What are your top 5 questions to ask when you're looking for a barn to ride/board at?

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Barbara F. on August 30, 2010 at 5:46pm

What kind of turn-out do you offer?
What is your feed program?
What type of riding/training goes on here?
What kind of facilities/hacking do you have?
Who are the farriers/vets/horse health practitioners that are allowed here?

And one more...
Where is the washroom??

Permalink Reply by Queenrider on August 31, 2010 at 10:45am

How quick are repairs done?
Arenas are harrowed/maintained every week and who does it and with what equipment?
Are supplements fed according to owner's wishes?
Who is in charge of my horse and what is their knowledge/experience/age level?
Is the barn staff covered by WSIB?

This plus a good look around at the facilities.
-electrical in conduits
-fire extinguishers present and inspected
-no hazards in stall turn out
-good drainage prevents mud
-watering system (stalls and paddocks and wash stall)
-cleanliness
-pest control
-buildings/fences/gates in good repair
-security of tack/horses
-do horses look happy?
-no thin horses
-pasture care and quality of pasture/turnout

Permalink Reply by Karen Leigh Duplantis on September 4, 2010 at 9:14am

how often, how much and what time are the horses fed?
how much turn out time and where are they turned out?
What is the size of the stall, type of mat and typical amount and type of bedding?
what is the barn safety policy and where is it posted
What is the de-worming and vaccination schedule for the barn and how do you implement/enforce it.
Asking these questions lead to discovery of much more information that just the answers will provide, for example when and where are horses turned out will give you information on handling, fencing and footing as well as general barn schedule....

Permalink Reply by Mary McGuire Smith on September 5, 2010 at 10:06am

1. Please give a detailed description of your facilities (amenities in barn, riding areas, turnout areas, access to trails, etc.).

2. Please give an overview of your staff (ratio of staff tohorses; experience of staff; if there is an in-house trainer please provide resume with any certification and experience; provide barn manager's experience, etc.) Follow-up questions--is there someone on-property 24/7? Do you allow outside trainers/instructors?

3. Please provide a copy of your boarding contract, including barn rules and prices for all services

4. What is your feed, hay, turnout schedule and is it consistent everyday? Follow-up question--what kind of feed/hay do you give and do you provide a specific feed/hay if requested; if so, is there an extra charge?

5. Do you host special events such as clinics, horse shows, etc. on-property and if so, what provisions do you make for the regular boarders during such events?

Permalink Reply by Heather Tomlinson on September 6, 2010 at 10:11am

Type of feed and feed schedule, and is there an extra charge for adding supplements/giving meds?
Turn-out schedule?
What is the barn atmosphere like? ie largely competitive, pleasure, or mix; do I get a good "feel" for the place and are the horses happy?
Do you allow outside vets/farriers/coaches?
What are the facilities like? ie fresh water in outdoor paddocks, everything in good repair, good-sized paddocks and not over-grazed, clean, tidy, no overcrowding, etc., indoor and outdoor rings, trails, tack room.