Posts Tagged ‘boarder’

I have a boarder wanting to bring a horse to my farm. This horse had strangles 8 years ago. Can it cause any problems with my horses?
Can a horse who had Strangles 8 years ago infect horses? I have a boarder wanting to bring a horse that had the disease 8 years ago. Can they still be infectious to other horses?

I have a riding stable with 5 of my own horses. A friend is boarding her daughter’s pony here. Board covers the bare minimum of costs and the family helps with barn work.

There is a demand for boarding in our area and I have had numerous requests.

What kind of insurance do I need if I want to take on boarders? Also, what kind of insurance do I need if I allow boarders to also ride my horses?

Our one boarder wants to work with a trainer using my horse as she is rapidly outgrowing her pony. The daughter is 14 years old and a very fine rider.

I want to make sure everyone is protected and no problems occur if someone gets hurt on my property.

Some horse owners dream of having a horse in their backyard. It can be a nice dream, and maybe it’s right for you, as long as you know what is ahead for you and your horse. First and foremost, you must know the answer to the question, “Is my rural setting zoned for horses?” If you live in a suburban or even rural neighborhood that forbids the keeping of livestock, you’ll have to board elsewhere; don’t try to hide your horses if it is against a local ordinance. To be a responsible boarder of horses, I will outline the housing options and the responsibilities you should adopt as a stable owner.

There are three basic types shelter for horses: pastures, paddocks, and box stalls. You can find designs in books on barn building, or buy these enclosures prefabricated. You may even have an architect or a reliable contractor design and build them for you.

Pasture: The ultimate choice of shelter is the open sky. A pasture is a substantial portion of fenced land where high-quality grass grows for horses. If you have enough land, motivation, and ability to create and manage a pasture for your horse, this is the best way to go. Horses who live on pastures are least likely to suffer from colic, leg problems, breathing disorders, stable vices (bad habits resulting from boredom), and other problems that can afflict horses confined to stalls. They also don’t need as much exercise from you because they get it on their own, horsing around the pasture. If you find you only have time to ride once a week, your horse won’t feel imprisoned.

Paddock: A paddock is usually a smaller outdoor shelter that will likely be without any grass at all. In the American East, a paddock is usually a large pen with board fencing. In more urban areas of the West, paddocks are smaller 12′ x 12′ or 12′ x 24′ enclosures made with substantial 15 gauge pipe. Wire fence is sometimes incorporated into these pipe corrals. Horses living in a paddock need daily exercise because they won’t get much of a workout in such a small space. If you can’t ride every day, you need to turn your horses loose in a nearby arena or take them for a walk to provide them with a way to stretch their legs. A paddock, then, is the next best thing to pasture. It will give the horse some room to move around. Because paddocks are outdoors, they also provide natural ventilation and more opportunities for mental diversion for your horse than that of a box stall.

Box stall: Some owners keep horses in indoor enclosures called box stalls. A box stall is just what it sounds like; it’s a stall in the shape of a box. Box stalls are compartments within a barn. Keeping a horse in a box stall offers a few advantages. Horses in a stall can stay cleaner and neater. Horses won’t get muddy when it rains or dusty when it’s dry. They also avoid bites and other injuries inflicted on them by other horses. The downside of keeping a horse in a box stall is that living there is less healthy for the horse than living outdoors. A horse who stands in nearly the same place for hours on end is more prone to colic, leg problems, and boredom, which often results in so-called stable vices. Also, because ventilation isn’t as good in a stall as it is outdoors, horses kept in a stall are more prone to respiratory problems. Like horses in paddocks, horses in box stalls require daily exercise; they haven’t much room to move around. You will need to ride your horses daily, turn them loose in an arena or, at the very least, spend a half-hour walking each one around the barn.

Keeping horses on your property requires time, money, and some hard work, however you choose to house your horses. Although having your horses in your backyard is a great experience, don’t overly romanticize the notion. You must bear some responsibilities along the way, including:

A good image: Whereas horse property was commonplace at one time, finding communities that are accepting of horses is becoming more difficult all the time. You can do your part to maintain the image of home stabling by being friendly and considerate toward neighbors.

Cleanliness: You have an obligation to your horses and to your neighbors to keep your property clean and well maintained. Part of that is daily mucking out your horse’s stall using a manure fork.

Ongoing learning: Because you and your horses are pretty much on your own, you’ll need to learn as much as you can about horses and keeping them happy and healthy. You can continue your education by subscribing to horse magazines, and reading books about horses and horse care. See about joining a local horse club. It is a wonderful ongoing source of camaraderie, learning and support.

Tanya Vorgan believes in the easiest way to learn — to teach others as she is learning. Her many interests have lead her to many exciting experiences, but sometimes nothing compares to the richness of quiet moments in which to reflect and grow. Tanya is also among those committed to the never-ending quest for the perfect cup of coffee, which for her begins with the best bar none Bunn coffee makers.

She recommends going for the richest black gold possible with a Bunn coffee grinder and your choice of coffee bean. You won’t believe the difference fresh ground coffee in your kitchen will make. And that smell!

Author: Tanya Vorgan
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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My horse is kept in a pasture with another horse (not mine – belongs to another boarder I’ve not met). This a very nice horse, but a pushy horse. It is often hard to get my horse out of the pasture gate because the other horse wants to follow. Any tips on how to get the companion horse to respect my space when catching my own horse?