This was not 3 stalls locked for non payment. I kept horses out there for 20 years, never saw a padlock except for unpaid board once or twice, not in fire season and somebody on tne property 24/7 had a key, but heard there were a few. Boarders or not there was a red flag alert, worst conditions in years for fire breeding and certainly not a surprise plus In a kindling filled area with a history of burning every 20 years or so. Worst of all, first responders went into that burning barn and cut locks off at risk of their lives for somebody’s horse that somebody locked up.
I hate more legislation but perhaps its time to deal with those who create situations like this for first responders, At least under the animal cruelty statutes cause if that’s not cruelty, I don’t know what is. And it’s largely the horse owners responsibility, what did they think would happen here??? They made the decision, apparently.
Maybe key lock only provided by the BO with at least one master key if they absolutely must padlock would be better. I’m not exonerating the BO here if she told them not to padlock but allowed it anyway. But especially in a minimum or self care situation where horse owners just rent the stall, the horse owner has to at least share the blame for wanting to do it their way.
There’s some skanky, poorly managed or hands off BOs out there barns out there, owners responsibility has to figure in.
