OCTOBER 2000 BACK ISSUE

Part of Horse Previews Magazine website. Posted on 10/2000; 2:00:00PM.

Board & Room in California

These are the good times for horse operations in California's silicon valley. There are basically three levels for the horse owner to board out his animal:

The Plebian -- $600 per month

Your basic feed (grain, feeding out supplements, and hay) and water trough; standard stall mucking; blanketing; daily Strongid C; and turn-out to paddock. No frills.

The Bourgeoisie -- $850 per month

Your frills include: horse cookies and electric waterer; all feces removed from paddock daily; flymask and leg wraps; temperature (anal) and pulse palpation taken daily; isolated paddock with high clover; daily grooming; pre-lesson tackup; tack cleaning after each ride; and mane pulling and trimming.

The Elitist -- $1100 per month

Your super specials include: fresh apples and pears, temperature controlled, pure spring water; vacuum out the stall daily; electric blanket and music piped into stall; veterinary insurance; hot walker and tread mill; in stall TV and internet connection with sensory perception devices; pre-lesson saddle seat warming; electronically secured tack storage; daily eye swab with luke warm water, tail and mane braiding and ribboning, and sheath cleaning where necessary.

When you compare our prices around here to the going rates in California's land of the pure green bucks, it kinda makes you wonder.

Bob Howdy, PhD