How to choose a horse boarding barn: a tour checklist

Daily care: turnout, feeding, stalls, water and flies

Most of your horse's week is routine care, so start there. Ask every barn the same questions and write the answers down; vague answers are an answer too.

Here is each question, with how River Creek answers it. On self-care board, River Creek provides a private stall and use of the facilities, and the daily care is yours.

• Turnout: how many hours out, and where? River Creek: daily turnout on full board, 24/7 pasture access on pasture board.
• Feeding: who feeds, and how often? River Creek: scheduled feedings on full board, twice-daily feedings on pasture board.
• Stall cleaning: how often? River Creek: daily stall cleaning on full board.
• Water and shelter out in the field? River Creek: maintained water and a run-in shelter on pasture board.
• Fly control: what is used, and where? River Creek: automatic stall fly spray on full board.

Health rules and herd makeup

A barn's entry rules protect every horse on the property, including yours. Ask for them in writing, and ask whether visiting horses are held to the same standard as boarders.

River Creek's rules apply to every horse on the property, boarded or visiting. On a tour you can also meet the herd your horse would join.

• A current negative Coggins test
• Geldings and mares only — no stallions
• No pregnant mares
• A signed liability waiver

Riding: arena footing and trail access

Walk the arena and look at the footing yourself: is it level, is it kept up, and does it look usable after rain? Then ask where you can ride when you want more than laps, and whether you need a trailer to get there.

River Creek has a 100×200 ft outdoor arena and a round pen, and 12+ miles of creek-side, meadow and ridge trails start at the barn, including Goldenbank Loop, Hayfield Crossing, Lanternwood Ramble, Fox Hollow. There is trailer parking on site. Ask about riding times; published barn hours are Monday–Saturday 8am–9pm, Sunday 2pm–7pm.

Communication, contracts and deposits

Ask how the barn will reach you if your horse is off its feed, lame or hurt, and who you call when something worries you. Before move-in, get the monthly rate, what it includes, the term, any deposit and the notice period in writing.

River Creek can be reached by call or text at (423) 742-0046 or by email at ride@rivercreekstables.com; ask on the tour how care questions are handled. Founding places currently carry an introductory rate (full board for the first 3 months, pasture board for the first 3 months, self-care board for the first 3 months), and a $100 deposit to reserve holds a place.

Take the checklist on a tour

Visit two or three barns with the same list and compare the answers side by side. River Creek Stables is at 125 Goshen Valley Rd, Church Hill, TN 37642, and a free tour takes about 45 minutes.

• From Kingsport: about 15–20 minutes
• From Rogersville: about 25–30 minutes
• From Johnson City: about 40 minutes
• From Bristol: about 40–45 minutes