During your visit

By Tafra Donberger

While visiting the stable where you may decide to board your Appaloosa, it’s a good idea to have an outline of what you’d like to see or check. Here are a few things to look for when walking down the barn aisle.

• Cleanliness: Dirt is inherent at a barn, so don’t look for perfection. Instead, look for smaller pieces that indicate the area is cared for. The aisles should be swept; the stalls clean in accordance to daily upkeep; and the overall appearance should suggest that the entire facility is cared for.

• Forage: Double check the forage your horse will be eating when he moves in. There should be a minimal amount of weeds; check for stickers or other ­potentially painful components that could cause sores; and look for mold. All of these in small amounts are not worrisome, but are warning flags if largely prevalent.

• Staff: Find out who’s responsible for completing chores. Do they live on or off the grounds? Who takes over when staff are on vacation? If you’ll be gone for a long period of time, are they willing or able to give your Appaloosa the extra care he may need, such as daily turnout? Knowing this ahead of time can help alleviate concerns down the road.

Put it in writing

Protect your horse through a solid boarding contract.

Face it—horses are an expensive habit. And board is usually the most costly consideration when purchasing a horse. Unless you’re lucky enough to have acreage of your own that’s set up for horses, or a friend who’s got land (and even this type of arrangement can be risky), board is an inevitable piece of the horse-owning equation.

In addition to being your biggest monthly expense, board can also be your biggest headache if you don’t pick the right facility. When weighing your options, it’s not only important to visit multiple boarding facilities and interview the owner, manager and other boarders, but also to read your boarding agreement carefully and understand it thoroughly before signing anything. Not all boarding agreements are created equally.

Simple protection

The boarding agreement is a contract between two parties that’s meant to protect everyone involved—most importantly, the horse. Be wary of a boarding facility that doesn’t have a boarding agreement. Oral contracts are common in the horse industry but they don’t always lead to a happy ending.

Beware of facilities that don’t require additional paperwork from you, i.e. a negative Coggins test, health certificate, proof of vaccinations and past deworming schedule. At first you may seem flattered that the barn manager trusts you and is taking your word that your horse has received the proper inoculations, but if they take that attitude with every boarder, your horse could end up exposed to nearly anything.

Many different boarding agreements exist, but there are a few major components that you should be familiar with. At the very least, the following should be part of your contract.

The parties involved

It’s important to identify yourself and anyone else who has access to your horse and decision-making capabilities. This includes complete contact information in case of an emergency. The boarding facility should also be identified by name along with the name and title of the person executing the agreement. The date of the contract is usually noted at the beginning of the contract as well.

The horse’s identity

List any and all attributes of your horse. It’s common to see color, height, sex, age, breed, scars, brand, etc. listed. You can also provide a copy of your Appaloosa’s registration papers for further information. Some people will list additional information about their horse’s habits here.

Payment

This is an important section for many reasons. The boarder needs to be aware of what they’re responsible for paying and when. Is your horse receiving pasture board, full board, partial board or self-care? Are you paying for the previous month or are you paying a month ahead? What type of feed is included and how many times a day? Is deworming included?

Some barns charge you if they have to hold your horse for the vet or the farrier, especially if it isn’t the farm’s own veterinarian. Some charge for blanketing your horse or putting bell boots on before turning your horse out. These should all be listed in the agreement or in an accompanying addendum.

Make sure you’re aware of other expenses you’re responsible for. Will the vet and farrier bill you directly or bill the farm?

This is the appropriate place to list what you authorize the farm to spend on your horse in your absence or in the event you can’t be reached. No one wants to think about their horse having an accident, but it’s important to prepare ahead of time.

Also, if you have insurance on your horse, provide the facility with that information.

Termination

Be aware of your options for terminating the contract. Most facilities require some sort of written notice. Plan ahead when possible or you may get stuck with a bill after your horse has moved. Two to four weeks notice is a common requirement.

Remember, everything is negotiable. This is your Appaloosa’s home, and you should be comfortable that he’s being cared for in your absence. There’s no shortage of boarding facilities, so make sure you’re comfortable with your choice.

Story and photo by Jeannie Blancq Putney

Printed in the January 2008 issue of Appaloosa Journal.

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