Running a horse barn comes with many costs. To effectively manage a facility, you need to manage your expenses as well as your income. Some of the cost management challenges include managing horse hay, stable bedding and employees. Horse-savvy guests need to understand these challenges to ensure their horses receive the best level of care for the money.
If you are a rider looking to board your horse, you need to consider the care and quality of the horse facility you wish to keep your horse in. I recommend calling the ranch on the weekend to schedule a visit. Short notice on a Saturday noon is best as you want to visit and see the worst case scenario. Saturdays tend to be the busiest days for a farm. Things to keep in mind, when you enter the barn or horse barn, take a deep breath. Do you smell ammonia? If so, it is likely that the cubicles are not well maintained and have had standing urine in them. After a day in the heat, the horse’s urine will give off an ammonia-like odor. Ammonia is not good for your horse’s health.
Next, look towards the horse stable. Do you see missing boards, flat mats, nails or security issues? Look at the amount of chips in the post. Is there enough to prevent your horse from getting bedsores?
Is the barn well cared for? Are there cobwebs or debris around electricity or lighting? Or is the barn clean, doors working, barn panels well maintained, areas of tacks cleared? If so, this is probably a good indication of the level of care your horse will receive.
Next, take a look at the weight of the horses that are already being housed in the facility. Are they in good physical condition? Check if their coats are shiny and if they don’t show ribs. Ask to visit the hay barn. Take a look at the hay that is being fed. Check hay bales for weeds or mold. Take out a flake of hay to check that it is not moldy and that it is properly stored away from rain.
Ask what cuts of hay the barn owner buys and where they get their hay. Is it a reputable local producer or food store? Ask what is cutting alfalfa hay. On our ranch we never feed first or second cut alfalfa or alfalfa grass as it is usually too high in protein and can contain toxic weeds. The first and second cuts are generally used for cattle and the protein level can cause horses to drink excessively and give them too much energy.
Familiarize yourself with the hay, weeds, or other health problems in the area where you will be staying. Talk to a local veterinarian or agricultural advisor. For example, in our California county, Yolo County, we also have the added problem of feeding alfalfa hay and our hard water creating enterolyphs in the horses. These are also called stones. In this area of California, we have to feed only a portion of alfalfa hay to be safe and prevent horses from developing stones that often result in colic surgery over time. Barns in our area tend to feed a portion of alfalfa mixed with orchard grass hay, oats, or rye grass.
Another problem for this area is caused by a weed called the Groundsel. It is toxic to horses and can build up in their systems over time. It usually occurs on the first and second cuts of hay that has not been treated with a broadleaf preventative. An example of where this recommendation is so important is that we have had stables in our area that feed hay containing this weed and turn all the horses in the stable loose. Since it is settled out of court, it does not normally appear in the news.
After horses have consumed approximately 3 pounds of this herb, it creates health and toxicity problems that cannot be reversed. This grass mimics dandelion grass in color and puffs white on the end. I always take our hay to be tested and run through the California Food Safety Laboratory to test for protein content and to make sure we are free of weeds that could be harmful to horses housed on the ranch. There are other weeds specific to the areas where people live, contact your local agricultural advisor for more information. It’s good to do some research on the hay available in your area and what the barn owners will feed their horses.