notice did you give? Or did you do something like raise prices until people left? Did you allow any long term people to stay? And after you made the change, did you feel like it was the right decision? Have you thought about getting back into boarding since making the change to go private?

TIA

[findeight]

Good for you to realize and admit you hate it and remove it from your life. Nobody whose ever boarded out much less run a barn will blame you.

Please don’t feel guilty and let that trap you into continuing to operate a boarding barn. It will make you bitter and age you greatly, as it has to many others who went on anyway.

[McGurk]

Set a reasonable date, say 60 days, give everyone notice. 6 boarders plus your own horses with half-assed, sporadic help is another full time job and will absolutely kill any pleasure you take in your own horses.

I also suspect you are undercharging since you have a waiting list.

If there is any ONE boarder that you like, takes good care of their horses, pays on time and is decent to have around, perhaps make an exception for that one.

Otherwise, close the barn to boarders and don’t look back.

I worked in and ran boarding barns for years. As a result, when we bought our own place, the first rule was no boarders. Ever. No matter who, no matter what.

[Rackonteur]

There is a thread somewhere on here where people are discussing how much notice a barn manager should give boarders. I would check it out – I think they’re recommending anywhere from 90 days’ notice to as much notice as possible for you to give. Since you’re not having to sell your property maybe you could give them a fairly long notice so they can find another barn – hopefully one where they won’t be able to “work”!

[SAcres]

Man, I feel you. Sometimes boarding can be really tough, especially with winter and working and trying to have a life. Have you talked to your boarders about this? Could you do partial care or something, or see if you could afford extra help?

[sunkistbey]

I would give them 60 days and I would not let anyone stay. You need to make a clean break from this lifestyle and you need to do it as soon as you can. If you give people too much notice they will linger and try to string you along. If you let one person stay, one of the others will hear about it and try to wheedle their way into staying as well.
I also ran a boarding/training barn for several years and I would never have boarders at my home barn. Ever.

[FoxHunter2015]

Thanks everybody.

There are 9 horses right now. I have 3, plus 6 boarders. Good barns are definitely hard to find in my area, and most have come to me with under weight horses at barns with terrible care, begging me to take their horse for a few months until they find another barn. I added an extra 2 stall shed row to my property because I feel bad when I see these ribby horses come in from big show barns.

I used to be an avid dressage rider (and fox hunting before I got into my thirties and started worrying about falling, ha!) and I have a really amazing warmblood sitting doing nothing because I don’t have time for him. It’s totally burning me out having so much work.

I cant really afford extra help without raising board, and my husband would rather us get out of the boarding business than try to make this work. I’m sure he’s about ready to divorce me with all the hours I spend at the barn cleaning up.

I will consider what kind of notice to give. I’m leaning towards a bit longer as I know how hard it is to try to find a barn in this area, but I think a clean break with no boarders at all will be best.

[IronwoodFarm]

I only offer field board and I am very direct about the horses I will accept as boarders. For example, I do not blanket in the winter. I also have a hard time with “special needs” like feeding supplements or special feed. All the horses are fed on poles in the field. I am fine with medicating for a short term problem, but if we need to deal with something long term, the horse needs to hold its bucket to get that med. If a horse needs more feed in the winter, I will move his/her field location so that can be accomplished. The issue for me is to save labor while accommodating the horse. But there is a limit on how many special paddocks I will create because they all add labor.

I have asked boarders to leave when what they want is more than I can do. I’m just not a good fit. I’m not arguing about what they want to do with their horse. They write the checks. If they think their horse needs XYZ, then they should board where they can get XYZ. Don’t try to pay a good bit less and force me to do XYZ.

I no longer allow anyone to cover an exception to what I offer. I had a local boarder who begged to blanket her mare and I agreed as long as she came out daily to check her. She lived within a few miles of the farm. She could not make it out once a week, if that. The mare’s blankets would literally be cockeyed and dragging – a complete safety issue to her. There was always an excuse – too busy, sick, roads were icy, whatever. It was a nightmare for the horse. I asked them to leave.

There is nothing wrong in saying to your boarders that you want to leave the business. Just because you’ll have empty stalls or paddocks does not mean you have to fill them.

[js]

Give 60-90 days notice with no boarding money penalty for anyone desiring to leave before your out of boarding business date. I wouldn’t give any longer or you will have boarders dragging their feet to move hoping you’ll change your mind and feel sorry for them. Give notice with a must be moved out by date and be done with it, no exceptions.

[Edre]

I am sorry to hear about your situation, OP. Burn out is no fun.

I have never been a property owner boarding, but I have been involved in a few barn moves. Giving ample notice (60 days minimum imo, 90 is great) is key. I would suggest setting a set end date for “property will be closed to public after this point” so not only do they have to get their horses out by X days, but all their stuff must also be removed. It can also help to make it clear boarders don’t need to give extended notice (my boarding contract requires 1 month notice if I want to move, but that was waived when the business was closing). Barn owner also preemptively communicated prorated board rates (full month was x fee, the prorated board was by week).

