Boarding For Pets

You love riding. You spend all your days at the barn soaking up as much horse as you can. The only problem? You don’t have your own horse.

There may be any number of reasons why you haven’t become an official horse owner. Perhaps you don’t have the money right now for a horse’s purchase and upkeep. Or maybe you lack the facilities. Perhaps you love to ride but have a busy work schedule that makes horse ownership not the best option.

Well, relax. You don’t have to own a horse to enjoy riding. As a matter of fact, there are lots of great alternatives to horse ownership.

If money is the issue, there are lots of low-cost—even free—rides to be had. But be warned. What you lack in cash you’ll have to make up for in commitment and riding ability. Horse owners who don’t have the time to ride their horses are a dime a dozen. And they are looking for committed, capable riders that will give their horse a good work out without working him over. Your best bet is to make your availability known at shows, riding schools, and boarding facilities. Word of mouth is a great thing, so tell everyone you know you are looking to catch a ride. Pinning a flyer on a tack shop bulletin board is also apt to net you lots of calls. Be very realistic about your ability, and be sure that the horse’s owner has watched you and gotten a recommendation or two regarding your skills before you commit. Up-front honesty will .