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Boarding Rates that Vary by Breed?

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  • #21
    There was a barn in my area that was full dressage. When the new owners moved in they decided the dressage folks could stay, and they introduced their reiners and some new boarders who reined. They then changed board rates to $50 more if the horse was over 16 hh (as they eat more, poop more, and need more shavings, was the validation). Needless to say the dressage folk got pushed out!
    Member OMGiH I loff my mares clique!!!

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    • #22
      I've heard of charging for extra hay, extra grain, extra fat supplements, extra bedding, but never based on breed. Did you even inquire as to why? (just curious)

      We had a TB mare here that would get fat on air, lived outside, and was not a problem at all. Currently have an arabian gelding that is the exact opposite...depends on the horse, not the breed.
      JB-Infinity Farm
      www.infinitehorses.com

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      • #23
        Pfff. My (long time since) OTTB lives outside and eats the exact same as my QH, both are nekkid, fuzzy and fat.
        Do not take anything to heart. Do not hanker after signs of progress. Founder of the Riders with Fibromyalgia clique.

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        • #24
          Originally posted by citydog View Post
          I've known a couple of places they charged more for drafts not because of food, but because they were thought to be a lot harder on the facilities.

          Exactly. The ONLY time I have seen increased rates were on Drafts and STALLIONS. Which honestly can be VERY had on facilities and outright destructive (even if they don't mean to be). Stallions tend to pace fences wearing ruts in the ground and Drafts also leave impressive wear marks in the ground, can outright RUB DOWN a good sized tree and have no quams with walking right THROUGH a decent fence or gate if they feel inclinded to do so. Most of course are very laid back animals but just do to their impressive size require more time and modifications to keep around.

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          • Original Poster

            #25
            Thanks for the commentary. I shared the thread with the friend in question and she feels better.

            Originally posted by MistyBlue View Post
            But for field board? Never heard of it. Unless this barn has only had experience with the really hard keeping TBs and think that all TBs will require a ton fo extra hay and grain and suppements and blankets on and off every couple hours. Frankly only a few TBs (and other breeds) require micromanaging to keep them healthy and comfy, but if they've only had bad experiences with them they might have a breed bias. I'd avoid the barn because even if your TBs are "normal" keepers these BOs may see disaster no matter what and it doesn't sound
            like a good match.
            Totally agree. I'm quite use to caring for my own TBs. They get their carrots and apples but even the one I call a diva is a normal horse in care and maintenance.

            Originally posted by spotmenow View Post
            I've heard of charging for extra hay, extra grain, extra fat supplements, extra bedding, but never based on breed. Did you even inquire as to why? (just curious)
            My friend use to take lessons at this barn and she inquired in her new quest to get a feel for what she'll pay around her area and the amenities the different barns would have at what prices. I think it startled her too much to hear "her" horse would cost more for her to question why lol


            Originally posted by RougeEmpire View Post
            Exactly. The ONLY time I have seen increased rates were on Drafts and STALLIONS. Which honestly can be VERY had on facilities and outright destructive (even if they don't mean to be).
            While I can see how this might be true of some of both situations, I must say my stallion is one of the least destructive of the horses I've had here. A line of electric, and he'll even share a fenceline with mares in heat quite nicely. If anything he can be a little vocal when he can't see the other horses, but noise doesn't hurt the facilities. Just another crazy TB of course

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            • #26
              We have lightly talked about giving a discount for ponies, but never considered more for "difficult" horses. We do charge if your horse is breaking things regularly or extremely distructive, but that has only happened maybe once or twice.

              The one draft that we had for a short period was extremely rough on the fences, as he would just walk right through them .

              Currently I have two TBs and they are definitely very hard keepers. We regularly brainstorm about finding new ways to keep them both relaxed and fat. They do earn their keep though, because one is my best lesson horse (can do lunge line through ch jumper) and the other is the ultimate adult beginner horse.

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              • #27
                Could it be that the farm in question was discussing the difference between sporthorse/riding horse and racehorse boarding and just referring to the racehorse boarding as "thoroughbred boarding"? For example, boarding rates here in KY are typically higher on thoroughbred farms than at barns that cater to riding horses. The reason is that TB (racehorse) board typically includes full management of the horse (and also is not subsidized by lesson fees). Just a thought.
                www.plainfieldfarmky.com

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                • #28
                  Wow! If I was going to charge extra specifically for breed it wouldn't be for TBs. I have had a barnful of TBs at one time and all have been very easily handled, a pleasure to work with, and fun. I've also found that once they have acclimated themselves to a forage first diet that many are not truly hard keepers and rarely do I have to charge extra for additional feed. Now if I was going to charge extra for anything it would have to be for the absentee owner who lives close enough to visit but doesn't. OK, that's another can of worms for a different thread.
                  Susan B.
                  http://canterberrymeadows.com/

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                  • #29
                    Wow. Haven't experienced this myself but I do provide my own feed for my draft cross since he eats a feed not normally provided by the barn. Of course he eats 1/4 lb twice a day so the "extra expense" is minimal. He is fenced with electric and is respectful of it, though I admit he probably produces more manure than the average sized horse. Our BO doesn't seem to charge more for anything, she just asked me to buy the feed since it is $10 a bag more than the feed she normally buys for the rest. I figure it is more than worth the cost cause she takes super care of us, and also lets me work off part of my board costs.

