Feeding Instructions for Boarders

The moment you hand over feeding responsibility to someone else is the moment clear communication becomes critical. You can't be there watching every meal, so the instructions you provide have to be specific enough that anyone following them will feed your horse exactly the way you want them to. This sounds simple until you realize how many ways people interpret vague feeding instructions and how many feeding problems happen because the horse was fed something different than the owner intended.

Good feeding instructions prevent misunderstanding and mistakes. They also build a relationship with whoever is feeding your horse because you're clearly communicating that their work matters and you have specific needs. A boarder who knows exactly what to feed and how much is a boarder who's less likely to make changes on their own or feel like they're guessing about what your horse needs. They have clear guidance and they can execute it.

Most boarding situations involve either the facility providing all feed or the owner providing feed that staff serves. Either way, clear instructions matter enormously. If the facility is providing feed, you need to specify exactly what your horse gets, brand names, amounts, and frequency. If you're providing feed, you need to label containers clearly and include detailed feeding instructions. The owner's responsibility is clarity; the staff's responsibility is following those instructions exactly.

Feeding problems at boarding facilities often trace back to insufficient instructions or confusion about what the owner actually wanted. A horse gets fed something different than usual and develops digestive upset. A horse gets more or less grain than the owner intended because the staff member didn't have clear amounts. A horse gets a supplement left out because nobody realized it was supposed to be included daily. These problems are preventable with clear, detailed, written instructions that leave no room for interpretation.

This guide walks you through exactly what information to include in feeding instructions, how to format them so staff can actually follow them, and how to verify that your horse is being fed the way you intended. You'll learn what details matter most and what you can safely leave flexible. Most importantly, you'll understand that clear communication isn't annoying—it's how you ensure your horse gets the nutrition they need even when you're not there managing it.

Your feeding instructions need to specify every single thing your horse eats. Start with hay. Specify the type—timothy, mixed, alfalfa, whatever your horse eats. Specify the amount. If your horse gets a certain weight of hay, write that weight. If they get a number of flakes, specify that and note approximately how much weight that represents if you know it. If they get pasture access, specify how many hours or what access pattern they have. The boarding staff needs to know exactly what forage your horse should have.

Specify grain or concentrate completely. Include the brand name. Don't just say "sweet feed"—say "Purina ProForce, sweet feed, red bag, 5 pounds twice daily." Clarity about the exact product matters because different brands or formulations can affect your horse. Include the exact amount per feeding, frequency of feeding, and whether it should be divided into meals or given all at once. If your horse should only get grain when they're worked, specify that clearly.

Include all supplements and medications. List everything by name, exactly what form it comes in, how much per feeding or per day, and which meals or times it goes with. If your horse gets a vitamin supplement, mineral supplement, joint supplement, probiotics, electrolytes, or anything else, write it all down with specific amounts and timing. Don't assume the staff will know to include something because it seems obvious. Write down everything that goes in your horse's mouth.

Specify treats. If your horse gets carrots, apples, or other treats, write that down with amounts and any restrictions. If they don't get treats, say so explicitly. If they get treats only from certain people or in certain situations, clarify that. Many feeding problems at boarding facilities come from well-meaning staff giving treats that shouldn't be given or that go outside the owner's control.

Include dietary restrictions. If your horse shouldn't have certain ingredients—molasses, corn, specific minerals—write that down explicitly. If your horse has metabolic issues that restrict feeding, document that. If your horse shouldn't have access to certain types of hay or feed, that needs to be crystal clear. The more specific you are about what your horse cannot eat, the less likely accidents happen.

Documentation should explain water access and quality. Does your horse have constant water access in their stall, or is water offered at certain times? Should they have water before or after eating? Are there any concerns about their water intake that the staff should monitor? If your horse is picky about water, note any preferences about temperature or container type that might help them drink more.

Write feeding instructions in a clear, organized format that anyone can follow. Use a simple numbered list or checklist format. Create separate instructions for morning feeding, midday feeding if applicable, and evening feeding. For each meal, list every item that goes in, the exact amount, and any special instructions. Make it so someone could follow these instructions their first day without asking questions.

Use a template or standardized format. If you're at a facility, ask what format they prefer for feeding instructions. If they don't have a standard, create one yourself. Something like: Morning Feeding—8:00 AM: (1) Timothy hay, 2 flakes / (2) Purina ProForce grain, 5 pounds / (3) Joint supplement (container with blue lid), 2 scoops mixed with grain. Keep the format simple and consistent throughout.

Specify exact quantities without ambiguity. Don't say "a few flakes of hay"—say "two flakes, approximately 15 pounds." Don't say "some grain"—say "5 pounds measured in the red scoop." Don't say "add the supplement"—say "add the supplement from the container labeled with this horse's name, 2 scoops in the morning grain." Specificity prevents mistakes.

Label everything. Every container of grain, supplement, or special feed should have a label with your horse's name, what the product is, how much to feed, and when to feed it. Clear labeling means the right person feeds the right item to your horse even in a busy facility where multiple horses are being fed. Unlabeled containers sitting around are asking for mistakes.

