Top Five Things Your Boarding Stable Manager Wants You To Know
By mosquito
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19th Mar 2011 •
7,027 views
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19 comments
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I’ve spent far too many years working on and running stables with boarders. On the one hand, it’s a great job – you get to meet lots of people and handle lots of different types of horses – but on the other it can feel like everyone wants everything right now, and there are never enough hours in the day to get everything done. Here are a few of the things I would have most wanted my boarders to understand!
1. Take it easy on the supplements! You may think that all the latest vitamins and minerals and herbal therapies are the solution to your horse’s problems, but look at it from my point of view. If, at feeding time, I have ten horses, each getting three supplements, that’s thirty tubs or bottles I have to open, measure out, and seal up again. Unless you are certain your horse really, really needs it, opt for better quality feed and leave it out. Or, do me a favor and get the smart paks.
2. How many rugs does your horse really need? Again, when it’s raining or snowing, if you have a show tomorrow, or if your horse is clipped out, then of course I want to help keep him clean and comfortable. But endless layers, surcingles, and hoods takes up a lot of time and makes a lot of clutter. Why not invest in just a couple really practical rugs that fit your horse well? It’s less for you to clean and maintain, and less for me to put on and take off!
3. Keep me informed, and give me notice. I’m not a mind reader. If you need something special for your horse, let me know, and let me know in plenty of time. Don’t try and call my cell to change your horse’s feed when I’m already filling buckets, or call me late at night with a last minute request to keep your horse in tomorrow. I’ll have a system for letting me know any changes; please use it, and let me know early!
4. It’s not that I don’t care, but...I have a lot of owners and horses to take care of. I’d love to go over your horse’s little quirks and idiosyncrasies in detail every day, but I have a lot to do. Unless it’s really important, let me do my job, or leave me a message with what you are concerned about or what you need from me. I do want to help you and your horse – that’s what you pay me for – but be realistic with your expectations of what I can do in a day. Remember, everyone thinks their horse is the most important one in the stable!
5. Clean up. Sometimes it feels like I spend my whole day sweeping up or picking up trash. Put your stuff away when you are done, put away any jumps or poles you take out, pick up after your horse, and leave your areas as you found them – or better yet, even tidier! And if you break something, let me know right away, or better yet, fix it or replace it!
Anyone work a boarding stable and have something to say to boarders? Or do you board your horse and have something you really want your stable manager to hear? |
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13 days ago
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13 days ago
• 2,265 views
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13 days ago
• 2,249 views
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13 days ago
• 2,285 views
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13 days ago
• 2,252 views
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Spyricale
Great article. ^^ I'm about to start working/managing a forty-stall stable, so I'm probably going to see a lot of these things. Oh, boy.....
Great article. ^^ I'm about to start working/managing a forty-stall stable, so I'm probably going to see a lot of these things. Oh, boy.....
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13 days ago
• 2,253 views
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scherzo
This is good advice no matter where your board!
This is good advice no matter where your board!
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13 days ago
• 2,471 views
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13 days ago
• 2,280 views
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No Walkin Farms9
Great article. Great advice. I'll keep this in mind should I ever board a horse somewhere.
Great article. Great advice. I'll keep this in mind should I ever board a horse somewhere.
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13 days ago
• 2,286 views
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Dark Star
6. Please remember to lock your horse's stall before you leave...not that i don't enjoy coming in at night to feed and there's horses running loose.
This happened the other day, only in a pasture where the one owner forgot to lock it all the way and 5 horses got out...that wasn't fun with just me there and trying to find 5 halters that wouldn't be to small
6. Please remember to lock your horse's stall before you leave...not that i don't enjoy coming in at night to feed and there's horses running loose.
This happened the other day, only in a pasture where the one owner forgot to lock it all the way and 5 horses got out...that wasn't fun with just me there and trying to find 5 halters that wouldn't be to small
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12 days ago
• 2,250 views
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Spaztastic
Good stuff to know :)
Good stuff to know :)
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12 days ago
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12 days ago
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Velski
Excellent article!
Excellent article!
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12 days ago
• 2,259 views
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Run Free
we have 4 gates that need to be closed at all times (unless you are walking in/out of them) and its really annoying when people leave them open.The horses can get anywhere if they are left open and it could be very dangerous they all also need to be locked every night so nobody can get into the yard and the horses cant get out.Its the most annoying thing when they are left open/unlocked it only takes 1 minute spare the time and keep the horses safe,close the gates
heres where the gates are
1|the entrance (which is at the side of the road)
2|from the yard into the paddock
3|from the paddock to the road
4|the paddock to the house
we have 4 gates that need to be closed at all times (unless you are walking in/out of them) and its really annoying when people leave them open.The horses can get anywhere if they are left open and it could be very dangerous they all also need to be locked every night so nobody can get into the yard and the horses cant get out.Its the most annoying thing when they are left open/unlocked it only takes 1 minute spare the time and keep the horses safe,close the gates
heres where the gates are
1|the entrance (which is at the side of the road)
2|from the yard into the paddock
3|from the paddock to the road
4|the paddock to the house
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12 days ago
• 2,261 views
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Wanderin Boy Memorial
MOD
Great article ! I don't board at a stable yet, but I shall keep those things in mind
Great article ! I don't board at a stable yet, but I shall keep those things in mind
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11 days ago
• 2,300 views
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11 days ago
• 2,307 views
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Ghost
I know the feeling, I worked at one of the higher end stables..and those last minute calls of "can you leave my horse in.." that you get 3 hours after you've turned them out for the day..and they're hard to catch are always fun. One thing that helped a lot, is if you have someone you trust to help measuure feed out the night before, but I agree smartpaks are the way to go with the supplement-crazy..the horse should be able to get it from their grain/forage. Thanks for the great article!
I know the feeling, I worked at one of the higher end stables..and those last minute calls of "can you leave my horse in.." that you get 3 hours after you've turned them out for the day..and they're hard to catch are always fun. One thing that helped a lot, is if you have someone you trust to help measuure feed out the night before, but I agree smartpaks are the way to go with the supplement-crazy..the horse should be able to get it from their grain/forage. Thanks for the great article!
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10 days ago
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10 days ago
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9 days ago
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