Boarding Fees...
Natural Pasture-Boarding includes Hay,Grain and Water, access to 18x18 shelter. Our residence is on sight.
On request we provide grooming and hoof-care on an agreed upon schedule.
Every boarder has full access to tack-shed and grooming supplies.
Long term monthly fee; $100.00 (1 horse)
Long term monthly fee for each additional horse/s $80.00 each
Short term $ 35.00 weekly per horse
On request we provide grooming and hoof-care on an agreed upon schedule.
Every boarder has full access to tack-shed and grooming supplies.
Long term monthly fee; $100.00 (1 horse)
Long term monthly fee for each additional horse/s $80.00 each
Short term $ 35.00 weekly per horse
Natural Boarding...
We board "NATURAL". It's easy to get confused about what Natural Boarding means. After all, in nature, horses roam hundreds, if not thousands, of acres of land. What can be natural about keeping them in any kind of captivity, behind any kind of fencing? Many people think Natural Boarding is impossible, but we keep our Horses and Board-Horses as natural as possible.
We can refer to Dr. Strasser's A Lifetime of Soundness for details on the problems with conventional boarding, and solutions to create Natural Boarding conditions. There are no absolutes, thus it is important to understand why things are harmful, in order to make the necessary adjustments to improve living conditions.
1. Environmental temperature
In Nature, temperature fluctuates constantly, and the horse's body learns to adapt to these changes. The horse's own thermoregulatory system is fantastic, and does not need our interference.
In Conventional Boarding, we interfere with layers of blankets and sheets, usually color-coordinated and spiffy looking, but certainly not an improvement upon nature. In Natural Boarding, we leave the horse to experience the constantly changing natural climate, living outdoors with no horse clothing needed.
"To the proper stimulation of the thermoregulatory system, it is irrelevant on how many acres the horse experiences its natural climate; important is only that is is exposed to it."--A Lifetime of Soundness
So we use blankets only if necessary.
2. Movement
In Nature, the horse is unrestricted and in virtually continual motion. In Conventional Boarding, the horse is usually very restricted, often receiving inadequate movement, as well as unnatural movement during its brief exercise periods. In Natural Boarding, the horse is allowed constant natural movement.
3. Lifestyle
In Nature, horses live in the complex social system of the herd. In Conventional Boarding, some horses are forced to live in virtual solitary confinement, locked in box stalls with no access to other horses. In Natural Boarding, we provide horses with the company of other horses, to live in a herd if at all possible, but at least to have constant physical access to other horses.
4. Nutrition
In Nature, there is a huge variety of nutritional options with hundreds (or thousands) of plant species, and continuous uptake of food. In Conventional Boarding, we often restrict not only intake, but also variety. The horse may be limited to the consumption of only a couple of plant species, denied access to minerals that it craves, and be fed "meals" two to three times daily and left without food overnight--all of which are totally foreign to its natural eating patterns. In Natural Boarding, we try to provide continuous food uptake via free choice hay and/or pasture, and as much nutritional variety as we can manage. Free choice minerals are also available to the horse.
5. Body posture
In Nature, the horse spends most of the day in the grazing position, therefore head-low, with the center of gravity forward and the forehand bearing most of the weight. In Conventional Boarding, horses are often fed from elevated feeders, in an unnatural position that causes stress on the tendons and ligaments, as well as respiratory problems. In addition, any horses kept in an enclosed stall will constantly be in a head high posture, in an attempt to see outside the stall. In Natural Boarding, we feed our horses at ground level, as well as ride in as natural a posture as possible, with a relaxed neck.
6. Body weight
In Nature, body weight changes gradually through the seasons, with weight gain in summer, and weight loss in winter. Pregnant mares also gain weight slowly, although the birth of the foal does cause a sudden weight change! In Conventional Boarding, the weight changes suddenly with the addition of the rider--which may cause adverse effects in a horse stressed by unnatural living conditions. In Natural Boarding, we try to make the horse as healthy as possible to withstand this sudden, unnatural increase in weight.
7. Exposure of hooves to water
In Nature, horses' hooves are exposed daily to the water that they drink from. It can't be any other way--they must wade into a pool, river, or creek in order to drink. In Conventional Boarding, horses' hooves are usually not exposed to water daily, especially not immersed like in a drinking pool. In Natural Boarding, we provide daily exposure of hooves to water.
"It is not water that is harmful to the health of the hooves, but the lack of it."--A Lifetime of Soundness
8. Resting places
In Nature, horses rest in open spaces, for only short periods of time during the day and night. In Conventional Boarding, we often force the horse into an enclosed space, a cozy "cave" that is the opposite of what the horse needs to feel safe. Since horses do not have our day/night rhythm, a horse stalled overnight will face endless hours of boredom. In addition, stalled horses suffer greatly from the effects of ammonia, which damages both their lungs and their hooves. In Natural Boarding, we provide the horse with, at most, an open shelter for protection against weather.