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                    • #30
                      Like others have said, if you're used to feeding more stock horse or Arab types, a lot of TBs do cost a lot more to feed. Not all of them, of course, but IME it is a pretty fair generalization to make. Right now in my barn I have 4 TBs, and of the 4 one is an easy keeper but the other three eat about twice as much as my Arabs, despite the fact that the Arabs are actually the hardest working horses in the barn right now! When I boarded TBs it was often the same. You find some easy keepers but a lot of them need a lot of food, and when you're running a barn on a very tight budget you might need to charge more.

                      I charge a surcharge for additional feed. When we had someone with a hard keeper wanting pasture board we would try to accomodate them but would charge extra for work as well as feed (our pasture horses were not grained unless the owner did it themselves and only supplemented hay depending on the season, so graining involved bringing the horse in). They came in knowing, too, that if it got to be too much hassle we would either require them to do it themselves, or have to switch to stall board. We had some inquiries but no one with a high-maintenance horse (who wasn't planning on being out daily to feed them anyway) went with pasture board, as it would wind up being more money than stall board with the extra work and feed. There are places that have a good set up for high-maintenance pasture horses, but a lot of them don't. Now I just don't do pasture board at all anymore because I think it is a PITA.

                      Anyway, I think charging extra for a TB without finding out their current feeding program (because I'm guessing that was the BM's sticking point) is a bit strange. It just varies so much by the individual that, while I might be more inclined to ask how much a TB eats, I wouldn't assume that I needed to charge more.
                      exploring the relationship between horse and human

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                      • Original Poster

                        #31
                        Originally posted by 2foals View Post
                        Could it be that the farm in question was discussing the difference between sporthorse/riding horse and racehorse boarding and just referring to the racehorse boarding as "thoroughbred boarding"?
                        No, the facility in question is very familiar with the inquirer and knew it was for a pleasure TB that would be like any other boarding horse there. My friend is not associated with racing TBs in any way. I just have a kind, laid back TB mare who's had a rough past and I wanted to be sure she goes to someone who would lavish time and attention on her when her racing career is over. This friend is perfect for her, and she's going to be a great first horse for the gal (years of lessons, never owned).

                        Getting a few more details, apparently TBs fall under the establishment's "high maintenance horses" policy automatically and are an additional $50 a month. If I was being dinged $50 more a month for my air fern 15.2 TB mare that everyone assumes is a QH, I would expect to see her ankle deep in hay 24/7. Because she could easily live off free choice alone

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                        • #32
                          If a horse costs more to keep, then it's OK for a BO to charge more based upon those costs. So if you've got a horse who's a "big eater" then a "surcharge" (reflecting both the costs of the material and the labor involved) is rational. But will the market bear it? That is a completely separate question.

                          When it comes to the economics of boarding each circumstance will be a bit different. Most barns have a "base" charge (what it costs to keep an average horse). Some have the price high enough to cover the occational higher dollar horse, but some run pretty lean and any additional costs result in a loss on the contract.

                          Basing a differential on "breed" is problematical. One based upon type or gender or demonstrated cost is rational (but maybe not marketable).

                          G.
                          Mangalarga Marchador: Uma Raça, Uma Paixão

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                          • #33
                            I figured that must be around par for an average horse on light work regardless of the breed.
                            I was at a western barn- lots of QH crosses. Most stayed fat on a round bale and less than a scoop per day. That barn charged more for bigger horses, plus extra for extra food. It kind of made sense, and hey- my horse eating 8 flakes, 3 scoops a day did cost more for them to feed than the one handful, eat off the round bale pony.

                            It would probably help to talk to a boarder, but beats letting in someone who's horse eats the profits or being at a place that says "oh, I've never seen a not skinny TB".

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                            • #34
                              Originally posted by citydog View Post
                              I've known a couple of places they charged more for drafts not because of food, but because they were thought to be a lot harder on the facilities.
                              I can definitely understand this. Drafts are much harder on a facility than more normal sized horses. Not because they're mean or eat more, but because normal horse behaviour tends to cause damage because of their size. Usually wonderful to handle, too.

                              And no, I've never heard of charging more for specific breeds. And I'm with DGRH in that I'd stay far, far away from any barn that has that policy.
                              In loving memory of Laura Jahnke.
                              A life lived by example, done too soon.
                              www.caringbridge.org/page/laurajahnke/

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                              • #35
                                I was at a barn that their rates started based on ponies and QH. Anybody with larger horses like TB, WB, Drafts had to pay extra for the feed and shavings.

                                Manager thougth that it is just fair to pony owners that they will not pay as much as Draft owners for feed and bedding

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                                • #36
                                  Well, I'm not sure how I feel about that policy. I can sort of see both sides. I own a six year old TB gelding, and he is pasture boarded. He gets the same feed as the other three horses in the field, so I don't pay anything extra. Of course he is in a pasture adjacent to the trail horses who eat only hay. I think he would resemble a skeleton on that feeding regime, so maybe they have a point.

                                  There are certainly TBs who can survive on air though, but maybe not as many as other breeds? I just don't understand saying every TB owner has to pay extra. Wait and see if the horse needs extra feed, then charge extra. What if a TB comes in who needs less feed than another breed of horse? Do they continue to make the owner pay extra anyway? That would not be fair at all.

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                                  • #37
                                    I find this a bit funny, since my QH is a hard keeper. I also have an Arab who will probably be a hard keeper once he is in real work.

                                    Add me to the list of those who would stay away from a barn who makes such blanket statements. If that were not an option, I would probably just tell the BO that the horse was a QH. After all, most QHs have quite a bit of TB blood.

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