Include a photo. Take a photo of all your horse's containers arranged with labels visible, or a photo of each feeding with all items included. Having a visual reference means staff can see exactly what feeding should look like and catch missing items. A picture is worth a thousand words when someone's trying to figure out if they've prepared the correct meal.

Leave flexibility where appropriate but specify everything else. If the boarding facility has a standard feeding time, you might not need to specify exact times. But if your horse needs to be fed at a particular time for medical or behavioral reasons, make that crystal clear. If your horse does fine being fed grain and hay together or separately, specify your preference. If it doesn't matter, say so.

Easy keepers often seem straightforward to write instructions for—they do fine on standard feeding. But easy keepers are exactly where weight management matters in instructions. Specify an amount and say clearly that this amount should be maintained, not adjusted upward if the horse seems hungry. Some staff tend to add extra grain thinking they're helping; clear instructions prevent that. If your easy keeper is prone to weight gain, spell out that weight management is important and they shouldn't receive additional treats or adjustments.

Hard keepers need detailed instructions about their diet because maintaining them requires precision. Specify all ingredients, amounts, supplements, and any special handling. If your hard keeper does best on a particular grain, hay, and supplement combination, that information needs to be clear and non-negotiable in your instructions. If they need more frequent meals or constant hay access, specify that. Hard keepers can't be fed on a one-size-fits-all facility program; they need individualized feeding.

Performance horses need instructions that account for their work level. If your horse is being worked at the facility, specify how feeding should be adjusted on working days versus off days. If they're in training and activity level is variable, give guidance about whether to increase grain on heavy work days and how much increase is appropriate. If they need to be fed a certain way relative to riding time, that needs to be explicit in instructions.

Senior horses often need special feeding arrangements that can't be left to chance. If your senior horse needs soaked hay, specific supplements, or careful monitoring of weight, those instructions need to be thorough and mandatory, not optional. If they need to be fed separately from other horses, specify that. If they have dental issues affecting what feed works for them, document that completely.

Nervous or anxious horses need instructions that address their specific feeding challenges. If your horse does better with frequent small meals, feed that in writing. If they won't eat if they're stressed or around other horses, specify feeding arrangements that help them settle. If certain supplements or feeding routines calm them, include that. If they need feeding in a particular quiet location or away from other horses, that needs to be clear instructions, not a hope that staff will figure it out.

The biggest problem with feeding instructions is vagueness. "Feed grain" without specifying amount, brand, or type leads to mistakes. "Some hay" without amount leads to inconsistent feeding. "Just typical supplements" without listing specifics leads to items being left out. The solution is to ruthlessly eliminate vagueness and be specific about every single detail.

Assuming staff know what you mean causes disasters. You might think it's obvious that your horse gets a particular grain, but if you don't write it down, someone might substitute a different brand or type. You might assume it's understood that your horse eats consistently, but without that explicitly stated, someone might adjust feeding based on the horse's appetite. Write nothing down to chance.

Incompleted instructions create problems when you can't be reached for clarification. If your written instructions are unclear and you're out of town, the staff has to either feed based on their best guess or try to contact you. Neither is ideal. Complete, clear instructions mean feeding happens correctly even when you're not available.

Changing instructions without updating them causes confusion. If you change your horse's feed or supplementation, update the written instructions and make sure the staff knows the instructions have changed. Outdated written instructions contradicting verbal updates causes mistakes.

Not verifying that instructions are being followed means problems develop slowly without your knowledge. Ask the facility for regular updates about how your horse is eating. Ask to see exactly what they're feeding. Check feed containers to make sure they're being used. If instructions aren't being followed, address it early before your horse develops digestive upset or other problems.

Create a one-page feeding sheet specific to your horse that lives with their care instructions. Include a photo of correct feeding setup, exact amounts for each meal, and any restrictions. Keep it simple and visual. This is the reference your boarder or caretaker uses every single day.

Provide your horse's regular feed to the facility if they don't supply it. This eliminates any possibility of substitution or mistake. You know what your horse is eating because you're providing it. Label containers clearly with your horse's name, what the feed is, and feeding amounts. Use consistent container types so they're easy to recognize.

Include emergency contact information and what to do if problems arise. If your horse won't eat, if they have digestive upset, if you notice any feeding-related problems, who should the staff call? Provide that contact information right on the feeding instructions. Make it easy for staff to reach you if something seems wrong.

Request regular feedback. Ask your facility to report on how your horse is eating weekly or monthly. Are they cleaning up all their feed? Are they maintaining weight? Is anything unusual happening? Regular communication catches problems early. If your horse is suddenly eating less or less interested in certain feeds, you want to know immediately.

Visit and observe. At least occasionally, be present during feeding time to see exactly how your instructions are being executed. Watch whether portions are accurate, whether all items are included, whether timing matches your written instructions. This verification catches gaps or misinterpretations quickly.

Maintain good communication with boarding staff. Thank them for following feeding instructions correctly. Ask questions if you notice changes rather than assuming they're doing something wrong. Most feeding mistakes at boarding facilities happen not from negligence but from unclear communication. Clear communication and appreciation goes a long way.