Outdoor board--should an 'emergency' stall be available?

[0033232]

I've been boarding at the same barn for four years. The barn owner is AMAZING 99% of the time, but a difference of opinion on what should be available with outdoor board has us at odds.

Comments

[princessklutz04]

Last night I left my horse in another boarder's (empty) stall. Hell broke loose when I came back the next morning. The barn owner told me the boarder who was renting that stall was extremely upset that she was paying for it while another boarder was using it. I was floored. I understood the other boarder's concern, but I felt backed into a corner all around.To be honest...wow. If I came to my barn and saw someone else's horse in my stall, I'd be pretty damn pissed too. What if MY horse was sick and needed the stall I'm paying several hundred dollars a month for? That's essentially like seeing your neighbor has their empty garage open and deciding "Oh, I've been needing a place to store my Bowflex!" and then wondering why they're pissed when they see your crap in their garage. The stall was not yours, and you took it. That wasn't right

[0033232]

Thank you for your comment. I did not know the stall was rented out when I put him in it. I duly understand why the other boarder was upset.

[androidheart]

That's essentially like seeing your neighbor has their empty garage open and deciding "Oh, I've been needing a place to store my Bowflex!"

I disagree with you on this. It's like if she and her neighbor were renting a shared space and her neighbor was away and his side of the space was empty, so she temporarily placed her stuff on his side of the space. She could always offer to pay the neighbor for using his side while he was gone. From what I've read, she didn't realize the stall was being held [paid for].

If I was the boarder who was holding the stall I might raise and eyebrow and simply move the horse, or I would think no biggie that the horse is just here temporarily and I would address it with the BO. Assuming the BO is ok with it, if I could hold the stall and someone else could use and pay for it until my horse was back from wherever his is, it's a win-win for all. It sounds like a miscommunication & miscalculation - nothing to get uptight about.

[xihateyourx]

Just because the horse was turned out temporarily doesn't mean she was "away" or "not using" the space. THAT would be like me going off to work and someone coming in to sleep in my bed because I "wasn't there" or "using it". Doesn't matter. DOES NOT BELONG to you.

[beybladesabre]

I would not expect that a BO should have stalls set aside specifically for pasture board needs, but I do agree that they should be extremely accommodating if certain situations arose in which it was warranted, like xihateyourx mentioned above

[chiquita522]

Why should they be "extremely accommodating?" If a boarder is paying for pasture board, they realize what drawbacks can and will arise from it, including which pastures are used for fully outdoor horses. If an issue such as scratches/mud fever/dew poisioning, other lameness, illness, or aliment a horse can have come up, then you deal with it in pasture or figure out a different arrangment with the BO and/or other boarders.

Now from my view, as one who does full inside board on her horses, I don't like having to deal with pasture boarded horses. Living in my part of MI, most of our land is thin topsoil on a layer of clay or very low lying (yay for rivers!). That doesn't drain very well. To have horses out on a pasture all the time doesn't give the ground time to recover and drain nicely. Plus there's extra worry and work associated with pasture boarders in bad weather.

[0033232]

Yes, now that my situation has changed I realize the parametres of what I'm dealing with. The horse is happy as a clam outside no matter what the weather--he's well-blanketed and will snuggle up in his shelter if he has to. I will simply have to be more diligent on the mud fever. Thanks for your perspective.

[beybladesabre]

By extremely accommodating I'm meaning what you stated in your second sentence, trying to figure out a different arrangement with the BO or other boarders if possible. I agree that pasture board should be pasture board though

[foalstory]

"be available"? well, if one IS, then sure. usually in emergencies if there's no free stalls, we'll use a round pen for the night or whatever until the other aspects of whatever the situation is can be worked out. Keeping a stall open just for 'whatifs' isn't affordable to ANY barn that keeps a true balance sheet going.

I have paid for stall time if one was available -- we'd prorate what was needed for the month in the board bill. definitely paid for the extra use -- bedding, work, etc etc. to do otherwise would be rather self centered.

[0033232]

The situation was that we were allowed to use empty stalls so long as we mucked/hayed/watered/bedded. Were an additional monetary fee added I would gladly pay it and have told the barn owner as much. Again, I feel the issue is largely a communication one. Thank you for your comment.

[ardvari]

I do get your point. Your horse is sick in a pasture that doesn't make it better. But I find it strange that you took another boarder's stall without asking them or the BO. That's incredibly rude and it doesn't matter that their stall was empty. They are paying for it and that makes that stall their property.

If the BO isn't accomodating you, you need to take matters into your own hands and move your horse somewhere where it can get healthy. If your horse has been struggling with mud fever since the spring and nothing has happened on your BO's part, you need to make a change. In fact, if I was you I would have moved a long time ago. Hopefully you have the means to do so and can find a place that's more accomodating to your horse's needs. :)

[0033232]

Thank you for your comment. I did not realize the stall was being rented and understand why the boarder was upset. I think the main issue is lack of communication before such a situation has a chance to develop.

As mentioned previously, I am not looking for favours or extras. I simply want to know my boundaries so I can play within them, and was curious as to the types of situations others are accustomed to.

I will move once I have found a career that allows it.

[vtgypsy]

While it sucks that you used to have stalls available and now you don't, you shouldn't have taken another boarder's stall. You BO should also have appropriate turnout for the field boarders

[0033232]

Thank you for your comment. I will likely move once I have a career that allows it. In the meantime, I will rent a stall next spring if the mud fever is bad (ALL of them get it, indoor or not).