FEATURES

Stables help ease boarding costs

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Mikaley Towle
  • 99th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, NEV. --  When a family or friend adds a new a new furry addition to the family, most would assume a furry "Fido" or a fat cat like Garfield. Not too often do people think about getting a horse as a pet.

Horses are grazers and like room to roam. Trying to find a place to board a horse might be a burdensome task for most people, but active duty military members, retirees and Department of Defense civilians can board their horses at the Nellis Air Force Base stables.

"I'm grateful to be here," said Vicki Pepin, Nellis AFB stable host. "It helps to serve military families by being low cost. I've been here since 1992 and have no desire to go anywhere else."

Paying a $60 fee for a small stall or $65 fee for a bigger stall helps save Airmen money when it comes to finding a home for their horse.

"You can't beat the cost," said retired U.S. Air Force Maj. Mark Lindstrom. "Other boarding locations can cost several hundred dollars more per horse. The area is kept up really well and it's a great additive to this base."

The Nellis AFB stables have approximately 40 stalls with a maximum capacity of 50 horses. A three stall quarantine area is used to house new horses for a period of 10 days.

"To apply for a stall people just need to come to Outdoor Recreation and fill out an application," said Michael Romijn, 99th Force Support Squadron Outdoor Recreation director. "Then if the stable host verifies there is space available, people pay a $150 deposit fee and we give them a set of keys to unlock the gates at the stables."

All horses that individuals are requesting to be boarded must be privately owned. Horses on a lease are not allowed.

Some amenities provided by the stables to each boarder include a riding area, training pen, covered wash rack, covered tack area, and individual hay storage sheds.

The Nellis AFB stables were built in 1974 as an 820th RED HORSE squadron project.

For more information about the stables, contact Michael Romijn at 702-652-7178.