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Step 1
Visit local tack shops. Talk to people who own and work at the tack shop about the local barns. Get opinions about who's good at running a barn. Try to get objective opinions from people before you visit a barn. Look on the announcement boards in the tack shop. If barn owners have extra stalls they want to rent out, they usually leave contact information with pictures and phone numbers.
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Step 2
Visit local barns. Plan to visit at least four or five barns in your area. Make a list of what your horse will need. He may need pasture turnout every day or supplements in addition to grain. Decide how far you're willing to drive from home or work. Take photos of each farm. Compare them after you've visited. Each farm usually offers services the others don't, like bigger stalls or better pasture.
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Step 3
Check out the barn and pasture. Look at the pasture fencing and barn. See if it's well maintained or falling apart. Look at the stalls to see what size they are. Look for for an automatic watering system and black matting under the sawdust. You may want a facility with an indoor ring for the winter months. Check out the footing in the outdoor ring and indoor arena. Is it soft or hard? Do they drag the ring and water it every week? Take pictures to look back at later. You'll need a critical eye for this part.
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Step 4
Talk with barn owners and boarders Meet with the owner of each barn and ask about monthly board prices. Get full information in writing about what it includes. Ask about pasture board versus full board. Talk to a few boarders at each barn. See if they are happy with riding lessons and costs. Check out the horses for a health and wellness evaluation.
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Step 5
Look at the overall environment of each horse barn. It can be more than a place to board your horse if you want it to be. It can be a community of new friends and social opportunities. It's rare to find everything you're looking for in one place. Acres of pasture for your horse may be more important then a new barn. Finding a community of people who love horses may be more important then winning a bunch of ribbons. It may take a few moves to find the right fit of people, atmosphere and services, but it's worth it in the end.
