Instructions
Ask the owner or manager of your current boarding facility what type of feed your horse is currently receiving. If you're buying a new horse, ask the current owner what kind of feed the animal is getting. Rough board typically includes pasture and sometimes hay; you'll need to supply any additional grain. It's best to continue with the same type of feed; a sudden change may cause intestinal problems.
Visit tack shops and feed stores in the Peterborough, New Hampshire, area and look at their bulletin boards. These types of businesses often provide areas where boarding facilities, show grounds and related businesses can advertise free of charge. Look for suitable boarding facilities within your price range that include the terms "rough board" or "pasture board" in the ads. National feed suppliers Agway and Tractor Supply both have outlets in the Peterborough area.
Contact any tack shops within the Peterborough area and ask if they know of any rough-board facilities. The staff members at tack shops tend to be horse people, and they're often tuned in to the local horse community. Rough-board and pasture-board places come and go, so contacting others in the equine industry is a good way to get current information. Some of the tack shops in the Peterborough area include the Horse Shop, the Naked Horse and the Stone Pony.
Look for rough-board facilities in the Peterborough area. Some of the rough-board facilities in the region include Mead Brook Equestrian Center, Greener Pastures and Savoy Stables.
Call each of the rough-board facilities you've identified and ask about prices, facilities and terms. Some rough-board facilities provide access to amenities like riding trails and arenas, while others simply provide you with a pasture and a shelter your horse can share with others at the facility.
Examine each facility, walking the fence line and checking the condition of run-in sheds and other shelters. Contact the owner of the facility and make an appointment for a tour. Tour the facility with the owner, but also try to move around on your own to examine it more closely.
Ask the facility owner for a copy of the standard rough-board contract. It should spell out your responsibilities and those of the boarding facility's owner. In a rough-board situation, you're generally responsible for bringing feed to your horse, while the facility provides pasture space. The contract should specify who's responsible for feeding hay. Review the contract carefully; sign it if you think the facility is a good fit for you and your horse.
How to Rough Board a Horse in Peterborough, New Hampshire
If your Peterborough, New Hampshire, property lacks a barn and suitable facilities for a horse, you can still enjoy horse ownership by finding a quality boarding facility. When deciding on a boarding facility, you can choose between a full-service barn, which provides daily turnout and stall cleaning, or a rough-board situation, which provides access to pasture but little else. Rough-board facilities are much cheaper and, if you're willing to do some extra work, you can save yourself a lot of money.