Example timeline I had was notice going out now of business closing, all horses must be gone by June 1, and then all personal property should be picked up by 6/16, after which you will be disposing of anything that remains (donating, throwing away, repurposing).

[Redlei44]

Before your second post, I was going to suggest a total overhaul of your policies and pricing to get your boarding business in line with what you actually would want. Others have mentioned things like a no blanket policy, unapologetically asking boarders to leave if they regularly cause you extra work or worry, and increasing your prices to either make it more worth your while or subsidize paid help. And if you lose current boarders because of it, sounds like that would actually be a good thing.

But if you and your family really need a break and even good boarders wouldn’t be worth it, then I’d agree with 60 days, waived for the boarders with no penalty if they leave earlier.

[MissAriel]

@sunkistbey

I would give them 60 days and I would not let anyone stay. You need to make a clean break from this lifestyle and you need to do it as soon as you can. If you give people too much notice they will linger and try to string you along. If you let one person stay, one of the others will hear about it and try to wheedle their way into staying as well.
I also ran a boarding/training barn for several years and I would never have boarders at my home barn. Ever.

@Edre

I am sorry to hear about your situation, OP. Burn out is no fun.

I have never been a property owner boarding, but I have been involved in a few barn moves. Giving ample notice (60 days minimum imo, 90 is great) is key. I would suggest setting a set end date for “property will be closed to public after this point” so not only do they have to get their horses out by X days, but all their stuff must also be removed. It can also help to make it clear boarders don’t need to give extended notice (my boarding contract requires 1 month notice if I want to move, but that was waived when the business was closing). Barn owner also preemptively communicated prorated board rates (full month was x fee, the prorated board was by week).

Example timeline I had was notice going out now of business closing, all horses must be gone by June 1, and then all personal property should be picked up by 6/16, after which you will be disposing of anything that remains (donating, throwing away, repurposing).

Given that boarding is hard to find in your area, giving 90 days would be a nice consideration, as would Edre’s suggestion to waive the notice to allow your boarders to jump on an opening without having to worry about paying two board bills.

It should go without saying, but in case someone finds this in the future, definitely provide details on waiving notice, prorated rates, last day to remove horses or personal items and any other things in writing, well in advance.

[clanter]

We have an easy answer… our zoning will not allow us to have boarders… period end of conversation

[clanter]

@Redlei44

But if you and your family really need a break and even good boarders wouldn’t be worth it, then I’d agree with 60 days, waived for the boarders with no penalty if they leave earlier.

Penalty ? I would be offering a bonus if they left early … here’s some cash How if you leave before this weekend

[shiloh]

60 days? 90 days? Y’all are generous. The barn I boarded at where the owner just got fed up (and all because of ONE boarder who sucked the life out of everything) gave us 30 days.

[FoxHunter2015]

Yes. I think 90 days would be best. I’m in a unique situation as there are not many backyard type barns in my area that are big enough for many horses, it is either larger show barns or totally private 2-3 stall facilities…as least from what I gather.

Its been a tough thing for me. If I did not have the job I do it would be a bit easier to manage. I think the worst part is the boarders that continually take advantage. I think they have learned that I “care” and if they aren’t out to change blankets or pick feet or are late for the farrier, I will just do it. I should have started charging for that and maybe I would not have “trained” them to assume I would always do it, but I was of course naive and assumed that they would not take advantage of me after I opened up my home essentially to them. My facility is not much, I have no wash stall, no arena, no fancy beautiful barn, but I have always made up for that with good care.

It is shocking what they all will leave their horses with. There is a tb mare who is very sweet but very accident prone and is always banging up her legs. I send her owner photos of bleeding cuts and I never get responses. So I end up cleaning her up myself because I know the risks of infection and cellulitis!

But it is time to move on I think. Perhaps in the future I will revisit boarding.

Of course I would not penalize anyone for leaving early and only have them pay for while they were there. I have never really held my boarders to “30 days notice” types of things because of my waiting list.

Thank you all very much, I am glad to have made this decision.

[MsM]

To encourage boarders to leave, one BO offered free trailering. You could offer that (if possible) for the first 60 days to help them leave earlier.

[CHT]

Wait…did I write this?

I totally understand where you are coming from. Having a small boarding facility is great in many ways, but comes with the 24/7 responsibility that is exhausting,

The only thing I would add, is if possible. offer your boarders some options: perhaps your farrier or vet can help with some idea on where they could go.

Oh, and I guess also make sure leaving is somewhat coordinated so stuff doesn’t go missing along with the boarders…offering to help with hauling can help with this potential problem.

[MegBackInSaddle]

I’m sorry you’re being taken advantage of, and I hope you get to a workable solution. It’s sad that lazy boarders have turned you off. There are some of us borders out there who appreciate excellent care and are happy to at least pull our own weight, and I wish you’d had more of us than the kind you’ve had. I feel like my BO welcomed me and my mare into her home, and I try to behave like a good guest. Shame on those who don’t!

[Zu_Zu]

[B]Good plan ~

Enjoy your new horse life ~[/B]