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When considering your choice of board options it is important to take into consideration the needs of your horse. Consider whether or not your horse may need special care, as well as goals for the future of you and your horse. Horses on board must arrive with a suitable halter. Other care items such as winter/summer blankets are to be provided by the client. Board choices can be discussed with Mary during a scheduled meeting.
Pasture Board ($7 per day or $200/month): Pasture board is for those customers who request their horse to remain outside at all times regardless of weather and health conditions. There is a three-sided shed in each pasture for protection from the weather. Horses are observed daily and fed twice a day. Routine hoof care, vaccinations and deworming are also provided and billed accordingly.
Basic Board ($9 per day or $290/ month): Basic board includes stall, bedding and complete feed along with standard supplements. Horses will also be turned out in either the mares/gelding pasture depending on the horse’s individual needs. Routine hoof care, vaccinations and deworming are also provided and billed accordingly.
Extra- Care Board ($13 per day or $395/ month): Extra care board is another option that Crystal Farms offers to those horses that are not in training but require daily care by our staff. Extra care can range from a horse’s special medications to hand-walking or specialized turn out sessions. Extra care board may also include the evaluation of soundness and/or readiness of a new horse to be put in training. New horses require extra time and evaluation that is imperative to their success here at Crystal Farms. The schedule and routine for your horse can be discussed in detail with Mary during a scheduled meeting.
Intensive Care Board &/or Rehabilitation ($600 per month): For horses that need more intensive daily attention or monitoring including time-consuming medication, light exercise, ect. This type of care is appropiate for show horses on let-down for a month or two following intensive training.
This program is an excellent option for "after the show season." The show season, although fun, is a very active time for these athletic animals. Depending on the individual horse's needs and condition, your trainers may decide to "let down" your show horse after show season. This time is a resting period from daily training and lessons. Your horse will be turned out either in their own paddock or the arena during the day, brought back in, groomed and put up as it is accustomed to at night. This is both relaxing and restful for a show horse’s mind and body. Some horses cannot tolerate being let down and others thrive on it.
- There will be an additional bi-monthly fee of $45 for daily worming and a $15 fee of the paste wormer. Geldings will also need their sheaths cleaned at least twice a year, sometimes more, at $40 per cleaning.
- Additional supplements can be added for any horse at the owners expense.
- Crystal Farms employs the finest farriers and veterinarians in the horse business. For the most part, they will bill you direct. However, on occasion, they prefer to bill Crystal Farms and then those services will appear on your monthly statement, billed at cost. Crystal Farms will also bill for any medical treatments performed by our staff.
- If boarders would like the use of an arena, we ask that either you check with the instructor giving lessons at that time or call ahead to see when the arena will be available. Many times you can ride during a lesson as long as you go the same direction as the rest of the lesson, or Crystal Farms staff may ask you to wait until a more appropriate time to exercise your horse.
Training fees are in addition to basic board fees. Workouts are timed and dictated by the individual horse's needs and abilities, and each horse is assessed on a daily basis. Depending on the time and experience a horse has had to benefit from training, we judge when each horse can be ready to show and where he would benefit best from showing. Likewise, if a new horse is sent to Crystal Farms, we can make a fair and accurate appraisal of the horse's ability (talent and soundness) and desire to be show worthy within two months training time. Typically within sixty days of professional training, the owner can be advised if the investment is worthwhile to proceed in training, or if it could be better allocated elsewhere.
Training methods are varied throughout the week to keep horses fresh and of a sound mind. Training includes, but is not limited to, being ridden, jogging, ropes and/or biting rigs and long-lining. Horses are typically worked six days a week with at least one or two days off a week. The amount the horse is worked is determined by age, health, growth in training, and other special needs. The schedule and routine for your horse can be discussed in detail with Mary during a scheduled meeting.
Training without lessons ($22 per day or $420/ month): This program is ideal for those clients who have an investment horse and/or a young horse that will be shown by the Crystal Farms staff. We offer this reduction in the training rate since weekly lessons are not needed. Your horse’s progress can be shown to any owner upon prior arrangement.
