| Running a horse boarding stable has many costs. | | | | what cutting the alfalfa hay is. At our ranch we |
| To effectively run a facility you need to manage | | | | never feed first or second cutting alfalfa or alfalfa |
| your expenses and your income. Some of the | | | | grass as it is usually too high in protein and may |
| cost management challenges include managing the | | | | contain toxic weeds. The first and second cutting |
| horses hay, stall bedding and employees. Savvy | | | | is usually used for cattle and the protein level can |
| horse boarders should understand these | | | | make horses drink excessively and give them too |
| challenges to ensure their horses receive the best | | | | much energy. |
| level of care for the money. | | | | Familiarize yourself with hay, weed, or other |
| If you are a rider looking to board your horse, | | | | health issues for the area you will be boarding in. |
| you should consider the care and quality of the | | | | Talk to a local veterinarian or agricultural adviser. |
| horse facility you are looking to keep you horse | | | | For example in our county in California, Yolo |
| at. I recommend giving the ranch a call on the | | | | County, we also have the added problem with |
| weekend to schedule a time to visit. Short notice | | | | feeding alfalfa hay and our hard water creating |
| on a mid day Saturday is better, as you want to | | | | enterolyphs in the horses. These are also called |
| visit and see the worse case scenario. Saturday's | | | | stones. In this area of California we have to feed |
| tend to be the busiest days for a barn. Things to | | | | only one portion of Alfalfa hay to be safe and |
| consider, when you enter the stable or horse | | | | keep the horses from developing stones that |
| barn take a deep breath. Do you smell ammonia? | | | | often over time results in colic surgery. Barns in |
| If so, the stalls are probably not well kept and | | | | our area tend to feed a portion of alfalfa mixed |
| have had urine standing in them. After a day in | | | | with and orchard grass, oat or rye grass hays. |
| the heat the horse urine will give off an ammonia | | | | Another problem for this area is caused by a |
| smell. Ammonia is not good for your horse's | | | | weed called Groundsel. It is toxic to horses and |
| health. | | | | can build up in their systems over time. It |
| Next look in to the horses stall. Do you see | | | | normally occurs in the first and second cutting of |
| boards that are missing, stall mats that are flat, | | | | hay that has not been treated with a broad leaf |
| nails or safety issues? Look at the amount of | | | | preventative. An example of shy this |
| shaving in the stall. Is there enough to keep your | | | | recommendation is so important is, we have had |
| horse from getting bed sores? | | | | barns in our area feed hay containing this weed |
| Is the barn well kept? Are there cobwebs or | | | | and loose all the horses in the barn. As it is settled |
| debris around electrical or lighting. Or is the barn | | | | out of court, it normally does not make coverage |
| clean, the doors working, stall panels well kept, | | | | in the news. |
| tack up areas clear. If so this is probably a good | | | | After the horses have consumed approximately 3 |
| indication to the level of care your horse will | | | | pounds of this weed, it creates health problems |
| receive. | | | | and toxicity that cannot be reversed. This weed |
| Next, take a look at the weight of the horses | | | | mimics the dandelion weed in the color, and white |
| that are already being boarded at the facility. Are | | | | poof on the end. I always take our hay in to be |
| they in good physical condition? Check to see if | | | | tested and to check our hay through the |
| their coats are shiny and that their are not ribs | | | | California Food Safety Lab for testing to see the |
| showing. Ask to visit the hay barn. Take a look at | | | | protein content and to ensure we do not have |
| the hay that is being feed. Check to see if the | | | | any weeds that would be harmful to horses |
| hay bales contain any weeds or are moldy. Pull | | | | boarded at the ranch. There are other weeds |
| off a flake of hay to check and see of it has any | | | | specific to the areas people live in, contact your |
| mold and that is properly stored away from rain. | | | | local farm adviser for more information. It is good |
| Ask what cuttings of hay the barn owner | | | | to do some research on the hay available in your |
| purchases and where they obtain their hay from. | | | | area and what the barn owners will be feeding to |
| Is it a local reputable grower or feed store? Ask | | | | your horses. |