$5,000 a month is better than $0 a month.
Was there a waiting list of boarders wanting to bring horses in at full board and training and zero empty stalls when he was considering telling LK to leave? No? Then telling her to leave means a loss of income. This is true whether he’s operating at a profit or at s loss at the time.
Maybe he planned to ask her to leave after he got more boarders lined up. Maybe he wanted to get commissions on more horses he sold her before he asked her to leave. Maybe he believed her puffery about unlimited means.
Again, 48 Hours. The interviewer pointed out the Coth mantra - “Isn’t $5,000 a month for two horses in training plus living quarters a sweet deal?” He said, yeah maybe, but there are bills to pay.