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Easier access
With your horse on your own property, there's no need to drive to the stable to see or ride your horse.
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Hard work - every day
It takes a significant daily commitment of time and energy to provide propercare for a horse, including cleaning stalls, multiple feedings, turnouts, and hauling in hay and grain.
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Less work
If you cringe at the thought of shoveling 95 pounds of waste and soiled bedding every single day, it may be worth paying to board your horse and have
others do it for you.
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Inaccessibility
If you choose to board, you can’t just walk outside and see or ride your horse any time you want. Spending time with your horse will mean spending time and money driving to the stable.
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More contact
Being closer to your horse can mean...being closer to your horse. That is, more contact increases the opportunities for you and your horse to get to know and trust each other, build a friendship, and enjoy each other's company. Getting your horse comfortable with a routine is also important, and may be harder to do with less contact.
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Less freedom
Because horses need daily care that includes feedings at consistent times each day, leaving town or going out after work will require advance planning and a responsible caregiver you can rely on. You’ll also need to dedicate a significant amount of your and for the horse. Check the zoning laws in your area because they dictate how you use your land to accommodate your horse. For example, there are regulations governing the minimum amount of land you’ll need per horse, and how close to the property line you may place any related structures such as barns, run-ins or sheds.
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Greater freedom
If you board, many details are taken care of for you. You won’t need to store hay or manage a pasture, worry about your horse being cared for when you’re out of town, or maintain facilities for containment, shelter, feeding,
bathing and grooming. Stable staff may also attend appointments with the veterinarian, groomer or farrier, so you don’t have to rearrange your schedule around these services.
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Less contact
Less access to your horse means less time spent together. But it’s worth noting a possible tradeoff here: the time you do get to spend together may be more enjoyable for both of you, because it won’t be consumed by chores.
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Less ongoing expense
Though the cost of preparing your property for housing a horse can be steep, it is a one-time investment (with some annual maintenance costs) that can save you a lot of money over time, compared with paying monthly boarding fees.
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Less help and advice
Without the skilled, experienced
professional staff and the resources of a commercial facility at hand, you’re on your own if there’s an emergency or you need immediate help with your horse.
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Advice and mentors
At a boarding stable, there are always experts around. You can learn a lot by getting to know them and benefiting from their
specialized knowledge and experience.
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Higher monthly cost
Boarding a horse is an ongoing financial commitment that will take a bite out of your budget every month. Boarding fees vary depending on where you live and whether you pasture board or stable board; in general they range from around $200 to $750 or more per month.
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Security
Keeping your horse with you at home provides peace of mind and the assurance that your horse is safe and secure on your own property.
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Liability and insurance
Keeping a horse at home can mean increased liability if your horse injures a neighbor or guest. Additional insurance may be required.
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A social outlet
Boarding your horse gives you an instant community of horse enthusiasts that can provide camaraderie and new friends. And being a highly social creature, your horse will also benefit from interaction with other horses.
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Less control over care
If you board, you’ll be entrusting your horse’s daily care to other people, which some horse owners find difficult.
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