Finding a stable in Switzerland: housing types, costs and the visit

Housing types at a glance

Which stable fits depends on the horse, the budget and your goals. The common types on the Swiss market:

• Indoor box: a classic box in the stable aisle, with turnout organised via pasture or paddock. Sheltered and easy to oversee, but it needs sufficient movement outside the box.
• Box with run: a box with a directly attached run the horse can access at any time. The horse decides when to go out.
• Paddock box: similar to the box with run, but with a surfaced paddock instead of grass.
• Active stable: computer-controlled group housing with feed stations and movement throughout the day. Good for health, but it requires socially compatible horses.
• Open stable: group housing with a shelter and permanent access to the outdoors. Close to nature and rich in movement.
• Group housing: several horses share space and shelter. Requires good herd management by the yard.

What Swiss animal welfare law requires

Switzerland has strict rules for keeping horses. Key points:

• Permanent tethered keeping is not allowed as a form of housing.
• Horses need social contact. Visual, audible and scent contact with other horses is mandatory.
• Regular turnout and movement is required. Horses that are not being worked must regularly get free turnout.
• Boxes must meet minimum dimensions based on withers height.
• Constant access to water and sufficient roughage are part of appropriate care.

A good stable does not just barely meet these rules but goes beyond them, offering enough space, clean air and a well thought out daily routine. During the visit, ask specifically about turnout times and herd management.

Full board, part board or self-care

The level of care drives both effort and price:

• Full board: the yard handles feeding, mucking out and basic care. Most convenient, most expensive.
• Part board: tasks are split between yard and owner, for example feeding by the yard, mucking out by the owner.
• Self-care: you handle feeding, mucking out and care yourself and essentially rent only the box, run and infrastructure. Cheaper, but time-intensive and tied to a location.

What a stable costs

Prices vary widely by region, housing type and infrastructure. Metropolitan areas such as Zurich, Geneva or Zug are more expensive than rural ones. As a rough guide, full board often sits in the range of around CHF 600 to 1,200 per month, and higher with an indoor arena, jumping arena and solarium. Self-care places are clearly cheaper but demand your daily effort. Always clarify what is included and what is billed on top, such as bedding, special feed or use of the arena.

The stable visit: checklist

• Do the horses look calm, clean and in good condition?
• Is the air in the aisle fresh, the floor dry and non-slip?
• What do turnout, pasture and riding facilities look like, including in bad weather?
• How many horses does the yard care for, and is the ratio to staff sound?
• What turnout times and herd management apply in practice?
• Is there a clear emergency procedure and reachable yard management?
• Does the atmosphere fit, and are the other owners open?

Getting the boarding contract right

A written boarding contract protects both sides. It should include:

1. The exact services, meaning what full, part or self-care actually covers.
2. The monthly price and what is billed in addition.
3. Feeding, bedding and use of the facilities.
4. Notice period, commonly 30 days or one to three months.
5. Liability, insurance and the procedure in case of illness or emergency.

For stable operators: advertising a free box

If you have a place free, the best ad describes exactly what makes the yard special. State the housing type, infrastructure, turnout concept, care services and price clearly. Photos of the facility and honest details about turnout and herd save both sides time and attract the right owners. On RideBase you advertise your stable for free and reach horse owners in your region.

Frequently asked questions

Open stable or box, which is better? Neither as a blanket answer. An active, socially compatible horse benefits from an open or active stable. A horse that needs calm and a fixed retreat is sometimes better off in a box with a run.

How long does the stable search take? Near cities often several weeks, sometimes with a waiting list. In rural regions it is usually faster. Start early, especially for popular places.

How does a self-care place compare on cost? Clearly less than full board, but you carry the entire daily workload yourself. Be honest about whether you can commit that time long term.

What to watch when signing the contract? A clear description of services and a fair notice period. That keeps you flexible if the stable turns out not to fit.