Maintenance Programs at the Boarding Stable

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108 – July/Aug, 2018

By Julie I. Fershtman, Attorney at Law

Teenagers, when they learn to drive, are sometimes cautioned that they’re actually driving five cars at once – cars in front of them, behind them, and on either side in addition to the car in which they’re seated – and must watch all of them to protect their safety. In a roughly comparable way, those who board their horses at other peoples’ stables have every incentive to be watchful of the other horses on the property. Knowing that all horses are current on their de-wormings and vaccinations can be just as important as making sure that your own horse stays on schedule. All it takes is one horse with a contagious illness, such as strangles, to cause disastrous problems throughout the whole barn.

Should boarding stables impose equine health requirements for all horses on the property? Should horse owners demand this? This article discusses a few options as well as problems to consider. Which one is best? You decide.

Option: Stable Handles All Vaccination and De-Worming Arrangements

In one arrangement, boarding stable management will schedule all vaccinations, de-wormings, and sometimes even farrier attention for each boarded horse. The stable’s preferred veterinarian vaccinates all horses (such as tetanus, rabies, EEE/WEE, and West Nile) during the same visit, and horse owners are billed afterwards. These arrangements are more common with training stables as trainers develop their own individualized “program” based on their preferences and experience.

Option: Stable’s Preferred Veterinarian Recommends Schedule, and Owners Handle Arrangements on Their Own

In other arrangements, the stable’s preferred veterinarian posts a recommended list and schedule for de-wormings and vaccinations. Afterward, boarders must make their own arrangements within the timeline provided. To ensure the owners’ compliance, stable management might request proof such as receipts for products purchased or veterinary arrangements the owner made.

Click here to read the complete article
108 – July/Aug, 2018