The New Year is a perfect time for self-reflection and making changes for improvement. If you board your horse, would your barn owner consider you a good boarder? Have you ever thought about it before? Following these tips can help you to stay on good terms with your barn’s manager.

Read Your Boarding Contract

Before you sign any contract, you should make sure that you read and understand it. The same holds true for your boarding contract. Be sure to read your boarding contract so that you understand the rules and procedures that will be governing your horse’s time at the barn. Boarding contracts can include important information about what action will be taken against unpaid board bills, your responsibilities as a boarder, and how emergencies will be handled if you cannot be reached. It is always in your best interest to thoroughly read – and retain a copy of – your boarding contract.

Respect Barn Rules

If a boarding contract does not include a list of the barn rules, then ask to see a copy of the list before you arrive at the barn. A boarding barn may have rules that cover riding, horse care, barn hours, days that the barn is closed, the amount of time that each horse spends in a stall, areas where you may keep your supplies, and guidance for bringing visitors onto the property. By familiarizing yourself with the rules and making sure that you understand them, you can ensure that you are in agreement with the rules and that you can follow them before you bring your horse to the barn.

Communicate About Your Needs

Good communication is a major key to being a good boarder. You should be able to approach your barn manager about concerns that you have, rather than letting issues escalate to the point where they become significant problems. If you or your horse have needs that are not being met, approach the barn manager to see if changes can be made. At the same time, though, understand that to the barn owner, boarding is a business. If your requests go above and beyond what is included in your boarding contract, realize that you may need to pay more for those requests.

Be Respectful

Respect of both the barn manager and of other riders and barn workers is paramount to being considered a good boarder. The more that you can treat people with respect, even when issues arise, the better you will be able to maintain a relationship and keep yourself on good terms.

Any boarding barn should be an enjoyable and pleasant place. Part of that atmosphere comes from your behavior. What characteristics do you think make you a good boarder?

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Original Source: Tips to Be a Good Boarder