Metal Barns

If you love horses and have an extra stall or two (or more!) in your horse barn, boarding horses could be the perfect business for you! In addition to being an extra revenue stream, boarding horses can be a fun and fulfilling way to get the most use out of your barn.

Pick Your Boarding Style

As you think about opening up your barn to boarders, there are a few service styles to consider.

The most basic is self-care boarding, where you provide simple stall rental and your renters are completely responsible for caring for their horses, from feeding to mucking out the stall.

The second option is to provide full-service boarding. This is a great choice for horse lovers who want to not only bring in a little extra income, but who know they will enjoy taking over the day-to-day care for more horses. This full-service option will allow you to charge significantly more for renting stalls - and if you already have horses, taking responsibility for a few more won’t require a big time investment. If you go for full-board, you’ll want to pay extra attention to the contract. For example, if the horse requires special feed or the vet, will it add an extra fee to the rent? Your goal is to think of every added expense that might pop up - even rarely - and make it a part of the contract.

The third option is more custom, and lies somewhere between the two. Maybe your renter wants to self-care for their horse on the weekends but needs full-boarding throughout the week. Perhaps you’d like to be able to use boarded horses for giving riding lessons. As long as you work out the details in advance and both parties agree to all costs and circumstances in the contract, you can develop a solution that fits both you and your renter.

Plan for Expenses

Before finalizing your service and fees, you’ll need to make sure you’ve calculated all the expenses that you’ll incur from bringing on more horses. Besides the obvious things like feed, manure removal, and possible vet bills, remember to include hidden expenses like increased electricity and water costs, more frequent maintenance to your barn and property, and the need for insurance.

Seek Out Expert Opinions

We suggest talking to experts to make sure you won’t run into expenses you never saw coming. Experienced boarders in your area can give you valuable tips about what to expect as a renter, how to market and find renters, as well as what you should include in your contract. In addition, reach out to professional experts. Your tax attorney or accountant can help you set up your business as an independent corporation, or advise if you even need to. They can also help you be prepared for tax time. A trusted insurance agent can help you find the right amount of coverage to protect your business and home.  

Draw Up the Contract

You might have a good idea about what to include in your contract, but we recommend having it drawn up by a professional, just to be safe. Our best advice: Be specific. From services to extra fees to equipment upkeep and damages, spell out the details explicitly so neither you or the renter are caught off guard.

Find the Right Renters

This may be the issue that gives you the most pause about renting out stalls in your barn. Boarding horses is certain to be fun and rewarding if your renters follow the rules and always pay their rent. A bad renter, on the other hand, can add stress to your life and be a financial burden. So what can you do to make sure you end up with responsible renters? Check references.

Ask applicants to include all places they have previously rented from, their vet, and any farriers or instructors. Check would-be renters’ social media accounts for clues into their personalities and level of responsibility. And don’t forget to ask detailed questions about the horse. Things like fears, chewing wood, its tendency to escape, and health history can give you a good view of whether you want to board any particular horse.

Think of the Future

One of the best parts of owning a VersaTube barn is your ability to expand and modify as you go. As you embark on your adventure as a boarder, you might find you’d like to take on more horses, branch out into training, or start giving riding lessons.

With those changes might come the need for a larger space, and with VersaTube, changes to your barn are easy! You can expand your barn to accommodate more animals, add on a lean-to, or add a hay loft. Your imagination is pretty much the limit and we love helping our customers make their VersaTube structure perfect for their needs. Should the time come, even years after building your barn, we’d love to help you with a custom design or expansion. Reach out to us at any time to discuss your ideas!