Some friends have asked us board their 3 horses for about a month while they pull up stakes and move out of state. Naturally, we agreed to do it, but had to figure out something reasonable to charge. Because it is a short-term arrangement and it is for some friends, I’m basically only asking them to pay for the feed their horses will eat, but decided to do a little research into what others are charging these days. Boy, was I surprised.
When I was a kid, my Mom boarded horses. The cost was $35.00 per month for pasture board (we supplied hay), $50.00 per month for daily grain and hay. I know prices have gone up a lot. I counted on the average price of board being 3 or 4 times what we used to charge. Nope – not even close. While one farm ‘only’ charged $250.00, others were charging $325 – 350 per month! Now they had some things we never did, like an indoor arena. Still – at these prices the monthly board is more expensive than a lot of horses these days!
So – as a service to readers, I’m going to publish some boarding rates and contact information to make it easier to find someone to board your horse at a reasonable rate – or as reasonable as exists these days. Coming Soon – the boarding farm comparison page. If you have any suggestions for inclusions on this page, leave them here as a comment and I’ll check them out.
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horses
Our 4-H leader just forwarded to us an alert from the Michigan State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine. The report mentions that MSU Veterinary Teaching Hospitalis seeing an increase in the number of animals suffering with starvation and
exposure-related problems. It goes on to say that a visual-only inspection of horses with winter coats is insufficient – you have to use your hands. The following is an excerpt:
Body condition score- The body condition scoring (BCS) system is based
on a 1 through 9 scale and is designed to assess a horse’s overall
condition. Horses with a BCS less than a 4 are at increased risk of
hypothermia and starvation, especially when the weather conditions
cause an increase in energy demands just to maintain weight. If an
individual is already thinner than desired (BCS < 4), they will not
have adequate body mass (fat) to help with insulation from the cold or
provide a supply of energy when the diet is lacking and demands are
high
er than expected.
To determine your horse’s BCS you must touch your horse, especially in
the winter, as winter hair hides a horse’s true BCS, often until it is
too late to successfully correct the weight loss. Feel over the ribs,
neck, shoulder area, mid-spine, hips and tail head. If your horse’s
ribs over the widest part of the barrel are easily felt with little or
no tissue between the skin and ribs, the BCS is below 4. This horse is
suffering from malnutrition and is at a high risk of hypothermia when
the temperature drops, particularly if the wind chill is high and
little to no shelter is available.
The article also discusses the nutritional needs of horses in cold weather. Basically, more of everything to help ensure that the horse has enough calories to for normal activity plus keep warm. Fresh water at all times is essential. More information can be found at www.extension.org.
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horses
Ah, Winter in Michigan. Such a lovely season. I love riding in the freshly fallen snow. Of course, that’s something I haven’t been able to do since I broke my foot in November. But the Doctor says I can start putting weight on my foot, so hopefully it won’t be long before I’m back in the saddle. Hey – I even drove my own tractor the other day – something else I haven’t been able to do because of the clutch. So things are looking up.
My kids don’t like having horses in Michigan in the winter time nearly as much as I do. That’s because this year it has been up to them to drag the water hoses in and out of the basement so they won’t freeze between filling the water troughs. And chipping the ice out of the troughs when Georgie unplugs the heaters. And feeding and grooming them in sub-zero temperatures.
Well, I did all that when I was a kid, and look how well I turned out. Wait – never mind. Let’s just say that Michigan Winters help kids build character, and leave it at that.
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horses
