05/11/2026
There was a time when I boarded my horse and got heated, Jamie Sindell writes. I’m talking full-blown righteous fury over what I saw as egregious examples of poor care. Mistakes that made me seethe with rage. But now? I own my own farm. I’ve spent almost three years caring for my own horses. And I can say, with absolute certainty, that most of the time when I threw an inner-temper tantrum, I needed to relax.
Caring for horses is hard work. Caring for horses is not a perfect science. If I could go back in time, I’d tell Past Me to chill. Because now I understand things like…
Horses drink water.
I would show up to the barn, see an empty bucket, and my inner alarm bell screamed: NEGLECT. What I know now is it’s not like horses say, “Hey, I’m extra thirsty today, lady. I’m going to drain my bucket the minute you turn your back.” Odds are your horse went on a little water bender, and the staff just hasn’t been back around to top it off. He’s not dying of dehydration. He just drank a lot.
Horses hurt themselves.
I used to find a scratch or bump and immediately stew over it: Why didn’t anyone tell me about this? Maybe it’s because no one saw it? Your horse could’ve done it in the privacy of his own stall, or while playing in turnout, when it didn’t look like much. Just because you see it now doesn’t mean it was obvious earlier. So maybe don’t go full psycho until you get the scoop.
Sometimes it’s best to skip turnout.
Back then, I was always complaining that my horse didn’t get enough turnout. If he was especially spicy, I’d blame it on that. Now? I’ve seen my ponies wipe out on the flattest, driest paddocks because they were acting like drunk frat boys. Add mud, ice, or sketchy weather, and the risk goes way up. Sometimes, a shorter turnout or zero turnout means your horse stays in one piece. So, ask yourself: do you want a fresh horse… or a broken one?
Horses don’t require a hay buffet.
If your horse maintains a healthy weight, most likely he’s getting enough food. I used to sneak my horse extra flakes to ensure he was “living his best life.” In hindsight, that was inconsiderate and unnecessary. Hay is expensive, and horses love to p*e all over the extra. Also, my horse didn’t need to be a porker to be happy–he needed not to founder.
Horses p**p. A lot.
I remember walking into a stall and thinking: Why is this so gross today? But some days, horses p**p more than others. And if they were kept in due to weather, it’s going to look (and smell) nastier. A bad stall day here or there doesn’t automatically equal poor care.
📎 Continue reading this article at https://www.theplaidhorse.com/2025/05/15/confessions-of-a-reformed-boarder-karen/
📸 Photo © Jamie Sindell
