My Horse-Boarding Farm is the Best Because…… Contest
Waiting for you...
Yep, I’ve decided to get things moving here on the LaRaedo blog. In this post, I’d love to hear from the all those dedicated horse boarders who board their horse with a farm owner that is truly outstanding!
The contest will run for one week, and I will let everyone know in a future post the first name of the lucky winner and the honored farm.
The winner will receive one $25 salt block from www.horsesalt.com. Himalayan Salt Licks! These are mined from eons-old deposits in the Ancient Himalayan Mountains. Your horse will love you for it. And it will definitely brighten your farm owner’s day knowing you care and really appreciate what they do everyday for your horse.
Anyone that owns a horse-boarding farm works tremendously hard for the money. When dealing with live animals particularly those that you have committed to taking care of, day in and day out, sick days are pretty much non-existent. There are lessons, training, cleaning, mucking and on and on. The days are long and arduous even with the best of help.
We all know that there are the basic necessary requirements that must be met in order to board your horse on a farm. Most farms are quite attentive when it comes to properly maintaining the barn, paddocks and arenas. It’s pretty much agreed from the first day of board what the barn rules are and what to expect as far as feed, exercise and stall cleaning.
That is why I have decided to use this post as a contest for all horse boarders to honor those farm owners that have gone above the call of duty. Just leave your comments below and tell us what you have observed that makes you feel that the farm has given your horse the very best of care.
Many times we see things that occur which really strike us as exceptional but get busy with our daily lives and forget to mention our appreciation about any number of notable actions.
And the action doesn’t even have to be anything super big. Some times it’s those little things that farm owners do that really make a huge difference in the lives of the boarders and the service to the horses.
Maybe you’ve noticed them talking gently to the horses or even singing while they muck the stalls. Or perhaps they watched your horse make friends with another horse on the farm and vividly described to you some cute antics.
How about a time that your yearling got loose in the barn and the farm owner gently assisted in rounding him up and back to his stall. It’s these little gems that never seem to get the acknowledgement that they deserve.
There are really so many, many things that the farm owner does everyday that deserves a loud and hearty acknowledgement and here is your chance. Be sure to list the farm name and website so the credit can be recognized.
The next contest will be the other way around – what do horse boarders do on the farm that really makes the farm owner’s day brighter. Stay tuned!
Be sure to leave your comments below for the best farm owner ever!
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Well, I don’t board- we are lucky enough to have our horse at home, in our (water logged) yard right now. But, I have boarded in the past, and have also brought in a couple boarders here short term.
The first horse that came in here was recovering from colic surgery. Her owner was having a tough time getting her “over the hump”, and needed some extra help. Since I am able to be home, bringing the mare here worked out well. With in about six months, we had her fat, slick, glossy, and full of health and vitality again. I was sorry to see her go back home, as she had become quite a member of the “family”!
When I had to board elsewhere, my favorite place was with my equine vet. She fell in love (her husband did too) with a nicely bred QH colt we had at the time. We were facing a move south, health problems, and I was totally stressed out about what to do with this nice colt. The day that I came around the corner of the barn, and saw the vet’s husband, snuggling with my colt, cooing to him, and heard the colt nicker back at him— well, that settled it. I signed the transfer papers, kissed the colt on the nose, cried my eyes out, and said good bye. Four years later, (the horse is now eight) they are doing great. The colt has been trained, shown, trail ridden, and is totally happy with his “Daddy”. My heart has never felt better about placing a horse.
I don’t think I have been to this blog before. Will need to add you to the list at my blog, and let folks know you are here!
I have 8 rescue horses, most are aged or unrideable for soundness reasons. I love them and I clicker train them to do all sorts of fun stuff! I’d like to keep more, but 8 is my limit financially. These horses will live here always, and when one passes on another in need of help will take it’s place. Sincerely, Vickie
I board one of my horses at my friend’s barn. She has an indoor arena and it allows me to keep riding during the winter months. I am also a dairy farmer, so I don’t always get to the barn every day, but if I am not there (or any of the boarders are not there) she turns our horses out, changes blankets and loves on them all like they were her own. When we are riding she will come and watch us ride and give us advice on what she sees from the ground. All of you who ride know how invaluable a set of eyes on the ground can be! I think for all of us the most important thing is that she treats our horses as if they were her own. Thank you Elisa Santee at Foxfire Stables!
Hi all
I run an equine sanctuary and retirement facility in South Africa. We currently have 23 horses of our own that were abused, neglected or both, or worse even due to be shot or slaughtered due to health or emotional issues. We do not sell or rehome our horses they stay with us for the rest of their days. They live out in a natural herd with 37 hectares to roam and play and a river and huge earthen dam to swim in on those hot summer days. We grow lucerne which we bale in summer and they graze in winter so they are always very fat and very happy!
