As soon as I'm healthy enough to ride again, I'm buying a jumper to keep out here. Due to a number of circumstances, I already know what barn I will be boarding at. My dilemma is which situation I should board under. There are two options, 1) a community corral with about 20 other horses (separate corrals/sheds for mares and geldings), a 3-sided run-in shed (arguably not large enough for every horse to take advantage of at once), dirt ground and hay fed every day, and 2) a stall with run, hay and grain fed daily. My issue with the stall is that there is almost no opportunity for the horses to just graze and be a horse. There is no pasture to turn them out in, only the 2 arenas if no one is riding in them. I would hate for the horse's only time outside the stall to be working/ridden, but I worry that the community corral isn't adequate. The horse I currently ride (but do not own) is in the community corral, and occasionally has had wounds from the other horses to the point where I couldn't ride him. They are never dangerous wounds or require special care, but instead in places where the saddle/girth would rub and make it worse. He also needs to put on weight but has a hard time doing so since they are only fed hay, no grain, and he gets bullied away from the hay by the other horses. Also, the winters here can be very harsh and I wonder if the extra protection of a stall is worth it.

Any thoughts on which is the better option, or if there is a way to improve either option? Thank you so much for reading, and your advice is very much appreciated!

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Go with the stall. That's too many horses in one enclosure. It's a wonder your other horse hasn't been hurt worse. I'm also quite surprised there's grass still left under so many hooves. The rule of thumb, if you can rotate grazing areas, is one acre per horse.
There's actually no grass, their roughage is only from the hay. I agree the corral is a lousy situation, but at least they get to move around. I just hate that there's almost no opportunity for the stall horses to get out and roam and just be horses.
How big is the run with the stall? I'm all for horses interacting and having space to roam, but I agree that there are too many horses and out together there and if you get one low in the pecking order s/he will never see the inside of that shelter when the weather is bad. I think your experience with the horse you're riding gives you your answer. If he is underweight 'cause he can't access food, I wouldn't consider that set up.
Minimum 10x10, I think. The run is about 15-20 feet long. I'm totally guessing on these numbers, I don't have the info to back them up in front of me. I agree, the pecking order is a huge deal and determines so much, and I don't like the idea of just throwing a new horse in there and hoping for the best. I've known the stall would ultimately be the safer choice, but I'm struggling to find ways to let the horse have that free time to move without being worked. My best solution so far is to try to steal the arena during off-hours, but I can't spend hours every day down there not riding, and certainly can't leave him/her in the arena alone.
It sounds like you are between a rock and a hard place really. None of the options sounds ideal. Personally I would not choose to keep a horse in any of those options, so ultimately as long as you accept that whatever the circumstances that led you to this particular barn, you are making a choice to put a horse into a situation that is not ideal for his welfare then you'll at least be able to sleep at night! If there are 20 horses in a small space that is just asking for trouble, particularly as you say just throwing a new one in is never a good idea in an established 'herd' - but at least in a large space they can sort it out, in a small one he could get seriously hurt. I've seen a horse get its leg broken in such circumstances so don't do it!

As you say, horses need space to move, but it doesn't sound like your horse will get that in any of the situations you describe. That being the case, my instinct would be to go for the stall with a run and at least you will keep him safe from being beaten up, he'll get feed and he'll have protection from the elements when the weather turns nasty. Forgive me asking - it may just be a translation issue, but when you say 'stall' I presume you mean a stable or a loose box, not one of the old fashioned stalls where the horse was tied up? If he has a 'run' with that (even if it's only 20 feet or so) that sounds the best option - at least he can move and stretch his legs a bit. I do understand the dilemma about giving him free time, and as you say you can't be there all the time.
It is a normal stable; no tying up. I do wish I could look at other barns, but because of location, the particulars of this area, and the fact that I am a full-time student and this is our school's barn, I don't have that luxury. I'll just have to make the best of it until I graduate in a year and a half. I really appreciate everyone's advice!
Given the density of horses in the "corral", I suspect a 15 x ?' run would mean more space to move. Keep him exercised and he'll be o.k. They're resilient enough to bounce back from a few years of limited turn-out. Don't feel so bad about it. At least that horse has someone who cares about its well being.
I'd go for the stall. That's too many horses out together for my comfort. I'd worry aout my horses getting kicked. or hurting themselves.

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