Board and Training – What Am I Really Paying For?

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108 – October, 2016

BY TAYLOR FABUS

Even if you’re a newbie to the horse industry it takes only about 30 seconds to discover that caring for an equine companion is expensive. Board and training prices can range anywhere from $100 per month for pasture board with no indoor stabling up to $2,000 a month and above for board and training. Add horse showing into the mix and you’ll soon have a hobby that absorbs all of your disposable income. I’ve often wondered what luxuries I might enjoy in life if it weren’t for my ever-growing horse habit… But, like any true horse enthusiast, I’ll never
outgrow this phase.

Sure, my areas of interest and level of involvement have varied over the years, but I’ll always keep one of my toes dipped in the proverbial horse-world waters. That’s where being an informed consumer comes into play. Here, we’ll discuss what your horse board or training check covers and see how boarding facilities use estimated expenses to calculate the prices they charge for their services.

Picture this: it’s January in Michigan. You’ve had a rough day at work, the wind chill is sitting at -10°F, the snow is blowing sideways, and you need to get dinner on the table and the kids in bed by 8 pm. Guess what you don’t have to do? Barn chores. No chipping ice from buckets, no putting on blankets, no moving hay in from the snow, no sweeping barn aisles, and no arena dragging. You could do those things, but when boarding your horse at someone else’s facility, you don’t have to. That’s why I’ve never hesitated writing out a well-earned board check, and you shouldn’t either. However, it certainly doesn’t hurt to understand where and how your money is being spent.

Click here to read the complete article
108 – October, 2016