9. Presence of grease or oil on hooves
In Nature, horses do not seek out oil sources to coat their hooves with, therefore they have no need for grease coatings on their hooves. In Conventional Boarding, hooves are often painted with all sorts of topicals, often in a vain attempt to strengthen, improve, or even moisturize the hoof. In Natural Boarding, we rely on the moisture of daily soaking--though in dry summers the application of natural hoof dressings to seal in that soaking moisture is useful.
10. Immediate and direct ground contact of hooves
In Nature, the horses have direct contact with the ground throughout their entire lives. In Conventional Boarding, hooves are often shod, which prevent this ground contact. In Natural Boarding, we return the horse to its natural barefoot state as much as possible.
We can refer to Dr. Strasser's A Lifetime of Soundness for details on the problems with conventional boarding, and solutions to create Natural Boarding conditions. There are no absolutes, thus it is important to understand why things are harmful, in order to make the necessary adjustments to improve living conditions.
1. Environmental temperature
In Nature, temperature fluctuates constantly, and the horse's body learns to adapt to these changes. The horse's own thermoregulatory system is fantastic, and does not need our interference.
In Conventional Boarding, we interfere with layers of blankets and sheets, usually color-coordinated and spiffy looking, but certainly not an improvement upon nature. In Natural Boarding, we leave the horse to experience the constantly changing natural climate, living outdoors with no horse clothing needed.
"To the proper stimulation of the thermoregulatory system, it is irrelevant on how many acres the horse experiences its natural climate; important is only that is is exposed to it."--A Lifetime of Soundness
So we use blankets only if necessary.
2. Movement
In Nature, the horse is unrestricted and in virtually continual motion. In Conventional Boarding, the horse is usually very restricted, often receiving inadequate movement, as well as unnatural movement during its brief exercise periods. In Natural Boarding, the horse is allowed constant natural movement.
3. Lifestyle
In Nature, horses live in the complex social system of the herd. In Conventional Boarding, some horses are forced to live in virtual solitary confinement, locked in box stalls with no access to other horses. In Natural Boarding, we provide horses with the company of other horses, to live in a herd if at all possible, but at least to have constant physical access to other horses.
4. Nutrition
In Nature, there is a huge variety of nutritional options with hundreds (or thousands) of plant species, and continuous uptake of food. In Conventional Boarding, we often restrict not only intake, but also variety. The horse may be limited to the consumption of only a couple of plant species, denied access to minerals that it craves, and be fed "meals" two to three times daily and left without food overnight--all of which are totally foreign to its natural eating patterns. In Natural Boarding, we try to provide continuous food uptake via free choice hay and/or pasture, and as much nutritional variety as we can manage. Free choice minerals are also available to the horse.
5. Body posture
In Nature, the horse spends most of the day in the grazing position, therefore head-low, with the center of gravity forward and the forehand bearing most of the weight. In Conventional Boarding, horses are often fed from elevated feeders, in an unnatural position that causes stress on the tendons and ligaments, as well as respiratory problems. In addition, any horses kept in an enclosed stall will constantly be in a head high posture, in an attempt to see outside the stall. In Natural Boarding, we feed our horses at ground level, as well as ride in as natural a posture as possible, with a relaxed neck.
6. Body weight
In Nature, body weight changes gradually through the seasons, with weight gain in summer, and weight loss in winter. Pregnant mares also gain weight slowly, although the birth of the foal does cause a sudden weight change! In Conventional Boarding, the weight changes suddenly with the addition of the rider--which may cause adverse effects in a horse stressed by unnatural living conditions. In Natural Boarding, we try to make the horse as healthy as possible to withstand this sudden, unnatural increase in weight.
7. Exposure of hooves to water
In Nature, horses' hooves are exposed daily to the water that they drink from. It can't be any other way--they must wade into a pool, river, or creek in order to drink. In Conventional Boarding, horses' hooves are usually not exposed to water daily, especially not immersed like in a drinking pool. In Natural Boarding, we provide daily exposure of hooves to water.
"It is not water that is harmful to the health of the hooves, but the lack of it."--A Lifetime of Soundness
8. Resting places
In Nature, horses rest in open spaces, for only short periods of time during the day and night. In Conventional Boarding, we often force the horse into an enclosed space, a cozy "cave" that is the opposite of what the horse needs to feel safe. Since horses do not have our day/night rhythm, a horse stalled overnight will face endless hours of boredom. In addition, stalled horses suffer greatly from the effects of ammonia, which damages both their lungs and their hooves. In Natural Boarding, we provide the horse with, at most, an open shelter for protection against weather.
9. Presence of grease or oil on hooves
In Nature, horses do not seek out oil sources to coat their hooves with, therefore they have no need for grease coatings on their hooves. In Conventional Boarding, hooves are often painted with all sorts of topicals, often in a vain attempt to strengthen, improve, or even moisturize the hoof. In Natural Boarding, we rely on the moisture of daily soaking--though in dry summers the application of natural hoof dressings to seal in that soaking moisture is useful.
10. Immediate and direct ground contact of hooves
In Nature, the horses have direct contact with the ground throughout their entire lives. In Conventional Boarding, hooves are often shod, which prevent this ground contact. In Natural Boarding, we return the horse to its natural barefoot state as much as possible.
