Not only a shortage of barns and a shortage of suitable land for horse barns… but a shortage of “true horsemen” too I think, fewer than in the past. Children in barns are not being “raised” to be horsemen in their own right, in time. They are being raised to be “amateurs”, who will always be dependent on someone else rather than fully fledged or at least an “emerging” horseman. Instead of correct care, riding, training, they are raised to call the vet instead, and get some injections done. Call in a trainer to train the horse. All problems are solved by either calling the vet, OR simply buying another horse, preferably an expensive one, with a big commission involved from the client.
It’s pretty scary actually, the expectations of a boarding barn these days. The infrastructure required, the oppulance. The footing required for the riding ring to be considered “adequate”. The stalls. The tackrooms and client comforts. Add in some brass fittings and some chandeliers just to make it all look as nice as the next place, horses all standing in their stalls 20 hours a day, fully shod, wearing their blankets, full clip etc. (because that’s what the owners want). Then the vet bills required to treat the “navicular” issues, the stress ulcers, and the impaction colics, all related to lack of turn out, lack of adequate riding and training, lack of exercise and strength training, and decisions due to lack of horsemanship.
Yup, I know, it’s not always like this, but it seems the show barns often are. And no, I don’t participate in this industry, never have. The long rows of dark barred stalls with the inmates standing in them makes me unhappy. I keep my horses at home, always have, always will. If you want something done right, do it yourself.
Sorry. Good luck finding an adequate barn to board your horse.
