Why Your Fancy Barn is Ruining Your HOrse’s Life
Growing up in Rancho Santa Fe, I boarded at fancy jumper barns—chandeliers in the barn aisles, manicured grass paddocks without a hoofprint on them, and monthly board that rivaled most people’s mortgage payments. I was a kid, lucky enough to have parents who paid for my horse expenses and allowed me to train with some of the best professionals in the area.
Fast forward to adulthood, moving out of state… I saw how other boarding facilities operated and realized just how far from the norm my Southern California experience had been. In Oregon, I drove an hour from Portland to ride in beautiful grass fields and hack out on miles of forest trails. In Georgia, I drove an hour from Atlanta where my mares enjoyed spacious grass pastures. In Sweden, I drove an hour from Stockholm, where my horses lived out during the day regardless of the weather—rain, snow, or sunshine. In each of these cities, there was only one option: travel to where there’s space so the horses can live like they’re meant to.
At Rancho Agave, we’re lucky to have over 65 acres of land designed with our horses’ needs in mind. When building out the property, I prioritized paddock space—making it central, accessible, and varied enough to serve all the horses in the barn. I knew turnout was important, but I didn’t realize how transformational it would be—especially for horses who hadn’t had consistent or spacious outdoor time before.
My current Grand Prix partner, known in the barn as Yummy, changed completely once he had regular open space to express himself. I’ve fallen off him more times than I can count, but since establishing a routine that includes daily turnout, he’s become a different horse. Every time he steps into the paddock, he squeals, bucks, and plays for the first couple of minutes. He absolutely loves it—and he needs it to be able to do all I’m asking of him- physically, mentally, and emotionally. I even bring the horses home between show weeks to make sure they get time outside to be horses. You’d think Yummy would be tired after a week of jumping big sticks, but it’s just the opposite. He comes home beaming, trotting, and totally full of himself.
Turnout has become a cornerstone of my training program because it can dramatically improve a horse’s demeanor. Horses that are fresh, shut down, or anxious often become willing, relaxed partners when they have access to a natural environment. Older horses also come out looser and sounder. The frequent movement increases circulation, supports joint health, maintains muscle mass, and helps mitigate arthritis. Vets have also linked regular turnout to a lower risk of colic and ulcers compared to stalled horses.
At Rancho Agave, we have around 30 turnouts in a variety of sizes and surfaces. Smaller ones accommodate horses who are laid up or rehabbing, while the larger ones let our playful types run and stretch their legs. Most of our paddocks are sand, due to local water restrictions, but we rotate our four large grass pastures so the horses can spend an hour or two grazing every day.
During the winter months, horses go out during the day after their time on the hot walker—this makes blanketing and weather monitoring easier for the staff. In the summer, most of our horses go out around 3:00 PM and come back into the barn by 6:00 AM. This long stretch of time outside gives them a chance to enjoy being outside in the cooler hours of the evening.
I realize not every barn can offer expansive pastures and the same schedule of daily turnout—especially in places like Southern California. But as riders and owners, we owe it to our horses to ask what they need to thrive. Sometimes that means rethinking what convenience really looks like. A longer drive or a less glamorous barn is a small trade-off for a healthier, happier, more balanced horse. I’d trade a chandelier for a happy horse any day.