Mossy Oak Stable

09/01/2024

New bridle wall for my girls

08/27/2024

Everyone happy and out for the night at Mossy Oaks 🤠

08/15/2024

Worked on putting up new walls in the tack room today. Not quit done but doesn't look too bad. Trial and error but it's getting done.

08/12/2024

Everyone out for the night 🌙

08/12/2024

I don't do too bad growing grass but will kill a plant 🤪

07/21/2024

The calm before the storm started again. Very bad lightening, blew up both my electric fence boxes.

07/13/2024

This puts a little insight into what kind of expenses go into boarding. Of course I don't train but just board part puts it into prospective for others. It isn't just the money expenses but the physical part of it that comes with it and the expense of the upkeep on barn, pastures etc.... The time spent and the additional expense to care for them. I never really thought about all this until I started boarding. It has gave me great insight into the boarding side of it and how to charge for the costs. It is a learning experience but I love the horse world.

Another view…

Over the last few weeks I’ve thought a lot about opening my barn doors back up this Fall for training and lesson board. Even though I haven’t had the best luck with boarding situations, I am all about helping as many people and horses as possible. I will have 2 or 3 empty stalls, so why not put them to good use, right?

Then, the last 4 or 5 days happened and it really put things into perspective for me. I decided to share this because it may help you, too, or even open some eyes…

We had family in town over the weekend and my son was scarce from the barn. Then I had an emergency and he stayed with my mom. He didn’t carry his chickens around, pick veggies in his garden, help feed horses or dig with his construction vehicles in the fresh shavings in the stalls. He was in the pool, playing with dogs, learning how to play board games and hanging out with his aunts.

It was weird. He had an absolute blast, my chores went a bit quicker, but I missed him playing in the barn.

Then it hit me, if I bring in client horses again, it’s going to take time away from BOTH of my sons…and my horses. So it would have to be financially worth it, right?

Let’s do some horse trainer math…

Remember this post from a few weeks ago? In my area (just south of Ocala), full board at a facility comparable to mine is in the $1,200-1,500 per month range. Because we have many of these expenses to keep in mind: https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=997110749081172&id=100063467683293

THEN we have to factor in training sessions or lessons. I charge $100 per hour for lessons. So if I do 20 to 25 sessions per week with your horse, technically that’s worth $2,000 to $2,500 per month. Add that to the board rates above of physical expenses and it could get as high as $4,000 per month. I don’t know many who can afford that. Therefore, trainers tend to cut down the value of their time, knowledge, experience, etc. significantly to accommodate the client.

I had been charging $1,950 per month for full board and at least 25 training sessions per month. Factor out the $1,500 for full board (personally, I provide 24/7 hay when not on grass) and that leaves $450 a month in training fees. That’s $18 a session! With grooming, tacking up, bathing, use of equipment AND the actual education and the session. Sure, a package type deal is understandable, but that’s less than a 1/5 of the trainer’s value per hour. How does that make sense? We subsidize and significantly cut ourselves short to fill a need/want/desire.

So…there’s the conundrum. Obviously, the client wants the best of the best for their horse and we want to give it to them, but how much can one person sacrifice to help others?

No wonder so many of us are burnt out…

Just something to ponder.

🌻 Cara

07/13/2024

Morning stroll with my little red head 🐎

07/03/2024

Pedicure time for the girls ❤️🐎

06/30/2024

Taking a little time to see the scenery

06/28/2024

Sassy is a happy girl, finally made it back to turn out after 45 days in her stall.

06/06/2024

Ready to tackle the day 🐎🫏

06/02/2024

Had a nice ride today, thanks for joining Alison Khalitov and sandra kimpel

06/01/2024

Beatrix, Bohdi and Tripp are settling in nicely at our little Mossy Oak Stable. Welcome Alison Khalitov to our humble little place.

05/22/2024

05/22/2024

Looking for anyone close to Astatula where I can get bulk stall shavings.

05/05/2024

Hung the barn doors for the tack and feed room today that I made. Thanks lyle and sandra for the help to hang these handmade doors 😊

05/04/2024

Have a spot available at Mossy Oak Stable. Nice trails to ride and a small quiet atmosphere. If this is what you are looking for send me a message.

05/03/2024

Spa day today for the girls. We have picture day tomorrow. They are so clean and beautiful 😍

04/25/2024

Working on weeding the pasture to drag and seed for my special fur babies🐎

04/23/2024

Breakfast time at Mossy Oak Stable

04/18/2024

04/12/2024

Beautiful day 🌞

04/08/2024

2nd wash pad finally poured

04/07/2024

My happy place, love my girls 💯%

04/01/2024

It's that time of year again. Busy working on pasture grass and outdoor projects with everything growing again 😁

04/01/2024

Enjoying some time on the grass 🐴

03/21/2024

🫶🌸

02/24/2024

Got the electric gate opener installed.