There are many people that have experienced the joy of horses sometime in their life, whether it be as a child or an adult. While that joy is seldom forgotten, life situations do not always allow for a nice little ranch to support the dreamed-about ‘horse habit’. This leads us to good boarding facilities. There is a need for these businesses and can be a way of making your living. For a facility owner, you have a responsibility to your business and to barn seekers to expose your offerings to prospective boarders. Boarding facility owners Tami Barkley of T Bar T Stables and David Reznicek of D & L Boarding Stables, Inc. shared their experiences with us this month on getting the word out on their full-care stables and keeping customers happy.

Web Site
Both Barkley and Reznicek gave much credit to their Web site. Both Web sites are very informational. Viewing them as a potential customer, the sites were packed with information about the facility. After I read through each of the sites, I could not think of a question that was not covered in the site content.

Each site was packed with photos, which was important to me and allowed me to get a feel for the place. When you see the photos, it takes away the wondering what the barn looks like, what kind of riding area is there, how good of shape are the runs in, or are there nice grassy pastures.

“Our Web site is the largest contributing factor to the success of people finding us,” Barkley said. “We also put fliers out at the feed stores and occasionally advertise in the local horse publications, but the Web site gets us the most exposure.”

Prices are listed on both of the sites. The importance of putting prices on the site, along with making them very easy to find, are imperative to the visitor experience. By posting prices, you take away affordability questions. The visitor will know right away that they can or cannot afford to proceed with the inquiry.

“It is very important to put prices on the site,” Reznicek said. “Everything we offer is on the site. We made sure to cover all the things that are included in boarding here.”

The importance in the Web site is content. Good design is not to be dismissed, but make sure it performs its primary purpose. If you are computer and Web savvy, you may want to take the project on yourself. If not, there are plenty of Web site companies available, such as RanchForeman, Ltd. (link to our ad page).

Other Advertising
Advertising with trade publications and periodicals is expensive. Consider the avenues that would best reach your target audience, while you also consider circulation. Local level trade journals are more effective than those on the national level.

Personal contact and direct mail pieces are lower-cost forms of advertising to consider. Let people know about you. Send letters and business cards to real estate agents in the area. They may sell someone a house in town that is new to the area and also a horse owner looking for a nice place to board their horse. Visit with the managers of the local feed stores and leave a flier or business card for them to reference when people come in looking for a facility.

Pricing Yourself
Pricing should be based on what you provide and your location. Of course you will need to put together a budget and consider what it will cost to run the place if there is a horse in every stall. Divide that cost by number of stalls, allow for a realistic profit and that should give you a reasonable number for a boarder to have to pay.

“I take into consideration the cost of hay and grain, shavings, workers, insurance, rent, property taxes, electricity, etc., then divide it by horses,” Barkley said. “There is not an exact science. You have to make adjustments here and there. One horse may not need their bedding replenished as often, while another requires it more than normal. In the end, it usually evens out.”

Consider what your local competition charges also when deciding on your prices.

“A lot of research went into our pricing,” Reznicek said. “ I got an average with what other facilities around the area charged and compared that with what we had to offer.”

Keeping Your Clients Happy
When you keep your boarders satisfied, business will be good. The most influential form of advertising is word of mouth, and that accounts for both good advertising and bad advertising. When you work hard to maintain harmony at the barn and your boarders enjoy their experience each time they go out to see their horse, they tell their friends – hopefully horse-owning friends.

Barkley said that the one thing she hears about from her customers when they speak of their previous boarding facility is the facility’s unwillingness to accommodate their wishes.

“We listen to our boarders,” Barkley said. “It is the little things that are important to them. If they want to have extra things provided for them, like extra shavings in their stall, it’s not a problem. They will be charged extra for that, but if it’s what they want, there is no reason not to accommodate them.”

Reznicek was in agreement with the idea, and said, “We always try to accommodate the needs of the customer. We work hard to keep the place nice. It is very clean and we pay attention to the things that are important to them, like always feeding their horses on time.”

Get them – Keep them
A nice boarding facility that takes good care of your horse while keeping you happy is a treasure to find, so do what it takes to get customers and keep them. We are all in this industry for a reason – because we love our horses, whether they be our business or our pleasure, or, for many of us, both.

