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Dilemma; bring in a share boarder or stay sane?
Topic Started: Aug 4 2011, 05:50 AM (350 Views)
Everythingbutwings
Schooling
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Trixie and I are happy in our little red barn. It is inexpensive, our horses are fairly close by, have tons of room for all the horse related stuff we've accumulated, we've got trails right out the back and our tiny grass ring. It is a quiet place where we grow our little veggie garden and Trixie has her chickie-ladies. We like the privacy, , the B.O. likes us and it's a short drive to several parks with nice trails or to Frying Pan and an easy haul out for lessons.

The downside is it's not in our backyard. Over the 10+ years we've been there, we've had two different people share the barn with us. Neither one has been ideal but it was great having someone to split the chores with. Mr. Wings is a great help but he's the first one to complain that he doesn't have time to do more around our house or to simply relax because of the need to go feed the beasties, which, from our house and a short list of chores is 1.5 - 2 hours round trip. I have it pretty easy, I feed on my way in to work in the morning, do the morning jobs while they are eating and then its off to the office. I work part time and the barn is only a little out of the way on my commute. He works full time, lately overtime as well and some of his days off. I can understand his disgruntlement. Trixie helps out several times a week but she is riding and chicken tending and chilling out from her day at work.

Our dilemma: Do we continue as we are or look for another person to share our barn? It is lovely having NO drama. None that is human caused, anyway, as most unpleasant barn drama tends to be. :pissed: :brickwall: :shoot:

We've got five stalls and use three of them (they are 10x10 so the horses are out except to be fed), one sacrifice paddock, our tiny grass ring, the small paddock where old blind Pockets pony lives and a grass paddock that we can only use when it is not too wet out so the horses don't tear it up. Locking tack room, loft with plenty of room. All a share boarder (mental note: I have to stop calling it "Share" boarding as our last barnmate took that to mean share our stuff!) THIS is SELF CARE FOOL! All you get for your minimal monthly board (payable to the B.O. as I do NOT collect nor profit from the board payment) is a stall, room for your tack and a place to ride. Feed, vet bills, worming, farrier, hay is all on the horse's owner.

Wacky as it sounds to some, that's how it works for me, too. :mallet:

Our most recent barn mate had one horse. We have three. Barnmate's part of the chores was to feed all the horses three evenings a week and to do the routine chores while there, pick paddock, measure out next feeding, put out hay and fill water tub. We do the rest, including upkeep on the property, arranging for hay and, most of the time, picking it up and unloading it ourselves.

For $100/month/stall, Our dream barnmate will buy their own grain, meds, shavings and share the appropriate percentage of the cost of hay. They will be reliable, barring emergencies, at handling the chores when it is their turn, making arrangements in advance if they are not going to be able to do so. They will not hassle the barn owners or cause difficulties with the neighbors. Dream BM will be there for their vet and farrier appointments.

In the past, we've had no problem with swapping chores off when asked or doing favors, especially when we know that it will be reciprocated should we be in need. Everyone's horse at some time develops an abscess or gets injured and needs extra attention. Everyone at some time has a family crisis or something untoward comes up. What we don't want is a BM who finds something several times a month that "may be the only time I'll ever get the chance to..." and wants to duck out of their day of chores. We don't want a BM who bounces checks, especially while on vacation, a vacation that gets extended for an additional week because "I got lucky in Vegas and they'll comp me a room..." :argh:

Does our dream Barn Mate exist or shall we soldier on in our pleasant, quiet little red barn? Mr. Wings can use the break but I don't think I can stand barn drama. :jaw:

If we do decide to risk our sanity yet again, prospective barnmates will need to be vouched for. No more believing in impossible things, no matter what Alice said to the Mad Hatter. :yes:
Edited by Everythingbutwings, Aug 4 2011, 07:13 AM.
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Barn Girl
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It'll be an adventure! We're going on an adventure!
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I think I'd risk it, as long as you can screen candidates well. Plus if you have a contract where you can give them 30 days notice or whatever to leave, there's not a ton of risk.

There was a time when I was younger (and broker :teehee:) and boarded at a co-op barn that sounds similar to your situation. We paid stall rent, and all split the chores, bought our own hay and feed, etc. If I hadn't had that barn, I could have never afforded my first horse. Stall rent was $40 a month (about 10-15 yrs ago)! :o What I found was it worked great as long as all boarders were knowledgeable and conscientious but the wheels fell off if you got a new boarder in who was not.

In these trying economic times, I'd bet you could just about hand pick someone for that situation. Good luck either way!
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Delia
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Wings -- There are people out there who fit your BM description, but they're hard to find. I've got a similar set-up to yours. Although my BM and I don't pay any board at all in exchange for maintaining the barn/fields + watching over the BO's house when they're in FL for the winter. Your best bet probably would be to look for someone with a retiree who wants to keep their horse close-in to where they live but doesn't want to pay $$$ NoVA board. All three of my barnmates I've had over the past 11 years have fit that description and they've all been fantastic. But I had to interview a lot of crazies and/or lazies in order to find them.
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RHowell
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I'll let you take over two of my stalls and move in with me if the chickens come <3
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TatteredDaydreamer
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Or you can find me a pony and I'll come board with you guys.;) I love your barn and the chickens! :clap: :cloud9:
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Trialbyfire
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I have two boarders that both have special deals. They are out there, but yes, they can be hard to find. Finding someone with a retiree is a great idea.....I know someone at another barn who has a nearly blind horse. She works SO hard to give him the best quality life and hardly ever even rides him! But she would be the ideal barn mate for someone like you......(her horse has heaves and she would get up at 4am and steam his hay at her house and then drive it to the barn so she could feed him warm steamed hay in the winter before she went to work!)

Ask people you know & trust if they know anyone. Don't post on Craigslist, etc. If you are in with your vets, ask them as well.....also farriers, etc. People you feel comfortable telling them the flat out truth -- "I don't want any crazies or idiots!" ;)

Good luck!!!
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FlashGordon
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I too was going to suggest the retiree thing. Seeing as I spent forever trying to find an appropriate set-up for my old man, that also wasn't going to cost an arm and a leg.

Maybe network with yoru vet and farrier first... see if they know anyone looking for such a situation. They will have a good pulse on the level of crazy, too. ;) Just screen carefully, check references, which I'm sure you already know.

Good luck, I think with the right person it could definitely work.
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DairyQueen2049
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That boarding situation would have been just the ticket for my horsey situation back in the day....

I was there everyday to ride anyway, so it was no big deal to feel and love on all the other horses.

You are looking for one special boarder/horse (b/c the horse has to fit in too!) - but they are out there. I agree with TBF - word of mouth only - a friend of a friend may be your best bet.

Good luck.
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Everythingbutwings
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Thanks for the ideas. We love our vet service, they'd be a great source for a referral.

RH you are too kind. You're also safe, we've got three :teehee:

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