So much of this stuff is location-dependent...but fwiw. I board in Massachusetts, about an hour from Boston and half an hour from Providence.
Ditto 12to15steps's thought re: instruction and supervision. Having your own is different; having good help comes in v. handy.
1) $600/month. Board is actually $625/month, but I get a $25 discount for paying before the first of the month, which is great: I feel virtuous for saving money, the barn owners get their check on time, everyone's happy. The barn is "not a boarding facility but offers boarding as a service to our students" and the contract requires boarders to spend $X on lessons or training rides every month--but I'd be taking a weekly lesson anyway ($40/lesson) and picked the place in large part for the quality of available instruction, so that's fine by me.
Board includes the usual feeding/mucking/turnout/use of facilities. No charge for feeding supplements and meds. No extensive fussing with blankets, but they'll blanket a cold horse or unblanket if the temperature spikes. They coordinate vet visits (and if desired, massage). And there is NO DRAMA. Which, having been in some drama-filled barns in the past, I do consider a perk. *g*
I wanted to know what all of you pay monthly for board, what it includes and where you are located.
2) $50 to get the vet to the barn to look at the horse and then whatever on top of that if he ends up needing to do more than look and feel, if meds are needed, etc. My guy, knock wood, fingers crossed, etc., has been fairly trouble-free. (ETA: For something like spring shots, when basically the whole barn is getting done, no farm call cost.)
3) We have the dentist out yearly.
4) $150/shoeing for shoes all around and pads in front. (Barn motto: "We grow rocks.") $195/shoeing during event season to drill and tap for studs. Every 6-8 weeks--a little on the longer side of things in the winter, shorter side in season.
5) I would walk. Walk, walk, walk. Ease into it, of course, depending on how unfit he is, but a good walk--not a mosey: march!--over a distance of ground will lay down a solid base on which to build. If he's trail-safe and you can do your walking over terrain, so much the better (but plan your trail rides so as not to weekend-warrior him; the last thing you want is to realize 10 miles from the barn that he isn't yet fit enough to make it back). At some point--or right away, depending on how (un)fit he is--I'd add in trot sets. There's something to be said for quality longe work to build up the horse's back muscles so he carry you more comfortably, but "quality" is the keyword there; if you don't know how to longe him properly to that end, I wouldn't do too much spinning him around.
Be aware that many a new owner has been caught off guard when their fat-and-happy kickalong mount, once fitted up, becomes a good deal more challenging to ride. Hopefully your guy will remain as easy as he seems, but--"a little bit hyper" can sometimes turn into "hot and strong and not for a novice" once the horse is fighting fit.
6) Toys couldn't hurt. May or may not help. More turnout is almost always a good thing. I'd try to make him happy, for sure, but I wouldn't expect him to stop cribbing any time soon (or ever).
"Be aware that many a new owner has been caught off guard when their fat-and-happy kickalong mount, once fitted up, becomes a good deal more challenging to ride. Hopefully your guy will remain as easy as he seems, but--"a little bit hyper" can sometimes turn into "hot and strong and not for a novice" once the horse is fighting fit."
I do realize this & it wouldn't really be a problem. I'm not a beginner rider, I just need to build my strength & endurance and position back same as he does lol.
So much of this stuff is location-dependent...but fwiw. I board in Massachusetts, about an hour from Boston and half an hour from Providence.
Ditto 12to15steps's thought re: instruction and supervision. Having your own is different; having good help comes in v. handy.
1) $600/month. Board is actually $625/month, but I get a $25 discount for paying before the first of the month, which is great: I feel virtuous for saving money, the barn owners get their check on time, everyone's happy. The barn is "not a boarding facility but offers boarding as a service to our students" and the contract requires boarders to spend $X on lessons or training rides every month--but I'd be taking a weekly lesson anyway ($40/lesson) and picked the place in large part for the quality of available instruction, so that's fine by me.
Board includes the usual feeding/mucking/turnout/use of facilities. No charge for feeding supplements and meds. No extensive fussing with blankets, but they'll blanket a cold horse or unblanket if the temperature spikes. They coordinate vet visits (and if desired, massage). And there is NO DRAMA. Which, having been in some drama-filled barns in the past, I do consider a perk. *g*
I wanted to know what all of you pay monthly for board, what it includes and where you are located.
2) $50 to get the vet to the barn to look at the horse and then whatever on top of that if he ends up needing to do more than look and feel, if meds are needed, etc. My guy, knock wood, fingers crossed, etc., has been fairly trouble-free. (ETA: For something like spring shots, when basically the whole barn is getting done, no farm call cost.)
3) We have the dentist out yearly.
4) $150/shoeing for shoes all around and pads in front. (Barn motto: "We grow rocks.") $195/shoeing during event season to drill and tap for studs. Every 6-8 weeks--a little on the longer side of things in the winter, shorter side in season.
5) I would walk. Walk, walk, walk. Ease into it, of course, depending on how unfit he is, but a good walk--not a mosey: march!--over a distance of ground will lay down a solid base on which to build. If he's trail-safe and you can do your walking over terrain, so much the better (but plan your trail rides so as not to weekend-warrior him; the last thing you want is to realize 10 miles from the barn that he isn't yet fit enough to make it back). At some point--or right away, depending on how (un)fit he is--I'd add in trot sets. There's something to be said for quality longe work to build up the horse's back muscles so he carry you more comfortably, but "quality" is the keyword there; if you don't know how to longe him properly to that end, I wouldn't do too much spinning him around.
Be aware that many a new owner has been caught off guard when their fat-and-happy kickalong mount, once fitted up, becomes a good deal more challenging to ride. Hopefully your guy will remain as easy as he seems, but--"a little bit hyper" can sometimes turn into "hot and strong and not for a novice" once the horse is fighting fit.
6) Toys couldn't hurt. May or may not help. More turnout is almost always a good thing. I'd try to make him happy, for sure, but I wouldn't expect him to stop cribbing any time soon (or ever).
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I do realize this & it wouldn't really be a problem. I'm not a beginner rider, I just need to build my strength & endurance and position back same as he does lol.
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