03/27/2026
Hello everyone!
Hopefully many of you saw that we are considering reopening in the KV area and are in the process of doing some market research before completely going ahead and are looking for feedback from you! This is going to be a bit long but bear with me!
If a facility were to open in the area what do you feel that we need from a boarding and event front for people to enjoy their horses more? This isnt a "cheaper board" type question unfortunately as the majority of the barns in the area are doing the absolute best they can without pricing horse ownership beyond the average persons abilities. Anything lower than what is currently available is just not sustainable. Horses are not a cheap endeavor or hobby and it is simply unfair to ask for all the ammenities and not have to pay for them. Knowing that most facilities in the area are at capacity and wait listing we are looking at more of a middle of the road option. This is a "what would entice you to participate more in the industry" both from a price and discipline type thing.
So, would a mid sized NEW facility be of interest to people? Heres what we are thinking:
14 stall facility all sizing 12x15 with 10 of those stalls having the dividing walls be able to swing so you could have full size rehab or foaling stalls if needed. So the stall would open up to 12x30 but generally speaking theyd be 12x15 unless someone came in needing that extra space. Yes it would be extra for the extra space if needed but most people dont require a 12x30 stall.
4 of the stalls having attatched run ins again, to be able to assist with rehabs if needed.
Hot/cold wash stalls
Heated bathroom
Heated tack room
Large Heated viewing room upstairs while still having a smaller viewing area in the tack room downstairs
80x200 indoor arena
100x200 outdoor arena
Turn out would be decent sized grass paddocks with shelters and hay always available as well.
Fencing would be wood post and boards
Halters never left on. Blanketing and fly masks on and off included
Grain included with several options available. Owner supplied supplements fed.
Hay ALWAYS available (unless under vet guidance). No limits. If theyll eat it and not waste it, they get it.
Price would be between 800-1000
Now, before you panic at that price hear me out.
Even at $1000 thats around $34 a day. Dog boarding costs more than that and you have to supply the food.
If you figure even if you spend an hour per horse a day at below minimum wage (lets say $15/day for labor). That leaves less than $20 to cover hay and grain and all other expenses
A bale of good quality hay goes from $5-10 a bale but lets say $5 and the average horse should be going through MINIMUM one small square a day.
Grain, anywhere from 30-50+ a bag. A 50lb bag would last we will say on average depending on the type of feed a week give or take. So lets say $30 a week x 4 weeks divided by 30 days youre looking at around $5 a day MINIMUM.
So we've got labor, hay and grain covered per day and are already at $25/day in expenses leaving $10 to be split between the mortgage (so your horse has a place to stay), the electricity (so you can see what youre doing and have running water), the tractor lease (to keep the driveway clear in winter, graded in summer, arenas and paddocks groomed, hay put out, paddocks bush hogged so theyre not over taken with weeds etc). Maintenance costs also have to come out of that $10 to include broken fence boards, gates, tractor maintence etc. Bringing in additional ammenties like jumps and other training equipment.
Keep in mind EVERY barn has these exact expenses indoor arena or not. The cost of hay, grain, supplies doesnt fluctuate based on what a persons property looks like. So basically if youre paying less than say $700 a month right now for safe, quality board, thank your barn owner as they are doing this strictly for the passion of the horse.
So. All that in mind, if the above mentioned situation were to become available, would you utilize it?
Now for part 2 of this question. If a facility like this came along that could host clinics and small shows for all disciplines what would it take for you to come out? What clinics or shows would be of interest to you and what price point would keep you coming back?
Clinics and shows can bring a bit more flexibility to be able to financially include basically everyone in our community. If we know what people are looking for and what will keep them coming back then we can look into providing those events. I would like to keep the costs down as low as possible on these as clinics and events are what bring the community together and I think thats just as important as bringing boarding opportunities.
The size of the arena would make it so we could offer anything from cow sorting/team penning clinics and practice events to dressage clinics, mock shows (where you run through a test and the clinician gives you feed back immediately and you try again), working equitation, jumping, reining, western pleasure, liberty clinics, first aid clinics etc. We would even be open to renting the arena on an hourly basis and even to people for dog sports. Aiming to keep things from $30-$100 for rentals and fun shows with some clinics costing more depending on who was coming out.
What are your thoughts? Would you like to see something like this come to our area? What would you like to see and be able to do? Lets brainstorm!
Please dont forget to like the page to be kept up to date on things! The more you interact the more the posts get seen!
