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Horse Owners: Have you ever been at a barn where you had to sign a boarding contract to move your horse there? How did it work out? Did the farm live up to the contract? Have you ever had to pay last months board before you moved in?

Reply #1 Contracts are a two way street if used correctly. They show that a barn is a serious business not just a second job. They set the minimum standards the barn is going to reach. However the boarder should feel they can add to the contract with specific instructions and needs, but, they should understand some requests will carry additional cost. If you request a special requirement and the barn says no it is better to have found out before you board there and have to move again. I also have given my barn owner a letter that allows them to contact a vet in emergency situations when I cannot be contacted. I also give a copy to my vet stating where the horse is and how much money I will allow them to charge to me for this visit. I also inform my barn owner of holiday phone numbers. It may seem like a lot of paperwork but my horse is worth it

REPLY#2 " I know of one barn where you pay last months board in advance. It does protect them from people leaving without notice. It is a very nice facility and well run."

REPLY #3 "I board at a farm without a contract and there have been some changes to the running of the barn since I have arrived that I wasn't too fond of. When I moved the herds were, mares and geldings seperate. I have a studdy gelding that gets kicks from mares and does much better out with the boys only as we show and huge cuts aren't that attractive. But, a month later the barn decides to put the top barn in one field and the bottom barn in another, easier for them to do the turnout but that was not what they told me would be done. A round pen was promised by the spring. I moved late last fall and now it is the next fall no thoughts of putting it up yet.A bunch of other little things bug me like not being told when my supplement is out. They do feed it every day and could tell me when it is getting low. Safety during the turnout, using leads to walk the horses, etc.,and other trivial things that would not be put on a contract. I would actually like to sign a contract stating board increases when they will be and what the plans for the barn are concerning expanding and what they plan to build."

Barn Owners:  Do you have a boarding contract people must sign? Why did you decide to go that route? Do your boarders usually live up to their side of the agreement? Have you had many people refuse to sign? Why do you like the contract?

Reply #2As a barn owner I do insist on a signed contract prior to moving a horse in. The reason I started, I had people taking advantage of me. Not providing feed for their horses, not cleaning or not paying their board. I had to have something legal to stand on . Johnson Stables

REPLY #1 "I run a boarding stable we have a simple contract for people to sign. It is for people to say that they will have a regular worming farrier and vaccination schedule. That they will give me one months notice before leaving and that they will not hold me responsible for injury and theft. I feel that it gets everything out in the open so that there aren't any arguments later on. I find most people are very willing to sign it if they aren't I assume there is a reason and they are sent elsewhere. We started a contract because of a boarder that sold us a horse that she didn't legally own and she also skipped out on the board money that she owed us.Now we are protected somewhat from people like that."

Thank you for replying