	About the Contributor Tami Barkley, Leander, Texas, runs T Bar T Stables, a western full-service boarding facility in the Austin area. For additional information on T Bar T Stables, visit www.tbartstables.com or call (512) 259-3009.
	About the Contributor David Reznicek, Cat Spring, Texas, runs D & L Boarding Stables, Inc., a boarding facility in the Houston area. For additional information on D & L Boarding Stables, Inc., visit www.dlboardingstables.com or call (979) 865-0011.

Concentration:
Cutting
Reining
Working Cow Horse

Bloodlines:
Peptoboonsmal
Gallo Del Cielo
Freckles Playboy
Doc O Lena
Peppy San Badger
Smart Little Lena
Docs Hickory
Rey Jay

Feature Stallions:
Playboy Boonsmal
Roosters Wrangler

Location: Fredericksburg, TX

RanchForeman Member Since: 2004

OK. You have listened long enough to that small voice in your head. Bottom Line: It is time to start looking for your dream property where the family and special equine pet or pets can live together happily. From locating the right broker to assist in the quest for the right property to determining your desired location, necessary property features and comfortable price range, you have plenty of research and work to accomplish.

Find a Horse Property Specialist
A very wise initial move is to locate an agent who specializes in farm, ranch and horse properties. Literally, there are thousands of real estate agents but most do not possess a background with horses and do not know what is important to these buyers. This can result in many frustrating hours and a waste of time for both agent and buyers. Align yourself with a real horse person and clearly communicate your wishes and parameters. They can be immensely helpful in suggesting certain areas, in working up comparative market analyses and pointing out various positive features or negative aspects of properties.

Do your research
Listen to the agent. It really helps to be realistic about pricing and location. Don’t be expecting to locate a bargain 30 acre farm within 30 minutes of downtown….at least not in a major metro area. Before you actually begin the search in earnest, it also helps to drive different areas and familiarize yourself with those locations and their positive and negative aspects. Spend some time in local feed stores and farm/ranch supply outlets, and talk with the locals. You can get a feel for an area from the residents.

Study up on your geography and geology and know what you want in the way of climate, soil, and terrain. And, of course water supply is of prime importance. If school needs are important, you will want to check the academics and extra curricular activities such as horse programs and 4-H events. There are state web sites available for this kind of research.

Things to look for
And of course, when you actually are ready to venture out and start to see available properties, pay particular attention to the overall property. Be aware of the grasses and any noxious plants. Drainage is an important aspect also, and do inquire about flooding and flood plain presence. Utilities, water supply, and soil composition are all important.

Pay attention to fencing. If you have a major aversion to barbed wire, factor in the cost of replacement. And then there is the barn! Be sure to see that it has the features you want such as spacious stalls, turnouts, feed/tack room, automatic waterings, insect spray system, good ventilation and equipment storage area. Arenas, round pens, and hot walkers are a bonus. If any or all of your desired features are missing, you will need to again factor in the price of adding these. And by all means, be aware of any safety issues, sick animals, and sanitary conditions. Be aware also that is not unusual to find a good property that is very suitable for livestock and horses, but it may not have a barn at all. However, if the property price is right, don’t be afraid of building your own barn and building it exactly like you want it. There are plenty of good contractors that can quickly provide the barn of your dreams.

Visit with the neighbors also! You will want to feel very comfortable about living near those folks. Just because they may have livestock and horses, it does not guarantee that you will all be one big happy family. You won’t want to wake up one morning and find the neighbor’s beloved pit bull happily chasing your mares and foals around your pasture.

Finding the Right Agent
There isn’t any registry or directory of agents who specialize in horse properties, but it should not be too difficult to locate one. Try some of these suggestions:

• The local horse publications are a great resource. Examples are The Horse Gazette and Southwest Horse Trader.
• The Internet is a wonderful tool. Just plug in key words related to horses or horse properties in specific areas such as San Antonio, Austin or Texas in general.
• Word of mouth is always a great resource. It is great to get a recommendation from a trusted friend.

