Boarding question:

dray33 · Postby **dray33** » Tue Jun 28, 2011 5:02 am

What do you consider a fair monthly price to board a mare?
To board a foal of that mare?
Does the monthly price change if the mare is in foal vs. barren?
Thanks for the thoughts...

LB · Postby LB » Tue Jun 28, 2011 6:24 am

Whether or not what you pay is fair probably depends on the level of care, ie, are you getting good value for your money. Where we board we get: a great feeding program, hands-on care twice a day (or more if needed) by really good horsemen, small group turn-out in 50 acre fields, daily access to a top vet, and tremendous attention to detail. For that we pay $25 a day for a mare (no difference if she is in foal or barren.) $3 for a foal at the mare's side; after weaning the cost is also $25 per day.

Hold Your Peace · Postby **Hold Your Peace** » Tue Jun 28, 2011 7:52 am

LB wrote:Whether or not what you pay is fair probably depends on the level of care, ie, are you getting good value for your money. Where we board we get: a great feeding program, hands-on care twice a day (or more if needed) by really good horsemen, small group turn-out in 50 acre fields, daily access to a top vet, and tremendous attention to detail. For that we pay $25 a day for a mare (no difference if she is in foal or barren.) $3 for a foal at the mare's side; after weaning the cost is also $25 per day.

The only difference you'll see in the cost of an in foal mare versus an empty mare will be in your vet bills. As LB said the board cost is generally the same.

Those are good Kentucky rates LB quoted. Some in Kentucky will ask more, but if you shop around you should be able to find good Kentucky care for what LB quoted.

In regional markets the costs vary. I would say in Florida for example that good care goes for $17 - $20 mare board. Then $2 to $3 a day for a foal at the side. And once the foal is weaned you should end up paying for the weanling about what you pay for boarding the mare ($17 - $20 a day in this example).

zinn21 · Postby **zinn21** » Tue Jun 28, 2011 11:25 am

In Northern Ca. boarding a mare costs between $10- $20 a day. Foals at side will average $0-$5 a day and weanlings/yearlings back to $10-$20 a day...

Southern Ca is a bit higher on average..

Sysonby · Postby **Sysonby** » Tue Jun 28, 2011 11:41 am

I've paid $27 a day in Kentucky and $18 a day in California and I have been very happy with the care. While I am not suggesting that anyone just throw money at a farm, going with the cheapest possible board is often a false economy and the true cost could show up later in vet bills and general overall health.

karenkarenn · Postby **karenkarenn** » Tue Jun 28, 2011 12:45 pm

I have been extremely happy with the care at N. Cal at 10 a day.
A foal there just like Zinn said is just a couple bucks more.
Vet bills are going to be different depending on the mares needs and the foals needs.

Jean · Postby **Jean** » Wed Jun 29, 2011 4:35 am

Do you pay extra for foal halter breaking etc or is that included in board rates and how about teaching them to stand for farrier etc.

Sysonby · Postby **Sysonby** » Wed Jun 29, 2011 5:28 am

Jean wrote:Do you pay extra for foal halter breaking etc or is that included in board rates and how about teaching them to stand for farrier etc.

.

I've never paid extra for that. Sales prep, which involves more intensive training and conditioning. is quite a bit extra.