# How to choose a horse boarding barn: a tour checklist > Tour the barn in person and check turnout, feeding, stall cleaning, water, fly control, health rules, herd makeup, arena footing, trail access, communication and the contract before you sign. River Creek Stables in Church Hill offers free 45-minute tours where you can work through every point on this list yourself. Updated September 26, 2026 · By River Creek Stables · https://rivercreekstables.com/near/how-to-choose-a-horse-boarding-barn ## Quick facts - **Barn tours:** Free, about 45 minutes, booked online - **Board types:** Full board, pasture board and self-care board - **Health rules:** A current negative Coggins test; geldings and mares only — no stallions; no pregnant mares - **Riding:** 100×200 ft outdoor arena, round pen, miles of trails - **Barn hours:** Lessons by appointment, finishing by 8pm; barn visits by appointment - **Address:** 125 Goshen Valley Rd, Church Hill, TN 37642 ## 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 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 Lessons by appointment, finishing by 8pm; barn visits by appointment. ## 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. Current rates and terms are on the boarding page. ## 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 ## Bring this checklist on a free tour Book a free 45-minute barn tour and ask every question on the list while you walk the stalls, pastures, arena and trails. [Book a free barn tour](https://rivercreekstables.com/visit) ## Good to know ### What should I look for when touring a horse boarding barn? Check daily care (turnout, feeding, stall cleaning, water and fly control), health rules and herd makeup, arena footing, trail access, how the barn communicates, and the contract and deposit terms. Ask each barn the same questions so the answers compare. ### What should I ask about turnout and feeding? Ask how many hours horses are out, where, who feeds and how often. At River Creek, full board includes daily turnout and scheduled feedings, and pasture board includes 24/7 pasture access and twice-daily feedings. ### What health paperwork does a boarding barn require? Each barn sets its own rules, so ask for them in writing. River Creek's rules for every horse: a current negative Coggins test; geldings and mares only — no stallions; no pregnant mares; a signed liability waiver. ### Does a boarding barn need trails? Only if you want to ride out. If you do, trails that start at the barn save loading a trailer. River Creek has miles of trails from the barn, plus a 100×200 ft outdoor arena and a round pen. ### How do I compare boarding prices between barns? Compare what each monthly price includes, not just the number: feeding, turnout, stall cleaning and fly control. Current boarding rates are published on the boarding page, and a free barn tour is the best way to see what each option includes. ### What should a boarding agreement and deposit cover? The monthly rate, what it includes, the term, any deposit and the notice period, all in writing. Current rates and terms are on the boarding page. ### Can I tour River Creek Stables with this checklist? Yes. Tours are free, take about 45 minutes and can be booked online during barn hours: Lessons by appointment, finishing by 8pm; barn visits by appointment. Bring the list and ask anything on it. ### How far is River Creek Stables from Kingsport, Rogersville and Johnson City? About 15–20 minutes from Kingsport, about 25–30 minutes from Rogersville and about 40 minutes from Johnson City. [See boarding options](https://rivercreekstables.com/boarding) ## More nearby - [Horse boarding cost: full board vs pasture board](https://rivercreekstables.com/near/horse-boarding-cost-full-vs-pasture-board) - [Horse boarding near Kingsport, Tennessee](https://rivercreekstables.com/near/horse-boarding-near-kingsport-tn) - [Horse boarding near Rogersville and Surgoinsville, Tennessee](https://rivercreekstables.com/near/horse-boarding-near-rogersville-tn) - [Horse boarding for Johnson City, Bristol and Tri-Cities owners](https://rivercreekstables.com/near/horse-boarding-near-johnson-city-bristol) --- River Creek Stables · 125 Goshen Valley Rd, Church Hill, TN 37642 · (423) 742-0046 · Lessons by appointment, finishing by 8pm; barn visits by appointment