My horses are my children and the retirement liveries are also treated as such, just some examples, we have an ex racing thoroughbred that was biten by a puff adder and suvived but has a swollen leg meaning she can no longer work or be ridden so she is here to retire, also we have an ex racer who is over 30 years old (his passport just says elderly and my vet confirmed his age), he has arthritis, a heart condition and has just recovered from choke, the vet said he wouldnt make it as the horse didnt eat or drink for 2 days, i asked the vet to stomach tube him and later put him on a drip for his dehydration, me and my husband stood outside with him for hours at dusk and in the dark getting the fluids in to him. The next day he started to graze and call for his food!!! The vet says its a miracle. He is a fighter!
We give our all to our horses, ponies, donkeys and other animals and they are loved more than words can say!
I board my 2horses at a friends place.I pay for the feed and exchange for keeping them there, I do work around the place as needed because he is getting older and unable to perform any difficult work. The work includes, repair fencing, repairs to the barn and draging the arena or anything else required.
We live on a farm west of Ceduna in South Australia.
It is very hot dusty and dry out here!!!!
We have just been to Adelaide SA with our pinto stallion for our pinto state champs and won reserve champ stallion over 14 hands, we are very happy, he is only 3yrs old and is doing very well.
We have a Umatilla mare that is now in foal with a stunning pally pinto stallion. Can’t wait till Nov, (when she is due)
I also have a pally gelding that i use to bring in the sheep, and long beach rides ( he loves the water)
I board my horse at Bourdeaux Stable in Olympia, WA and Curt and Irene Boyson are the managers. They live in the apartment above the barn. They and their staff keep the barn immaculate. The stalls and the isle way are always perfect and the indoor/outdoor arenas are always manicured. They accomodate each horses needs and are always fun and positive people to be around!!
I have a small horse farm and usually board two horses beside my own three. Occasionally we take in rescues and rehabilitate them and quickly place into loving homes. This is an expensive hobby, but a much loved one. My number one boarder lives in town but spends every evening out here helping me with my much loved rescues. Several times I have encountered her out mucking stalls and brushing out my horses along with hers. I am a grandmother raising two grandchildren and these acts of unselfish kindnesses realey are much appreciated. I have to tell you this girl loves pink tack. As a thank you my family and I bought her a complete saddle and tack set, in PINK !!!! for christmas. She absolutely loved it. Her horse “Dream” gets special treats along with ours and favors the pepermint flavor. We are always sure to buy her peppermint salt block for her stall when we replace ours. I guess this appreciation could go either way here. We are horse family now, and I hope this lasts a long time.
Happy Holidays
storme
I have a small horse farm and usually board two horses beside my own three. Occasionally we take in rescues and rehabilitate them and quickly place into loving homes. This is an expensive hobby, but a much loved one. My number one boarder lives in town but spends every evening out here helping me with my much loved rescues. Several times I have encountered her out mucking stalls and brushing out my horses along with hers. I am a grandmother raising two grandchildren and these acts of unselfish kindnesses realey are much appreciated. I have to tell you this girl loves pink tack. As a thank you my family and I bought her a complete saddle and tack set, in PINK !!!! for christmas. She absolutely loved it. Her horse “Dream” gets special treats along with ours and favors the pepermint flavor. We are always sure to buy her peppermint salt block for her stall when we replace ours. I guess this appreciation could go either way here. We are horse family now, and I hope this lasts a long time.
Happy Holidays
storme
I don’t board my horses, but I do seem to have an extra, belonging to my daughter. We have a small farm in the southern tier of NY state. Very secluded and lots of beautiful trails that weave through over 300 acres of woods and fields with only a seasonal road to cross. My biggest passion, with my horses, is to find children who are less advantaged and teach them the joy of horses. I spend a good month or so teaching them the basics of grooming, tacking, safety. I don’t teach the competitive side of horses. I’ll leave that to the bigger barns! Then, we spend the rest of the summer enjoying the trails that my husband has groomed for me over the last 6 years. But there is nothing like the look on a little girls face when she does her first ride “all by herself”. That alone, makes my horses worth their weight in gold!
I have a small farm in north B.C , I have one boarder along with my 3 horses .I have 162 acres with a beautiful small lake at the back the fieldThe canadian geese migrate in every year lots of trails and field’s that we ride on.In the yard we don’t have no fascy stable’s or even a barn , just a shelter and a tack shed .We just moved here 2 years ago and tring to build a nice home for them . This summer we plan to build a log barn with 4 stalls ,and plan to refence the property . This will take time but hope to look real nice when we are done . I have not yet found a salt block that my horses enjoy . We love our horse’s and want the best we can give for them