A contract dispute between the Orange County Fairgrounds and horse owners who board their animals there year-round has led to animal welfare concerns.
Macki Hamblin, a head trainer for Connected Equine, told KNX News’ Nataly Tavidian the rent hikes are part of the dispute, but there were other items in the contract that horse owners didn’t want to sign.
In late June, boarders who didn’t sign the contract were served with a 30-day notice to either sign or leave the property. Fairgrounds staff has locked up access to arenas, turnout spaces, and round pens at the Orange County Equestrian Center now that more than 30 days have gone by.
“Besides to find space, just making sure that the animal care. I mean, we're horse owners, horse trainers, animal lovers, all of us. There was only one thing in the entire contract that actually had to do with animal care,” Hamblin explained.
She said the horses have been locked out since Aug. 1.
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“The best outcome could be, we have to get those padlocks off of those arenas and turn out so these horses can have their safety be the number one priority on the property,” Hamblin said.
A spokesperson with the O.C. Fairgrounds said the rental agreement comes from the state and they don’t negotiate rental agreements. They also said the horses aren’t in danger and their owners aren’t being prevented from getting to them, but they cannot use the areas others pay for without signing the contract.
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