Evaluating a Stable for Your Horse
In many ways, choosing a safe stable for your horse is very similar to seeking out daycare services for your children. There are many questions to be asked, and a great deal of research should be done in order to ensure that the stable you select is the one that is right for both your horse, and for yourself. In order to begin this task, you must keep in mind that you have two simple yet major sources of information regarding any given stable: you can ask people, and you can “ask” horses.
It’s likely that you will be limited geographically, meaning that of course you will require a potential stable to be within a reasonable distance from your home for you to care for your horse. However, it’s imperative to understand that geographical limitations also apply to the location of large animal veterinary clinics relative to the stable of your choosing. All too often, a perfect stable can be easily found, yet the availability of a large animal veterinarian is severely limited or even non-existent. This should be of primary concern: in the event of an emergency that requires care beyond the capabilities of the stable staff, you need a competent and fully equipped vet within “trailering” distance. While researching these geographical matches, you may begin the process of inquiring about the reputation and history of any stables that you may be considering. Ask the veterinarians and their staff about their personal and professional experiences with a potential stable. In some cases, a vet will refer you to a client who may have valuable information about their experience with a stable you may be considering.
When contemplating other people that you might be able to glean information from, consider all sources. Feed houses and supply stores are great sources of direct, first-hand experience with a stable. Pet stores, tack shops, and local farms will also likely be able to tell you a great deal of information about a particular stable. However, you should keep in mind that we true “horse people” are peculiar and demanding folk, and therefore a negative review by one person may not necessarily be accurate. Keep an open mind and listen closely to issues, praise, or criticism. Finally, don’t forget to cross-reference a stable with the Better Business Bureau of your state. There you may find information on complaints, if any, and steps taken to correct those complaints.
Assuming that you have been diligent and performed research before arranging to meet the owners or operators of a particular stable, it is vital to understand that stable staff are without question its most important asset. A stable can be clean, modern, well-designed, of outstanding reputation, and have vast resources, but if the staff is uneducated, too young, or too inexperienced, then your horse may be in jeopardy. Ask about the staff, and ask to speak to them personally. Find out what their experience is, and who in particular will be caring for your horse. Even the most well-intentioned youngster may make mistakes that could prove disastrous to your beloved horse. In these cases, relying on gut instinct can often mean the difference between a great experience with a stable, and a horrendous one. Don’t forget the following:
*Are the horses brought in during rain or inclement weather?
*What type of feed is used, and can you specify your own brand/type?
*Is hay available 24 hours per day, and what type is it?
*Are supplements given/available?
*What type of exercise program is available?
*Will your horse have a dedicated stall?
*What are the stable’s grooming practices and procedures?
When you have talked to all of the people involved, now it is time to “talk” to the horses. Watch them closely. Observe how they walk, their surroundings, their stalls, and how they are moved from place to place by staff. Look at their feet! Are they missing shoes, have long toes, or obvious deformities? Ensure that there are no “hidden” areas that horses are sometimes kept in to be out of public view. This could be the sign of a stable that is not operating at its best. Ensure that all horses in the stable appear well-fed and well exercised. Ask to handle a horse or two of your choosing, and observe the mannerisms and condition of each animal. Sometimes, a very easy way to tell if a stable is “over-horsed” is by simply performing a count. Count the total number of available stalls and the total number of horses. If the numbers do not match, you see signs of rain rot, or you see horses with halter marks embedded in their faces, you know there’s a problem.
If you feel comfortable with the people and horses you have met, then it’s a possibility that you might have found the right stable for you and your horse. Now it’s time to get into the “nitty-gritty.” First, check the stalls- all of them. Sometimes, when a prospective client comes to view facilities, a quick clean-up is done to mask what would otherwise be considered unsafe or unsanitary conditions. For stalls that use shavings, be certain that the shavings are large enough to not represent a respiratory hazard. Kick the shavings around- is there dung or urine hiding underneath? This could be a sign of stalls that are not cleaned often enough or well enough. Walk the length and breadth of the stall, and check for major dips or holes in the floor. Some stables use heavy mats over crushed granite or another substrate, and over time the substrate will develop cavities that may make the stall unsafe for the horse to be in. A good stable is one that rakes the substrate often to ensure a smooth surface. Next, check the walls of the stalls for unsafe protrusions, rusty latches or hinges, or any type of wiring or feed systems that may ensnare a horse.
When you have thoroughly checked the inside facilities, you’re only halfway complete with your mission of ensuring safety. Now it’s time to check the grounds. This means a complete walk of the fence-line. Check for broken or missing sections of the fence, and any obstacles that may be dangerous. This includes rocky outcroppings, bogs, or areas where farming machinery is in the open. All of these pose potential hazards. When examining facilities that divide and rotate sections of pasture, be wary of those that use fiberglass poles to string the electrical line. These release fibers into the environment that can be dangerous, and nearly every horse owner has heard of someone whose horse became partially or fully impaled by one of these poles. For the same and even more obvious reasons, beware of barbed wire!
The best facilities often have goats or other grazing animals, such as cattle, in the same outside areas as horses. Often, horses will befriend these other animals, and having them in the same areas is a major boost to controlling worms and other parasites. Additionally, goats will eat many plants that may prove dangerous or fatal to a horse. Stable owners who are cognizant of this and practice this for those specific reasons are most likely to be as concerned about the care of your horse as you are. Pay attention to traits such as these.
While it may be impossible to foresee every safety and comfort issue when choosing a potential stable, a little research and a sharp set of eyes will go far to ensuring that your horse is placed somewhere it will be safe and content. Understanding the potential problems and recognizing them is imperative to good horse care, and as any horse owner will tell you, our horses are not only our close friends, they are major investments. Protect them as such, and choose a stable wisely.
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