What to Look for in Horse Stables
In a perfect world, you would keep your horse in your own private stables cared for by your own staff, but most of us are unable to do this. So, you need to know what to look for in horse stables.
Look For
If you are the owner of a large and modern horse stable out in your backyard with acres and acres of fenced green grass for the your horse to frolic and graze, you have no reason to read further. However, most of us are not able to give our horses the kind of home they need and so we have to seek a horse stable where they can be boarded and cared for. But what to look for in a horse stable and how do you know which one is the best choice?
The first consideration is that cost and physical location should not be on the top of the list when evaluating a horse stable for boarding purposes. Of course, if you find a real bargain, that is always a good thing, but you have to view it in the same manner you would if selecting a home for yourself. A dry spot under a nearby bridge might represent the best rental bargain that you could find for your own home, but you would not select such a place based solely on that reason. You should not base your decision on a horse stable on merely cost either. The same thing applies for location. It is great if your selected stable is close, but if it does not meet your other criteria, location does not matter.
So, if being close and costing less are not on the top of your checklist, what do you look for in a horse stable. The number one consideration should be the overall cleanliness of the stable. It is easy to see, when you do a visit and inspection, if the animals are well cared for at the stable. Is there a very unpleasant odor in the stable? Are the water buckets full with clean water? Does it appear that hay and bedding have been changed recently? Are there signs of excessive rodent or insect populations? These factors will indicate if the stable is properly staffed and the staff is concerned with the overall cleanliness of the stable.
One very strong recommendation is to be aware of the health requirements of the stable. You should be able to get a good idea of this by seeing what they require of your animal. If they do not seem concerned if your horse has vaccinations or recent clean bills of health from a vet, you can be pretty sure they are not paying attention to this with the horses that will become your horse's stable mates.
Of course, you should be aware of ventilation and the availability of exercise grounds. You should check on the stables turn out policy and have a look at the area where the horse will be turned out. Once all of these important health and well being issues and questions have been addressed to your satisfaction, it is time to discuss cost and worry about the location of the stable. Your horse deserves no less.