Board or Keep at Home?
Should I board my horse, and which type, or keep them at home?
Whether to board -- and which type -- or keep a horse at home depends on your land, time, budget, and how hands-on you want to be. Answer a few questions and we'll match you to the right setup, or browse the table below.
| Result | Best for |
|---|---|
| Full-Service Boarding | For minimal time commitment with professional daily care |
| Partial (Self-Care) Board | For hands-on owners wanting lower cost with some daily involvement |
| Pasture Board (Minimal Service) | For budget-conscious owners with a hardy, outdoor-living horse |
| Keep at Home | For owners with adequate land and time |
How this quiz works
The Board or Keep at Home? finder asks whether you have land suitable for a horse, how much daily time you can commit, what your budget priority is and whether your horse does well living outdoors with minimal individual attention. It scores the answers and points you to full-service board, partial board, pasture board or keeping the horse at home.
Why these questions
The choice is a trade between money and time. Full board costs the most and takes the least of your time, keeping a horse at home costs less in board but takes all of your time and needs fencing, shelter and water, and the options between split the work. Your horse's temperament and needs matter too, since not every horse suits a herd.
What the quiz cannot see
It cannot see local prices, a barn's care quality or your zoning. Visit barns at different times of day, get responsibilities in writing and check that zoning allows horses at home. The Cost of Owning a Horse calculator puts numbers on each option.
Before you decide
Visit more than one barn at different times of day, and ask what is included in the price, what the barn does if a horse is sick, how turnout works and who is responsible for a vet or farrier call. Put the division of duties in writing. If you plan to keep a horse at home, check zoning, fencing and shelter, and price a year of costs first.