Equestrian Center
Pine Valley Phone (719) 333-4607, DSN 333-4607
Emergency Weather Procedures at the Equestrian Center

With the recent snow storm, I would like to answer some of the questions that have been asked.

WINTER STORM PROCEDURES---The Equestrian Center Staff is Emergency Essential Personnel which means they will have access in all circumstances and all situations.  When we have advanced weather warning, preparations are made that include hay being placed in the barns in the event that vehicles cannot navigate the roads.  In addition to the staff spending the night as necessary, several capable volunteers live on base or near by with operator’s licenses for the big loader and tractors.  It is unlikely that stalls will be able to be cleaned in severe conditions, however ALL horses are fed hay and water is provided.  When the base is closed, having a horse does not guarantee you access to the facility.  The task of doing chores is difficult enough with out having to pull some well meaning boarder out of the snow drift that wanted to check on Pumpkin or Dolly.

HAY---With the critical hay shortage in a several state area, staff will be haying indoors.  This prevents the hay getting wet, muddy or blowing back to Kansas.  Staff will observe each horse at each feeding.  If the horse is cleaning up all hay, a little extra will be added.  If the horse is wasting/leaving hay, staff will cut back accordingly. 

The Equestrian Center Policy for the two services offered is:

FULL CARE----Staff provides grain and hay twice daily; maintains the water and cleans daily; adds bedding to the stall/run as needed.  Fee $350 plus $25 hay surcharge.

SELF CARE---Staff provides hay twice daily.  Fee $225 plus $25 hay surcharge

The purpose of the self care program is to allow more patron/family participation in the daily care of their horse at a reduced rate.  The good hearted staff that we are blessed with came to me years ago and offered to assist self care patrons by checking water and feeding grain if it is provided and prepared by the patrons.  With 60 plus horses stalled on self care, this equates to three to five hours per day in additional abor.  If a patron is on self care, that means they are responsible for their horse on a daily basis.  The staff will continue to accommodate the self care patrons by topping off water, breaking ice, and checking on the horses’ well-being.  When self care patrons request temporary full care (illness, vacation or holidays) they should be sure to properly clean their stall/run before having staff take over.  Frequently, self care patrons will neglect cleaning a stall for days before going on vacation.  This creates a burden; I have witnessed staff taking 3 &1/2 wheel barrows out of one stall. 

With continued effort and cooperation between staff and patrons, a Partial Care Service extra fee can be avoided. 

DE-ICERS---For the long time patrons that remember getting hammered for having water tank/bucket de-icers and heaters due to fire hazard, de-icers will now be permitted as long as they do not exceed 500 WATTS OF POWER!!!!  There are several brands available at Big R and on the internet.  Most feed supply stores including Colorado Agri-Feed provide de-icers that are thermostatically controlled.  All are labeled with the amount of wattage required for operation.  500 watts will keep water thawed.  With the safer designed de-icer units and the more fire proof barns the concern now is blown electrical fuses.  Unfortunately, the amount of electrical power to the barns is not unlimited.

STABLE BEDDING---Not only are the standard shavings used for stall bedding going up in price with the cost of production and fuel for delivery, so is the pellet pine bedding that we use.  Nationally there is an increased demand for pellet fuel for wood burning stoves which is manufactured from the same wood byproduct used for shavings and other animal bedding.  By purchasing a semi-truck load of stable bedding direct from the factory in Arizona, we are able to keep the price per bag down. .

DOGS MUST BE LEASHED!!---A non-compliant patron in the community corral recently avoided a personal liability law suit when her unleashed dog spooked a rider’s horse.

 

To schedule an event or get more information, call (719) 333-4607.

The appearance of product brand names and/or company names on this web page does not constitute endorsement by the U.S. government, Department of Defense or the Department of the Air Force.