advice on boarding horses

[ainslie]

I'm looking to put up a few stalls in my barn for boarding horses - there have been a few people asking and there seems to be a small market for it here in my little corner of Huron Cnty (Ontario). I was wondering about some advice on boarding rates and what services should be included - rates around here range from $180 to $300/month and there is a huge variety of services from indoor arena, outdoor sand rings, individual feed programs, washroom/lounge facilities, etc. Do stables charge a basic rate and then add any incidental or additional charges to that such as vaccinations, worming, bedding, special care...? Are there boarding facilities that have a "variable rate" based on the horse owner's degree of participation? I have years of horse-farm experience (stud and show-horse farms) with large and small herds, and wealthy or middle-class owners, but no experience with boarding facilities as such.

Thank you for your input,
Teresa

[Tigerhair]

Hi Teresa

Lucky you!

I guess what you offer is up to you. How much time do you have to put into the "business"? If you think you may have 3 hours (or whatever) a day - what could you do to make the most money for those hours you work? You could just offer the stable and turnout paddock and leave it up to the owners. If you get into doing things like organising vaccinations/worming - be careful because they may have to be done by a certain date and you don't want to be liable for getting it wrong...

Take into account that you should have some insurance to cover you against someone harming themselves at your establishment. Also have personal insurance to cover you if you get hurt by one of the horses.

My son is nagging me to play with him... so I'll have another think. Got a book somewhere on this.

[Mare Owner]

I have boarded at a few barns and visited others before I brought my horses home.

The most common thing around here is a basic rate, and a list of fees for the extra stuff like worming, supplements. What you include is totally up to you. You can start out with a basic rate with no extras and see how it works, you might change if your customers change or as you find what you prefer as the caregiver.

I would suggest looking at the barns most similar to your situation and see what they charge and what is included.

Have a boarding contract, and insurance, to protect yourself.

[Mydreamlife]

[quote="Tigerhair"]Hi Teresa
If you get into doing things like organising vaccinations/worming - be careful because they may have to be done by a certain date and you don't want to be liable for getting it wrong...

Also is the drug administered failed you may be liable... very dodgy ground, a great way around this is for the owner to supply the medication (in this country available online) or via a veterinarian.

I know someone who was sued for a similar case... protect yourself first!

On a less depressing note, how lucky are you?! Would love to do this, I trained for this but currently at home with my babies.
Claire

[happy place]

lucky u would love to have space to have more horses around.
cost of livery depends on what facillitys you have to offer more facillitys higher price , level of your knowlage and reputation more = higher price , level of your infolvment more =higher price.
word of caution though used to do 5day full livery with owners doing it them selves on the weekend very hard to stand back and whatch them make a mess of your nice neat thick beds go home and forget to feed their horses; so ended up working for 7 days but getting payed for 5 maybe too soft