Training with lessons ($25 per day or $560/ month): At Crystal Farms we have many people who desire to show their own horse, so this program is ideal to allow for lesson time as well as daily training of your horse. Training with lessons is a flat rate fee. The number of appropriate lessons can be determined by a mutual agreement between the client and Mary. Lessons may not always be done on a “show horse” or the horse in training. Crystal Farms is equipped with many fine lesson horses that can and will be used in lessons. For clients with multiple horses, the lesson fee amount will only be charged up to the number equal to riders. For example, two horses with one rider ($560 + $420) and two horses with two riders ($560 + $560).
Crystal Farms has two arenas available for lessons, one indoor and one outdoor. Typically both arenas are in use, unless weather does not permit the use of the outdoor arena. Crystal Farms employs four experienced instructors to guide you in the art of horseback riding. Lessons will be done on one of Crystal Farm's experienced lesson horses unless otherwise pre-arranged with Mary. Lessons are subject to cancellation due to weather conditions and/or illness. Please arrive ten minutes prior to your scheduled lesson time. Failure to cancel or be on time for your lesson may result in a forfeiture of your lesson fee.
Private Lessons ($30 each): Private lessons are typically thirty minutes long.
Group Lessons ($20 each): Group lessons are typically one hour long. Thirty minutes of grooming/tacking your horse and thirty minutes of riding time. Groups consist of 2-6 horses and riders of similar riding levels.
Equipment: While all work tack such as bridles, saddles, work harness, jog carts and buggies are a traditional part of the professional horseman's training services, there are items that are equally traditional and are personal effects of the horse. These include the horse’s own halter, blankets, tail set, show bridle, show harness and any other equipment that the particular individual needs that is uncommon to the other horses or that is custom fitted. Crystal Farms asks that all blankets, bridles, halters, etc. be tagged with the owner's or horse's name. We will be glad to assist you in this process, since it is much easier to keep track of each owners items when they are tagged appropriately.
Should you have a horse that is ready to go to a horse show, the following preparation and fees will take place. The readiness of any horse and rider, show schedules and classes can be planned and discussed with Mary during a scheduled meeting. Horse shows require hard work and effort both from the client, the horse, and the Crystal Farms team.
Entry fees: Crystal Farms staff fills out your horse show entry blank, stating the classes to be entered. This will require copies of your horse's registration papers (with the current owner stated), copies of your required USEF membership as well as AMHA, MJMHA, and UPHA cards as they apply. Crystal Farms requires either a check or credit card (when accepted at shows) before the entries are due, so that we may promptly send in all the entries before their due dates.
Per-day fees ($50/$60 OKC): The number of days "on the road" is determined over a month ahead of time for each horse show. Each horse will be charged $50 per day from the day before it leaves the farm including the day it returns from the show. The day before is spent vigorously preparing your horse; clipping, tail washing, sanding feet, tack cleaning, etc. and packing for the show. The per-day fee for the World Championships is $60. This "day fee" helps to offset the cost of overtime hours for employees, extra supplies, etc.
Class Fee ($25/ class): At horse shows there is a great deal of time spent preparing your horse and its tack for a show ring performance. Also, a member of the Crystal Farms staff will be with you and your horse for the entire experience. This class fee will be charged to your statement for each class that your horse is shown in.
Hotel and Travel Expense: The cost for the Crystal Farms team will be totaled and divided evenly between clients attending each show.
Body clipping ($ 60): Full body clip.
V-Clip ($ 30): Clipped from head into v-shape down the neck. This is used to accentuate the horses head and neck features.
Show Clip ($ 40): Show clipping fees are waved for those horses in training and preparing for a show. This fee will be charged for photo shoots, or preparing to show a sale horse. Show clipping includes a detailed clipping to the face, head and legs.
Horse Show Hauling: Horses are typically transported by professional van companies or by Crystal Farms. Show hauling charges vary depending on how many horses are hauled, number of rigs required, commercial hauling fees etc. Total charges are split evenly on a per horse basis. For planning purposes the following estimates may be used: Lansing, MI ($150), Springfield, Ohio ($375) Springfield, IL ($450), Oklahoma City, OK ($1,000).
