Equine enthusiasts unable to use their own facilities to house a horse should consult a well-thought-out checklist when looking to board the animal.

Dave Freeman, PhD, Oklahoma State University Cooperative Extension equine specialist, advises horse owners to think of the development and use of such a checklist as a sort of renter’s insurance of the four-legged variety, asking questions right up front that can help avoid problems down the line.

"It comes down to the details and an understanding of what will or will not be supplied or made available within the confines of what has to happen to manage a group of individually owned horses," he said.

In short, the more horse care matters for which a facility takes responsibility, the less an individual owner boarding his or her animal at the facility can expect to control specific details of the horse’s care