If you have your own barn and a few empty stalls, it might be tempting to open your facility up to boarders. Bringing in boarders has some advantages, in that it can bring in some money and will create more activity at your barn. But should you take on boarders? Before you decide to make the leap, consider how it would affect your particular situation.

The Financial Aspect

At first glance you might see opening your barn up to boarding as an investment - the barn would become a business, and would be bringing in income. And while that’s true, if you talk to most barn owners they will tell you that the horse boarding business is usually not profitable alone. If you have a facility where you can add training and lessons to the program, then you may bring in additional income and make a profit, but the costs of caring for horses are so high that offering boarding services may result in only minimal profit, if any at all.

The Wear and Tear on Your Property

Horses are high-maintenance. If you bring in additional horses, your property needs to be able to withstand them. If your pastures are overgrazed, you may need to rotate them and perform more pasture maintenance than you’re currently doing, which is costly in time and supplies. Additional horses will also mean that your ring requires more frequent attention, and don’t forget the normal wear and tear that horses create on stalls and fences.

Insurance

If you decide to take on boarders, look into the insurance that you will need to have yourself fully protected. Call your insurance company and have a conversation about your plans and the cost of an insurance policy to cover you when you open your barn up as a business.

The Extra Company

Opening your barn to boarders will mean that extra people and horses will be coming onto the property. This can be both positive and negative. Additional horses can mean added company for your horses, as well as increased activity around the farm which can prevent boredom in your horses. Having more people around can be positive in that you may have people to ride with and converse with while in the barn.

But be sure to consider how taking on boarders will change the atmosphere of your barn. You’ll be running a business and will be giving up a good deal of your privacy in exchange. If you’re used to having the barn or the ring to yourself when you’re riding, will you be able to cope with sharing it from now on? Even if you plan on having your barn closed during specific hours or specific days, realize that emergencies will crop up and you can never ensure that people will not need to stop by.

Increased Responsibility

Managing a boarding barn is a tremendous amount of work. Ultimately the safety and health of the horses falls upon you. You will need to step up to deal with problems and issues as they arise.

Opening your barn up to boarders is a decision that you should make carefully. Definitely talk to other barn owners experienced in boarding before making your choice.

Image Source: flickr.com/photos/dingbat2005/475666144

Original Source: Should You Take on Boarders?