One Final Note
Once you have found that dream property and have made an acceptable offer, your lender will require an appraisal to support the loan amount. Again, depend on your agent to suggest an appraiser who is familiar with rural and horse properties. If the appraiser is not familiar with this type of property, he will not produce a realistic appraisal because he won’t understand the value of a great barn, or a round pen, or an arena. Your agent is a valuable resource in helping you through the financing aspects also, and will continue to be essential when you need to locate farriers, feed stores, hay suppliers, and vets once you have moved into that dream farm.

About the author: Lee Allen is a farm, ranch, and horse property specialist with Realty Executives in San Antonio, Texas, and works with properties and buyers all over much of Texas. She is well known in the horse show world and especially in the cutting horse industry with many championship trophies and buckles as credit to her experience. For more information on horse properties or on Lee, visit www.horsepropertiesbylee.com or call (210) 494-3239

Spurs are a necessity when you are on certain horses. While there is a purpose for the spur, there is no doubt pride that goes into the pair you wear. With all the books on spurs and the collections kept sacredly locked up, there is something beyond useful about a nice pair of spurs. Horsemen and office cowboys alike appreciate the workmanship and pride that goes into creating a handmade set, so let’s find out how to get a pair.

I had the opportunity to visit with R.F. Ford, spur maker from the San Angelo, Texas, area. Formerly a horseshoer for 21 years, he starting making spurs for friends in 1984. Since then, he has made over 2000 pair of spurs. With his knowledge of cowboys and the horse industry, combined with his metal-working expertise, Ford shared with me his knowledge he has gained from over 20 years of fitting spurs to cowboys.

What kind of spurs should you order?
For starters, decide what you will be using the spurs for. Will these be using spurs or decoration? Are you a horseman? What events do you compete in?

“If you are a calf roper, you want something light so you can jump off and run,” Ford said. “If you will be on a horse all day, you want something heavier that will stay down on the boot.”

The height of the rider needs to be taken into account when ordering the spurs. The length of the legs of the person will determine where the spur will hit a horse.

“A tall person needs a longer shank that comes out and goes up to make good contact with the horse,” Ford said, “where a short person needs a shorter shank that will come out and go down.”

The type of riding should determine your rowel size. The bigger the rowel, the easier it is on a horse, which may seem a little backwards. The large size allows for more surface area which is milder.

“I like to compare it to being poked with a broomstick verses being poked with a pencil,” Ford illustrated. “I don't want to make a spur that would hurt a horse.”

What about decoration?
Yes, the fun part. Here is where creativity gets to kick in. Usually decoration is added with silver or gold work. A lot of individuals prefer to put their name or brands on their spurs. Others may desire an image of their interests.

“Personalizing your spurs makes them yours forever. If you're in public a lot, it is good to have your name on them for ownership purposes,” Ford said. “And names and brands are easily passed down through generations. I have people all the time tell me who is going to get their spurs.”

    

Along with the silver and gold additions, stones can also be set to add decoration. In the photo below, rubies and emeralds have been added to increase the pizazz of these peacock spurs.

How long should it taken to get them?
Average turnaround time is about six months. Depending on the maker, you could wait anywhere from a month to a couple years. Your estimated arrival date should be discussed when ordering the pieces.

What about cost?
For a single-mounted pair of spurs (meaning silver on the shank and with name or initials on the bars), Ford's prices start at $350. He has made spurs that cost upwards of $1500, due to the extravagant decoration of the pieces.

Advise from the maker:
If you are going to make the investment for custom spurs, Ford recommends going with a well-known maker.

“It may cost a little bit more, but it is worth it,” he said. “Spurs made by known makers are more valuable as collectors items.”

Ford also advised looking into the quality of steel the maker uses.

“Make sure the spurs are made out of steel and not iron,” Ford explained. “Knives are made of steel and is almost impossible to bend. Horseshoes are made of iron and easily bent with just your hands.”

Now it is up to you.
After you do some research and have made your decision, enjoy the collector's items you are acquiring. The sky is once again your limit. Add a little pride to that boot you're throwing over that horse. And remember, you don't necessarily have to be a horseman to appreciate a nice pair of spurs.

