I’m taking my horse to Florida for a couple of months for the winter show season for the first time. I’m not going with my trainer from home, but want to return to our boarding barn when we’re done. What is the best way to handle reserving our stall so it’s still there when we return?
This is a great question, and something so many riders who spend the show season away from home have to deal with regularly. The first step, of course, is to have a conversation with your barn owner and/or manager. I’d also suggest reading over your boarding contract again – some of this may already be outlined in that agreement you signed however many moons ago.
Different programs offer different solutions. And it’s important to be mindful of what you’re asking for: You are hoping that the farm who cares daily for your horse will keep that stall empty and open for you when you return. Is it fair to the farm business to take a loss on your interest in showing out-of-state?
Some properties offer a discounted monthly rate for when a horse may be out of town. Perhaps that includes the usual property upkeep and insurance fees built into your board, minus the cost of feed, hay, shavings and the daily labor of cleaning the stall and turning out. Others may require you to pay full board no matter what. Maybe that full board cost for the months your horse is not there can be applied to something else in the future (toward lessons, etc.). But a trip to Florida is expensive no matter how you slice it.
Another idea might be to find someone to share the stall while you’re away. Perhaps a short-term client or a horse on rest could use it while yours is away.
It helps to have these conversations well in advance of your trip so that the two of you can come to a mutual agreement, and that the details are clearly explained and understood by all parties. And I’d get it in writing, whether it’s outlined in your boarding agreement or not.
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