- Any general hauling that is done by Crystal Farms is charged at the rate of $.75 per mile. There is a minimum charge of $75 for any trip.
- If you choose to personally haul your own horse to a horse show, we ask that your horse arrives/leaves on the same day as the rest of the show string. There may also be a separate charge for hauling equipment (tack and set-up) that will be distributed between all clients that are hauling their own horses.
Feed and Bedding: The feed and bedding fees are totaled and divided up per horse. Crystal Farms always travels with an appropriate amount of complete feed for your horse, but we may be unable to take enough hay for the show string. Your individual fee will depend on the number of horses you own that attend each show.
Hospitality: The cost of snacks, beverages, parties etc. is totaled and divided evenly among clients at each show. Crystal Farms finds it is important to keep food and drinks in stock not only for social purposes, but also to keep up the strength and well being of the clients during the show.
Decorating: Extra stalls are needed at the horse show in order to provide the necessary tack rooms, feed rooms, and sleeping rooms for the caretakers who stay with your horses twenty-four hours a day. In addition, it is customary for the Crystal Farms stalls to be appropriately decorated so that your barn area at the show will be attractive and comfortable for all the owners and friends to enjoy the sport. It also provides privacy and a quiet place for your show horse as it rests between classes. Extra tack stalls and stall decoration expenses are pro-rated among all the entries that attend that show under the Crystal Farms banner. A decoration fee of $200 applies to those attending the Morgan Grand National & World Championship Horse Show. Crystal Farms takes great pride in our overall presentation and representation of our farm.
Box Seats: At most horse shows, box seating is available. In the effort to make the horse show experience the most enjoyable, Crystal Farms usually reserves at least one section or more of box seating. This cost is then distributed evenly between the clients attending a show.
Sponsorships: Most horse shows depend on sponsorships to help offset their costs. At Crystal Farms, we encourage you to sponsor in any way you see fit. This is also a fun way to be involved with the show, since you can usually present the ribbon for any class that you might sponsor. At our World Championship show, sponsorships are particularly important. Our stall placement is very dependant on the amount of sponsorships we provide for the show. Please see either Mary or Chris for direction on sponsorship.
Lesson Horse Show Lease ($200/horse): Some Crystal Farms lesson horses are also show horses and can be leased on occasion. All other horse show fees do apply. A lease for the World Championship is raised to ($500) due to the distance, time and extra care needed for Nationals. All arrangements must be made and agreed upon in advance.
Show Staff: Quality caretakers for your horses are very hard to find, and we believe that we employ some of the very best. Many of our caretakers have cared for your horses for many years and our employee turn over is very low. Caretakers spend hours with your horse each day attending to their very special needs. At shows, they stay with them 24 hours a day to ensure their safety and soundness away from home. They take great pride in the horses assigned to their care, and we encourage you to reward them by tipping them an amount of your choice at each show.
SALES AND PURCHASE OF HORSES
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Any and all sales transactions conducted by a trainer at Crystal Farms earns the trainer a commission of 10%. The purchase or sale of a horse requires a lot of time and effort from Crystal Farms staff. Horses purchased require the time and effort of travel, sometimes across the country. Clients are also responsible to cover the travel expenses of both the Crystal Farms staff and the rider (if requested).
Horses that are prepared and put through public auction by Crystal Farms will be charged per-day fees, plus 5% of the gross price that the horse brings through auction. This is in addition to normal training expenses. The seller pays for this preparation, presentation and commission.
Payments made on the client’s behalf such as vet, farrier, dentist, or show office fees will be included in the monthly statement. Statements are sent out on or around the first of each month. Payments should be received by the 15th of each month. Overdue balances by the first of the next statement period will be subject to a 1% charge.
In closing, Crystal Farms and its staff have worked to develop a show horse facility that is respected, competitive and creates an environment in which you and your horse will thrive. Our reward is our valued list of clients who have been with us for years. Their friendship is by far our most meaningful compensation. It is our sincerest hope that our newest acquaintances will likewise share and enjoy this sport of showing with us for many years to come. Thank you.
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