Is there good security for your horse and your tack? You should be comfortable leaving your saddle and other equipment in the tack room without fear of theft. Otherwise, you'll have to tote it back and forth in your car or truck.

Does anyone perform a night check? It can be as simple as a walk through the barn, peeking in each stall. Does the night check include an evening snack for everyone or topping off the water buckets? If it is a large facility that houses many horses and has lots of people milling around all the time, you might want to make sure there is someone on the premises at most times and that the stable can be seen from the home of the owner or manager.

Are there good fire prevention measures, such as No Smoking signs, fire extinguishers, and up-to-date electrical wiring? Is there an evacuation plan in the event of fire? Many stables offer owners the choice of having a halter left on their horse in the stall for quicker evacuation in case of fire or hanging on the door.