The standard boarding contract includes a stall, small paddock, feeding and access to facilities (such as arenas, tack rooms, restrooms, etc.) However, there are other pasture and board options that might allow horse owners to save money and still enjoy their animals.
Partial Board
The first alternative to traditional horse boarding is partial board, which includes some of the amenities of traditional boarding. Horse owners will have access to a stall and paddock, but they will have to take care of the manual labor on their own.
Horse owner duties in partial board include:
- Turning their horses out
- Feeding the horses
- Mucking stalls
- Mixing grain
- Supplying horses with nutritional supplements
In normal board, the stable and its employees take care of these duties, so it definitely saves money for horse owners to do it themselves. Of course, some horse boarding facilities will have these options while others will not. Partial board is sometimes called "self-care."
Pasture Board
Another option for horse owners who want to save money on horse boarding costs is pasture board, which means that the horse is housed in a pasture or paddock rather than a stall. He will probably have access to a small three-sided shelter in which he can eat and take cover from inclement weather.
Sometimes pasture board is combined with partial board to increase savings on horse boarding prices. This means that the owner is responsible for caring for his horse in the pasture, including grain and hay.
In some horse boarding facilities, pasture board is more reasonable than others. It is important for horse owners to consider the quality of the pasture provided, the amount of covered space, the weather in the geographic location and the sturdiness of the fencing.
Leasing Board
When a rider is not able to afford to purchase his or her own horse, leasing board might be a pleasant alternative. In this arrangement, the lease takes responsibility for a portion of the board and the care of the horse in exchange for riding, showing and companion privileges. There are many different types of horse leasing.
The most important aspect of this arrangement is the horse boarding contract. Lessors should communicate with the lessee about their expectations so the agreement is balanced and equal. The lessee might be responsible for paying anywhere from a quarter of the board to full price, depending on how much time is devoted to that rider.
Evaluating Horse Boarding Facilities
Before deciding where to pay for pasture and board, horse owners should carefully consider what they want out of the horse boarding facilities. Amenities like wash stalls, indoor arenas, covered round pens and pasture space are not universal.
Additionally, it is essential to read the horse boarding contract carefully. Horse owners should ask questions about any language they do not understand and request revisions where necessary.
Selecting a Pasture and Board Arrangement
Each of these pasture and board arrangements is perfectly acceptable, but some are better than others for different circumstances. Older horses, for example, might not be suitable for pasture board because they are more fragile and therefore more vulnerable to exposure.
For a horse owner who works a full-time job with overtime, partial or self-care board might not be appropriate. Negligence is a serious issue, and failing to feed, water or clean an animal could lead to legal trouble.
Horse owners must carefully examine their horses, lifestyles and budgets to select a horse boarding arrangement. For those who are unsure about their options, it is a good idea to talk with the owners of horse boarding facilities to get an idea for what is available.
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