About the Contributor: R.F. Ford is a spur maker from Water Valley, Texas. He began making spurs in the early 1980s and has keeping cowboys in spurs ever since. Ford got his start when he set up a booth at the NCHA Cutting Futurity in Fort Worth, and hasn't been idle since. For more information on R.F. Ford Spurs, call (325) 484-2433 or visit www.fordspurs.com.

If you think of the Texas Hill Country, you will likely think of rolling hills with Live Oak trees and lush green pastures. If you put a herd of nice Quarter Horses in the imagery, then you can picture the Snaffle Bit Ranch, headquarters of Falcon Seaboard Ranches. Located in Fredericksburg, Texas, the Snaffle Bit Ranch has been running since 1996. The ranch is owned by Texas’ Lieutenant Governor, David Dewhurst, a politician and an aspiring cutter.

The ranch breeds, raises and trains performance Quarter Horses for show in cutting, reining and working cow horse events. The horse operation is run by James Davison, a lifetime horseman. James has been with the ranch since 2000.

The Snaffle Bit Ranch owns two headline stallions, Playboy Boonsmal and Roosters Wrangler.

Playboy Boonsmal (Peptoboonsmal x Playboys Stormy) is a 1999 blue roan stallion with NCHA lifetime earnings of over $146,000. He currently holds third place in the 2006 open division standings with winnings of over $45,000. The stallion was purchased as a yearling for a stud prospect. Davison was attracted to him because of his conformation and breeding.

“I liked him because he has a low percentage of Doc Bar, and will outcross well on these Doc Bar mares,” Davison said. “Playboy Boonsmal is a very athletic, durable horse with good bone and good feet, and a lot of cow sense. I think he has a good future as a stud.”

Roosters Wrangler (Gallo Del Cielo x Hustlers Sugar) is a 1996 brown stallion with NRHA lifetime earning of over $125,000, making him an NRHA All-Time Leading Money Earner. Rooster was the 1999 NRHA Open Futurity and 2000 NRHA Open Derby Reserve Champion. He was purchased as a four-year-old when the ranch was showing mainly reiners and cow horses. With his lineage, Davison thought he would raise a versatile horse.

“The way Roosters Wrangler is bred makes it possible to raise horses by him that can be cutters, reiners, working cow horses and ropers,” Davison said. “He has always be very sound throughout his career and his babies are making nice performance horses.”

The ranch runs around 10 head of broodmares. All mares are proven producers and money earners. The bloodlines consist of Peptoboonsmal, Freckles Playboy, Doc O Lena, Peppy San Badger, Smart Little Lena, Docs Hickory, and Rey Jay, to name a few. Mares are artificially inseminated to both outside stallions and ranch stallions as well. Embryo transfer is a practice that the ranch has been performing successfully for several years.

“We try to pull two embryos on a mare each year,” Davison said. “I am pleased with our embryo transfer program. We have been getting a success rate of over 75%.”

The focus for the Snaffle Bit Ranch is to keep quality, not quantity.

“We continue to be selective on broodmares,” Davison said. “We want to raise very high quality horses that start out high quality and stay that way throughout their lives.”

Along with the impressive breeding program, there are several horses currently showing in NCHA events. Smart Like Reba (Smart Little Lena x Dual Tari), a 2000 chestnut mare that is leading the standings in the $10,000 Novice Horse, Smart Cuttin Louie (Smart Little Lena x Lil Cuttin Lou), a 1999 sorrel stallion currently competing in the novice classes, Smart Freckled Girl (Smart Little Lena x Leo Freckled Girl) a 2002 sorrel mare beginning her career in aged events and novice classes, and CDs Masterpiece (CD Olena x Play A Masterpiece) a 1999 sorrel mare currently 15th in the open division of the NCHA year-end standings. Horses are being shown by Rusty Carroll, Russ Carol and James Davison.

Falcon Seaboard Ranches maintains several locations. The Snaffle Bit Ranch is the headquarters and horse division of Falcon Seaboard Ranches. Three other locations (Colorado Division, Nebraska Division, and the Texas Division) are strictly cattle producing ranches where high quality, registered Angus cattle are raised.