GOOD AND BAD

[stetson]

Hi everyone....we are new horse owners and are looking for a great place to board. We are looking for: covered arena and round pen, trails, full care and NICE NICE NICE people. We are looking in the Auburn area.

We are looking now at a place called Lake Tapps Equine...does anyone know anything about their stables?

Thanks.

[ecaitlynn]

Hi there, I board at a place called Lake Tapps Private Equine Facility -- probably the one you are talking about. I've been there since August. Overall, I would give it pretty high marks compared to the dozen or more boarding places I've looked at in the area, from Auburn down to Olympia.

My only beefs are:

(1) No bedding is used at all. There are mats, but it bothers me a lot that there is no bedding. The owner doesn't want to have to clean up bedding, so she just doesn't use it.

(2) Limited pasture turnout. They have great pastures, and only a small number of horses, and I love it that the horses are turned out in individual pastures that are GRASSY and good sized. The only issue I have is that there are many nice days when the horses don't go out of their stalls. That bothers me. Plus, horse owners cannot turn horses out into the pastures without permission -- there is a $10 fine.

(3) No consistency on feed times. It seems like whenever the family gets up and gets going, that's when the horses get fed. It can be as late as 10 a.m., which is TOO late as far as I am concerned. Honestly, I don't think the owners of the facility really are in it for the horses. It's just a JOB to them, and it shows.

I'm still conflicted as to whether I'll continue to board there. I love the facility -- it's generally clean and it is new (built in 2003). I like the convenient location. Also, my trainer comes to the facility to train my horse, which I like. But the problem areas are significant, too, I think.

Hope this is helpful! If you decide to board there, my horse is Dixon.

Beth Thompson

[Buena]

Beth, you haven't moved Dixon yet? I thought you were going to get him out of there ASAP?

[ecaitlynn]

I have not moved him because, frankly, I could not find a place in Pierce County South King County that I considered even CLOSE to being acceptable. I am SO disappointed with the poor equine facilities in this area. Unbelievable how badly maintained they are and how FEW of them even OFFER grass turnout. Most offer a pile of dirt for a few hours -- unacceptable. I will not move him until I'm sure I have found a place that at least meets the basic necessities. In the meantime, I'm able to visit him nearly every day. He's doing very well and is getting quite plump. His doctor checkup will be in a few weeks, so I'll talk with Dr. DeWard about his thoughts on boarding facilities.

Beth Thompson

[leahlady]

..and how EXPENSIVE they are, for such poor maintenance and care, I'm guessing!!

This is why I refuse to board... I only ever found ONE barn that was up to my every standard. (White Birch Farm in Marysville, it is absolutely fabulous, but not close at all to Pierce County!)

I will keep my eye out for you. I know first hand how frustrating it is. The facilities in N. King Co, Snohomish Co. are just as bad - I swear I looked at every single one, and the only acceptable ones were far out of my price range. Some day... I will have my own boarding facility where all the horses receive perfect care! Rescues, retirees, and boarders will all be welcome.... **sigh** someday!

[leahlady]

..this is what Lady's pasture looked like:



..And they stayed out all day, every day! With a perfectly clean barn to come into at night. I would still have Lady there if I could afford it!

[ecaitlynn]

Very nice. How much was it?

I've been appalled at how poor the facilities are. I expected to at least find SOME nice one. I remember the equine boarding facilities I visited when I lived in New York State and in New England and, oh my gosh, they were SO much nicer. I don't mind paying a good deal for a place, if it's nice. But the ones I have seen here are just sad. It's as if no one is doing any maintenance.

I seriously considered going to the Back Forte, even though it's very far away from my home, but I am convinced they must have a problem with mud there. But at least they have professionals caring for the horses. They feed and clean on a schedule, which I like. At private boarding facilities and "family" boarding facilities, you are totally at the mercy of the family. I HATE that feeling. Where I am, I don't think the owners are really that into the horses, and that worries me a lot. But at least I can go up there most days and make sure he is okay.

Boy, if someone really built a great boarding facility and did it right, they'd never have vacancies.

Beth Thompson

[drsgjunky]

White Birch Farm - Right?? I can afford that, easy - but not the drive (Marysville).

I can sympathize. We have very few good facilities in the area. They're all 25+ years old, run down and just as badly managed. Hardly any have good turn-out. It's worse in the south sound. I've been to them all and it's depressing.

My standards are simply to high. If I could find what I want, I'll pay the board.

[leahlady]

It was $425 when I was there, and now it is up to $495.

The website is www.whitebirchfarms.com . The place is as lovely as it looks, all the boarders are great, and the owner is fabulous. It stays that way because she is picky about who comes in, and she really cares about every horse there.

If only there were more places like that!

[stetson]

Beth...where we are in Auburn....it's one of the nicest barns equine facilities we have seen in about a 20 mile radius of Auburn....I'm sure you may of heard of it...it's called Feature Farm. www.featurefarm.com. It's about $550.00 a month for full care. The grounds are spotless. They do have a lot of grass pasture and get turned out everyday. They have wash machines and dryers are site to wash blanket's etc....top notch...trust me... Although the main horses there are dressage. Which that doesn't fit the bill for my horse...yeah a paint 'eh? There is a lot of money at the barn and some of the ladies...well yah just have to keep an open mind..at this point...I will give it a couple of weeks to see if I can bare it there any longer since we have only been there a week...and if doesn't work out...your barn will be considered...although with that $10.00 penalty of putting your horse in her pasture might be an issue...I for sure want my horse OUT...we would have to come to some type of an agreement on that...or it wouldn't work....but check out Feature....yah can't beat it...

[leahlady]

I figure I might as well post this facility, I just re-discovered it:

www.towerlanefarm.net/default.htm

it is FABULOUS - I looked at it before I moved to White Birch Farm - but I just couldn't bear the drive

[rodeo51]

If you all are looking for a good facility for your horses...you might check out Fish Creek Farms in Arlington.
The trails I ride go right by there and it looks like a nice place. .

[Buena]

Cascade Stables is also a decent option. I don't know how full they are, but their gravel paddocks for turnout are well done.

www.cascadestables.com/

[Buena]

Also, there is boarding available at the former Fox Ridge Farm where Duane Hebert trains out of:

www.dhhorsetraining.com/
www.dhhorsetraining.com/boarding.html

[ecaitlynn]

I checked this place out. Nice folks -- rundown facility.

I also checked out Cascade Farms. Too rundown for my taste.

I know, I'm picky.

Beth Thompson