looking at a new barn

[jeezitsjacki]

my friend and I are strongly considering moving barns. Where we are now we both teach lessons and are friends with the BO but we dont think our horses are getting good enough care. The arena is hard, and is become slanted (like a biycle track), we dont think they are getting enough pellets in the stalls (they have them dry too, refuse to wet them), and they only have one useable pasture in the winter because the others are too wet, so our horses go out once every other day for about an hour or so. And we are paying too much for that care.

this is the place we are interested in. It is $538 for a stall with a run and $430 for a stall without one. What do you think??
http://jacksonvalleyranch.net/default.aspx

[WashingtonBay]

Turnout would be a big deal for me too, and I have seen the token dusting that some barns call "bedding".

I'd find out what the new barn means by "weather permitting" on turnout... and I'd get one of the stalls with the runs, just in case. It's not near enough room to call 'turnout', but it's better than being in a box in the dark all winter.

[jeezitsjacki]

thanks WB. I will be getting a run stall. It is still less than what I am paying now ($550). I like the owners of my current barn, but my friend and I looked around last week and turned to each other and said "why are we still here" we are ready to go further in training, and our horses deserve better. I think I will be going to see this place this weekend. Weather permitting may be excessive rain, but I will ask. Duvall has a tendency to flood in the winter in some areas, so I will have to make sure this barn is out of that area

[Equine_Woman]

It looks nice!! However in Texas that's a high dollar amount even for full care at a fancy ranch!! But if that's standard in your area the barn looks safe and the horses look well cared for!! Go check it out!

[WashingtonBay]

EqW - it's probably not above average board for her area at all. It's King county - suburb to Seattle, and the highest real estate prices in the state.

[WashingtonBay]

thanks WB. I will be getting a run stall. It is still less than what I am paying now ($550). I like the owners of my current barn, but my friend and I looked around last week and turned to each other and said "why are we still here" we are ready to go further in training, and our horses deserve better. I think I will be going to see this place this weekend. Weather permitting may be excessive rain, but I will ask. Duvall has a tendency to flood in the winter in some areas, so I will have to make sure this barn is out of that area

Yeah - definitely make sure it doesn't flood. Even if they say it doesn't, look for creeks and drainages on your way in that might fill up in a Pineapple express!

I'd hope 'weather permitting' isn't just rain, or they'll be in a lot! ;) but you make the call too, on how often you want them in.

[Beausgirl]

Wow! That's a heck of a lot of money! Makes me think I should get a loan to build a fancy barn and some paddocks, then rent them out for that price and make a killing! Doing what I LOVE to boot! I've got the room to do it - just too scared to risk it! But holy crap - at $538 per horse & 15 stalls - that's over $8 grand a month!! That would pay the mortgage and a nice salary, hey?? (Ah- dream on!!) Sorry - I didn't offer much help in what you should do - just flabergasted for a minute! I am with WB though. I think it is super important for a horse to get outside for a run around every day. I have box stalls ( as of this summer!! Yay!!!!!) - but the horses will be in them only when necessary. They live on 10 acres of pasture and forest - in the stalls to get out of the wet or the weather in general - or when injured. But-if I were "box-stalling it" - I for sure would have to have them somewhere they are put out every day as well.

[WashingtonBay]

Heh... well the board you can collect is relative to location... I'm only an hour south of Jacki... and high board here is in the $300s. It's all about availability and cost of the land.

[Equine_Woman]

Heh... well the board you can collect is relative to location... I'm only an hour south of Jacki... and high board here is in the $300s. It's all about availability and cost of the land.

and amenities and care! But I agree!! What a fun job/dream to have! Of course I've helped keep a bunch of horses before and it quickly became a job. . .not fun!

[WashingtonBay]

Well, we hope to do just that one day... Baywind Farm is an actual dream... before it was a forum. :)

[Pinky]

It looks nice, and it's cheap (to me anyway)! :).
And to add to the boarding price thing - one down the road from me, not really a suburban area, with the same facilities as the above barn, but not full care (you supply own feed, hay and bedding, and you feed/turn out/muck out) is $650 a month (I converted it :D).
But then there's one about 500 meters away, still not full care and with no indoor, but otherwise the same, for $550 a month. The difference is ridiculous, really.

And this is why I am currently horseless - prices around here are ridiculous (and I won't even get started on the fact that it's around $200 for one set of shoes).

[WP~Paint]

It looks like a wonderful place! I agree on turnout and love my stalls bedded deeply, so I hear ya on all of that! It's a high price for my area, but if you can afford it then I say go for it. The pics look great, it looks like a nice place and the horses look happy and healthy.

[PatriotsDreamer]

theres a jumping barn just outside of town thats $750 a month

[jeezitsjacki]

I have an appointment friday. I really like the looks of it, I just need to talk to her about care and see the stalls in person. This is about average board for around here, actually its cheap for a run. Google "horse boarding places in redmond" for a barn with stalls and daily turnout looking at $500 at least. I found two barns for 1,000 a month, so around here ya its a good price

[quest]

Yes, that is pretty average for the area... That is why when we move over to Seattle we are gonna try to buy horse property.. probably in Snohomish or something. Not only is the land in that area expensive, but so is hay, bedding, etc. those all affect the price of board.

[JackieB]

It looks nice. I liked what the people had to say about their philosophy in running it as well.

[farmers_wife]

I think it looks like a nice place. A little high but maybe not for your area. Good luck and I am sure you are doing what is best for you and your horse'