Bringing Your New Horse Home

the ropes. During your visit you will get a feel for the atmosphere of the facility. Is it laid back and quiet? Highpressure and competitive? Could you see yourself learning from the trainer? A boarding facility does not need to be top of the line to be a perfectly acceptable place for your horse.
Other things to notice during your visit
Horses Do they look bright and healthy? Or skinny and listless? One ribby horse could be a rescue that they are nursing back to health but if all the horses are underweight you should consider looking elsewhere.
Cleanliness Does the barn look like it is wellmanaged? Barns can be dusty dirty places and a facility doesnt need to be spotless to be a good place for your horse to live. But cleanliness and organization or the lack thereof can be a sign of the farm owners management style.
Safety concerns Look for hazards that could injure horses such as exposed sharp metal objects nails sticking out fences falling apart junk in pastures etc.
Water Do all horses have access to clean water both in stalls and outside? Are water bucketstroughs empty or dirty?
Turnout How much turnout space is there? Does it look like enough for the number of horses that live there? Horses do not require lush pasture to be healthy but daily turnout is very important for horse health. Even if theres no grass dirt paddocks should be relatively clean of manure and have some dry areas when its wet out. Feel free to ask the manager about their pasture management strategies to learn more about their goals and methods.
Riding space If you are interested in riding look at the number and state of the riding arenas. Do they have the items you will need based on the discipline you want to ride

jumps poles barrels? Is the footing hard and packed or soft and wellmaintained? How many riders are in there at once? If yearround riding is important to you is there an indoor arena?
هناك شيء آخر يجب مراعاته وهو الإدارة السابقة لخيولك الجديد ومدى اختلاف حظيرتك الجديدة عن ذلك. اسأل المالك السابق عن نظامه الغذائي وجدول المشاركة وتركيبة القطېع ومستوى التدريب وتكرار الركوب. قد تتسبب التغييرات الرئيسية في إدارة الحصان في حدوث بعض التغييرات المؤقتة في الضغط والمواقف. يمكنك أن تتوقع بعض المشاکل إذا أخذت حصانا يعمل 24 ساعة يوميا ووضعته في كشك لمدة 24 ساعة يوميا. يمكن للخيول أن تتكيف مع الإدارة الجديدة بمرور الوقت ولكن التغيير المڤاجئ سيكون مرهقا. لذلك يجب أن تحاول تقليل ذلك قدر الإمكان عن طريق إجراء تغييرات كبيرة على الإدارة بشكل تدريجي قدر الإمكان. إذا كان الحصان مټوترا فقد تلاحظ سلوكيات نمطية للتكيف مثل السړير أو النسج أو المشي في المماطلة أو مجرد حصان ڠاضب بشكل خاص. 
Questions to ask barn managersowners
What is the turnout schedule? How many horses go out together? How do they decide which horses go out together?
How much hay do the horses get? How often are meals fed? How long do horses typically go without hay or pasture? A horse should get about 2 of its body weight in dry matter feed daily and at least half of that must be forage such as hay pasture or forage alternatives like hay cubes.
What grain do you feed? Can boarders add different products or supplements if needed?
If you want to take riding lessons ask about the lessons available for your experience level. You may need to take a few private lessons before you can start group lessons. Is the clientele mostly adults or children? Ask if you can watch a lesson to see if you like the instructors teaching style.
How busy are the