Gum Tree Stables LLC

 When comparing boarding rates one should keep the following in mind. Like many others we have had to increase our daily rate by $5 this represents a 25% increase which may seem large but in fact does not cover our increased operating expenses that we have experienced in the last year. For example; Feed has gone up by more then 40%, hay by more then 60%, straw 30%, fertilizer by over 100%! So it may appear that we are trying to increase our profit margin the numbers show that we are in fact making less then we did when we were charging $20 per day. Anyone that has or does board horses knows that there is not much profit left over when all of the expenses and labor are taken into consideration. Can a farm charge less then $20-25 per day? Yes, but as the saying goes you get what you pay for. Lesser quality feed, hay and qualified caretakers. By limiting the number of horses on our farm our pastures are not over grazed nor over populated. And every horse gets personal attention. Because of the popularity of the PA breeding program the seasonal mare population has increased dramatically in recent years. But, the problem with seasonal boarding is in the fact that the horses will only be on the books for 5 to 6 months. So compromises have to be made. That being the use of seasonal employees. Finding competent help is very difficult these days and anyone that has the highly specialized skills to work with Thoroughbreds will be hired in a heart beat and paid well. Anyone that is willing to take a seasonal job does not have the skills necessary to look after your horse. Qualified help is the number one reason we have not increased the mare population on our farm. With over 100 acres to work with we could easily double our numbers but choose to limit the number to 20, a number that we feel we can give the personal attention that our clients expect.