Stillpoint Farm Boarding Stable

We are a relatively small family-run operation, 12 acres and about as many horses, with my husband Ed, my 27-year-old daughter Abby (who teaches dressage and general horsemanship here at the farm) and I sharing the chores. There are a few rules--we ask riders to wear helmets, to pick up after themselves in the aisle, to consider the feelings of the other horses if you bring carrots--the horses here expect you to share. In other words, we ask people to use their --okay, I'll say it-- horse sense. Beyond the the usual common sense, safety-based basic use-your-head fundamentals, there are no real rules beyond the Golden one of 'do unto others...'  For example, we go to bed on the early side so if one day you can't ride til 9 at night give us a call so we know who's out there and can shush the dogs with a clear conscience. Then try to be out of the barn by 10 because I like to walk around and do a night check once everybody's gone and I can't keep my eyes open much later than that. I also prefer (short) emails to phone calls, and phone calls to (short) notes left on the tack room door which I might not see for a day or two--unless it's the kind of note that won't MATTER if I'm walking around in a daze and don't notice it for a day or two. That said, I'm very easy to get hold of, I do check my emails, all of us have cell phones, and most of the time I do see the blinking light on the answering machine that means that someone's left a message.

One point about notes: the fewer the better, the more positive they are the more likely they will achieve the purpose for which they were intended, and I prefer ones phrased in the round-about, benefit-of-the-doubt approach to the stark command format. It's a small barn and it has been my experience that poorly phrased notes can generate unintended negative feelings. If there's a problem face-to-face is usually the best way to work things out. 

Second I want to emphasize to everyone that even though our costs are going up because of the increase in fuel prices we are still maintaining high standards of care for the horses while holding board fees down. Full board this year will cost $500/mo inclusive, an increase of only $15/mo. over last year's board fees. After experimenting with larger numbers, we've concluded that 10 to 12 horses is about all we can accommodate and still lead reasonably normal lives. Right now we can look out the windows of our house and see most of the farm, and contented horses in a lush green pasture make for a great view.

In terms of philosophy, we believe that following predictable routines help make horses feel secure. We grain the horses morning and evening, adjusting the times to the season--in the dead of winter they might come in as early as 3:00 while in the summer when it doesn't get dark until four hours later they might stay out til 7:30 or 8:00. As the seasons change we also adjust the amount and frequency of hay feedings, which can be as often as 4 times a days in winter while in the summer most of the horses here spend the day filling their bellies with grass in the pastures and there's usually still hay left in their stalls from the single feeding of hay from the night before when they're turned out in the morning. In the old days I used to say 'horses come first' but I've tempered that with an eye to safety--in the long run the horses are going to be better off if we humans are around, whole in body, mind and spirit, to take care of them.

For the winter season, we require a versatile, breathable, water-resistant blanket in good repair--medium weight is usually fine though you might need an additional heavy-weight blanket if your horse has just moved here from a more temperate climate or has been clipped. We like to have the option of leaving blankets on rather than having to switch to stable blankets at night, exception being when the temperature is fluctuating more than 20 degrees by night and by day in which case we will adjust the blankets accordingly. There will be additional charges for horses that require larger than normal amounts of hay (winter that's about 8 flakes of hay per day) or more than 4 generous quarts of grain per day.

We feed Triple Crown brand grains, and believe they are the best on the market:  1) Triple Crown Complete; 2) Triple Crown Senior; and 3) Triple Crown Lite. If you would prefer another grain and are willing to provide it we will put an extra feed can in the grain room for you. We don't charge for adding supplements but we do like to have them bagged for us if there are more than two. Boarders also have the option of paying an additional $15/mo. for daily wormer. You can read more about daily wormer on the Smartpak site (http://www.smartpakequine.com/ProductCompare.aspx?CATID=9 (which also has other informative articles you might be interested to read, such as 'preparing your horse for winter'). One other point I should probably put in bold but if you've read this far you'll read this too, that if you're going to drop your horses grain below what to me are minimal amounts (handfuls morning and night are fine for a Shetland but minimum for a 1200/lb thoroughbred is closer to a quart in the morning and a quart at night) I ask that you provide a vitamin supplement for your horse that contains selenium, since New England soil and hay is deficient in selenium. Changes in grain should also be monitored with a weight tape, a once-a-week notation on the calendar being an objective indicator of trends so that adjustments can be made in meeting established goals. I also reserve the right to ask that a horse be examined by a vet before implementing a feeding program in which a horse is to get what I consider abnormally large or small amounts of grain to rule out possible underlying conditions in the horse's health. 

If you'd prefer to use tube wormer you are certainly welcome to do so, but it's important to coordinate with the other boarders whose horses are pasturemates so the occasional horse with a  high worm counts doesn't reinfect the pasture. I stopped trying to organize worming days when I became converted to the virtues of daily wormer, so in terms of barn policy the only mandatory times to worm are in October after a hard frost with a tube wormer that kills bots (ivermectin) and again sometime in April (use one that takes care of tape worm).

Students who plan to take their horses home for winter break will be charged the reduced rate of $125 for the month of January. All other months are considered full-board months, even if the horse goes home for a week in the spring or leaves a week early in May. To hold a stall over the summer for the following year students pay one month's board for June, July & August ($500 this year). We also ask for reimbursements for rehab medical procedures should they be required, though not if it's medication to be mixed in with the grain. We can also arrange to have horses exercised or trained, fees to be negotiated on a case by case basis. We offer one hour lessons on Sunday and Monday mornings for $35/hr taught by my daughter Abby, who taught for years both here and at Apple Knoll Farm in Millis, Mass before an acting-school hiatus. We are happy to have her back with us as an instructor. She has a strong background in eventing and in dressage. Professional rides also available at the same rate as lesson fees.