- Make a list of priorities for yourself. Give them an importance of 1-3. For example, I rate hay quality as a 3 and tidiness of the facility as a 1 as long as stalls and buckets are clean.
- Put those items on a spreadsheet or piece of paper.
- Call places or look at them online and write down the results for each of your priorities
- Rate the answers from 1-5 with 1 being low and 5 being high
- When you're done, multiply the importance by the answer for each stable and add those values up for a total score. In the example below, stable A is the better choice because it has a higher total score.
Question Importance Score Total
1) Hay 3 5 15
2) Turnout 2 2 4
3) Arenas 1 3 3
TOTAL 22
Example for Stable B:
Question Importance Score Total
1) Hay 3 1 3
2) Turnout 2 5 10
3) Arenas 1 5 5
TOTAL 18
I have some questions you can ask the stable owner under each item with what I think is the right answer. The questions are open ended so you don't lead them to give you the correct answer.
1) Hay
What kind of hay do you have? Grass hay is best. Listen for the person's level of enthusiasm for choosing hay. If the person buying hay is passionate about getting the right hay for horses, chances are that you will get good hay.
Where do you get your hay? In order to be consistent , it should be from the same supplier all year. I had one barn owner that would grow his own hay, but sell the best hay to the neighbors and supplement the supply in late winter with the cheapest hay he could buy from anyone. Frowney face for that practice because it gave my horse diarrhea and weight loss.
How is your hay stored? It should be stored away from water coming from above and below. Under a roof and on palates or a raised floor is best.
2) Water
How are horses watered in the stall? Automatic waterers are best, but clean buckets filled at least twice a day for is also just fine. Buckets and waterers should be cleaned at least a couple times a week.
Do you do a barn check at night? The answer should be yes, and water buckets are refilled. Some awesome barns even give hay during the night check.
3) Grain
What kind of grain do you provide? Usually it's a mix of oats and pelleted high fiber feed. Beware feeding too much sweet feed. Sweet feed is high in sugar and can cause problems for some horses. If you win the jackpot, it's a pelleted high fiber feed. If the hay is good enough and fed in enough quantity, you may not need grain. Don't forget you can provide your own grain. I had an older mare on part barn grain, part equine senior that did great. Grain isn't usually very high on my list of priorities, since I prefer to feed mostly hay but it may be high on yours.
4) Turnout
Tell me about your turn out? This is an open ended question that will let you know the owner or manager's philosophy. Remember when you evaluate this that horses are not humans. They don't particularly like being confined to a stall. They don't need alone time. They need to be part of a social group of horses. Stalls can be good for us when we go to get our horses in the evening, or to protect our horses during times of the year that there is severe weather, and to give our horses a place to eat the correct amount of grain per day (no stealing from neighbors or getting stolen from).
How many days a week are horses turned out? 7 days is the right answer
How many hours a day are horses turned out? As many as possible is a good answer. The only times it makes sense to turn out less is if it's too hot or too cold out and the horses are miserable because of the weather.
Is shelter available in the turn out? Yes is a good answer. Think about the times during the year that it's a little too hot, too cold and windy or pouring cold rain. Your horse is going to want a place to be safe during those times. Make sure there is enough room for all the horses in the shelter.
Is water available in the turn out? Yes is the right answer. Look at it to make sure it's fresh and clean. It shouldn't be brown or slimy.
Are they turned out together or individually? Together is the best answer. Horses need a social group. If not together, next to each other is a sad but acceptable option. If your horse is out with other horses, he'll get some bumps sometimes but in exchange he'll have something to do all day while he socializes with his herd.
Are mares and geldings together or separate? Again, horses are not people. The answer is that it doesn't really matter. Geldings aren't interested in sexual activity in most cases. Mares and geldings enjoy being in a mixed group. Some people are convinced that they should be separated and it isn't a big deal, but don't be put off if they are together. It's best if they're grouped by dominance instead of by sex. If there is a more dominant and a less dominant herd, there is less of a disparity between the top and bottom horse so the bottom horse gets beat up less.
5) Pasture
Is it pasture or dry lot turn out? You can ask or just observe this one. Pasture is best, but be careful of some people who call a dry lot 'pasture'. If the grass isn't cared for and there are significant bare spots, it's a dry lot. Horses won't get much nutrition or entertainment out of the grass if it's not there. Dry lot can be just fine, but don't advertise it as pasture.
Do you mow weeds? Yes is a good answer but not mandatory. Horses eat the grass and not the weeds. If not mowed, over time the weeds can take over. Some may be poisonous. Most barn owners are aware of poisonous weeds, but some aren't.
Do you rotate pasture? Jackpot if the answer is yes. Pasture rotation helps provide more healthy grass for horses and reduces parasites a little.
6) Stalls
How does the barn smell? If it smells bad, walk away. The barn isn't clean. Imagine how bad it will smell when it's closed up in the winter or it's 95 degrees outside. Imagine your poor horse forced to stand in that and breathe it in for hours at a time. Sad.
How do the stalls look? Are there wet spots? Is there old poop? Are there safety hazards like metal bits sticking out or loose stall parts? Try to look past the aesthetics of the stalls. I've seen dangerous dirty barns with beautiful stalls and excellent barns with older less attractive stalls. Make sure the stalls are at least 10X10, 12X12 is better and think about the light your horse will get if he or she is confined during the day. No horse wants to be locked up in a dark cave every day.
Are the water buckets clean? Don't say anything, just check in a few stalls.
7) Bad weather
What do you do in the case of extreme weather? Ideally, horses are brought in if it's way too hot or cold for them to be comfortable outside. The range really depends on what horses are used to. In more extreme areas, 95 to -20 is a good range. Remember, in the winter where it's cold horses grow a good winter coat. In less extreme areas 95 to 0 is a good range. Horses evolved in colder climates. They have great adaptations for the cold, but not as much for the hot.
8) Amenities for you
There is a reason this is last. Don't forget that your horse lives at the barn 24/7. You visit between 4 and 6 hours a week. That being said, it's not worthwhile to have a horse if you can't pursue the activities of your choice.
Is there an indoor arena? Does the weather dictate that you need one? Are there times during the year that it's too hot/cold/rainy? What is the footing? Is it too shallow or too deep for your sport? Unless you're doing some serious sliding stops, 6" of footing is too deep. It will cause damage to your horse's joints.
Is there an outdoor arena? Is it kept clean of equipment? Is it cared for?
How many people are using the arena during the times you can be at the barn? The best answer depends on you. Do you thrive on riding with a group or people or do you get peace from riding alone?
How often is the arena groomed? More than once a week is nice. Once a day is ideal.
Is the arena watered when it's dry? Yes is a good answer. It's bad for you and your horse to be breathing in dust. Especially in the winter when the arena is closed up. Bonus points if the owner has a plan for dust when it's below freezing. The arena additives to keep dust down actually work.
I hope this helps you find the right boarding barn for you and your horse.
Cheers,
RGG
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