15/12/2024
Some insight on the current horse boarding market, and why you, as an boarder, may feel you are being priced out.
While everyone keeps seeking to board their beloved horse at a top tier Facility, with 24/7 hay, extended “all day” turnout, night check, feed 3x per day, well maintained facility and a trainer on site or the ability to bring your own.
Here are some Averages.
Shavings cost. $7.00- 7.50 per bag/ day=
Or $2575-$3000 per semi bulk
Hay $7.00-8.50 per small bale (40 #)
$125-165 per large square (700 #)
$85-100 per round (800 #)
Stall cleaning $5.00 -$7.00 per stall/day
Manure removal- haul off $1200 per month for 24 horse facility
Grain $24-per 40 # bag at a feed rate of 6 # per day per horse just over 4.2 bags per month $100.80 plus tax & delivery
$115 per horse/month
Labor $15-25 per hour 40 hours/week
$600-1000 PER employee/week (x2 + for very large facilities) **some employees receive board in exchange for extra hours of work.
Stall cost bare $250-350 (lease or what owners should charge per box to cover use & maintenance of said box)
Utilities vary greatly
Water, fuel, heat/gas, electric, etc.
$800-1600/month
Fence posts $26 ea
Fence boards 16’ $29 ea
Water buckets $15 ea
Feed bins $30 ea
Some go what is not factored in:
•Equipment purchase & maintenance
•Storage buildings for hay & equipment to keep fluffy safe from fire risk
•mortgage & taxes
•Farm owner time & experience
•farm owners Significant Other doing maintenance & repairs to keep costs down
•footing maintenance & refreshing
So the facility that y’all are Seeking needs to be charging a minimum of $1215 per month to break even on hay (30 # per day- more if really being fed 24-7 free choice,) grain, shavings (one bag a day) labor (single employee,) utilities and the rent on the “box.”
These figures do not include insurance, maintenance materials, improvements (like footing, lighting upgrades, fans etc) owner experience, wound treatment prior to your arrival, blanketing, etc.
So IF you are paying less than $1200 per month for top quality care and a facility to match- You are NOT paying enough.
