STEP 6:
The process of finding a home for your horse can take more time than you might think, especially if you’re moving to a new area. You’ll probably put in many hours and miles making phone calls and tramping around pastures and barns. So give yourself as much time as you can—ideally a minimum of three or four months. If that’s not possible and you need to move quickly, scale down your “must have” list to find a safe, suitable temporary situation, then keep looking for a permanent place once you’ve made the initial move and know the area a bit better.
REQUEST A TOUR
While you are at the facility, ask to see the whole farm, including all barns and outbuildings. Also ask if you can walk the fields where your horse would be kept. As you look around, remember that an adequate, safe property may not look fancy---just as a fancy-looking property may not be safe or adequate--but here are some basic standards to take note of:
• Barn: Is it dry, clean and well ventilated? Any ammonia smell is worrisome because it indicates a lack of cleanliness or ventilation problems. Are there cross ties or other safe, well-lit, covered areas to groom or handle your horse? Are there fire extinguishers?
• Stalls: Are the walls smooth, sound and free of nails and splinters? What is the flooring? If there are rubber mats, do they lie flat, even at their edges? Are any dirt floors free of low spots or holes? Is there enough bedding? How often are stalls cleaned? How is watering done? Is there a backup for automated systems?
• Paddocks and pastures: Is there access to shade or shelter for all horses at all times? Is the fencing sound and safe? What is on the other side of the fence---this is important if a horse should escape. Is manure regularly picked up from the fields? Do you see any weeds and/or toxic plants or trees? If you are visiting in the fall, spring or summer, be sure to ask about winter conditions, including whether there is sufficient drainage to prevent mud and standing water.
• Feed and hay storage: Is feed kept in rodent-proof bins? Is a feeding chart posted where important information about each horse’s diet or medications can be updated? Is the hay kept