A 30-day deadline has passed for equestrians boarding horses at the OC Fair & Event Center’s stables to sign a new rental agreement, which includes a hike in prices, and a new pass system has been implemented restricting access to arenas for training and exercising the animals to those who are in compliance, administration officials said.
Several boarders unhappy with the rent increases being phased in and other details in the new rental agreements sent out in May have refused to sign or have submitted signed versions with the edits they want. In late June they received 30-day notices to sign the new agreement or vacate the property.
Now that access to the equestrian center’s arenas is being restricted, they said they worry for the health of their horses.
“The boarders at the equestrian center who have a valid rental agreement, and who have paid the board-approved rental fees, were issued passes to use the arenas at the center. Occupants who do not have a pass cannot use the arenas,” Terry Moore, communications director at the OC Fair & Event Center, said in an email. “However, everyone may exercise their horses around the facility regardless of whether they have a pass. All occupants have full access to their horses, offices, tack rooms, shoeing area, wash racks, cross-ties, parking lot and restrooms.”
In March, the OC Fair board approved increasing rent prices for the facility’s various stalls in three increments – for a 144-square-foot stall the cost would go from $644 a month to $979 by January, and a larger stall would go from $1,023 per month to $1,558 – a move officials said was necessary to cover the cost of running the facility.
Boarders say they are pushing to negotiate a “fair” rental agreement and, in the meantime, they don’t believe they can legally be evicted from the property. They argue the increases are too much, pricing them out, and they want the rental agreement to have details about space and amenities and how the grounds will be managed and for the term to be one year.
The equestrian center and adjacent fairgrounds are operated by the state’s 32nd District Agricultural Association. Michele Richards, CEO of the OC Fair & Events Center, said she couldn’t provide information about next steps now that the 30-day period has lapsed, but said the district is considering its options.
In a letter to the OC Fair staff, Katherine Fertig from Orange County Equine Veterinary Services said 60 minutes of exercise with adequate footing daily is vital for a horse’s health.
“If the access is denied, the horse’s health and wellbeing is being put in jeopardy,” Fertig said. “As a concern for the safety and well-being of the horses that I currently care for and treat located at the Orange County Fairgrounds Equestrian Center, I hope this can be solved without the need to involve animal control.”
Carol Graves, who has kept her horse at the equestrian center since 2021, said boarders’ biggest concern is the wellness of the horses.
“In the summer, one of the big concerns with horses is colic, which can be caused by a lot of things, but especially when you keep a horse locked up in their stall and they don’t get proper exercise,” Graves said, adding that colic can be deadly if not treated right away.
“What’s so sad about all of this is that, as the humans, we have a conflict. We’re trying to negotiate something that’s fair,” Graves said. “Why involve the animals? Why engage in animal cruelty and animal abuse because you can’t agree with the other people?”
Richards said allegations the center is resorting to animal abuse are “deeply offensive” and untrue.
“We are an agriculture association. We care for animals all over this property,” Richards said.
The solution is simple, Richards added, boarders need to sign the rental agreement and pay back fees.
Graves said the fair staff has not been accepting rental payments some have tried to make, so an escrow account was set up to collect rental fees until they can negotiate changes to the contract.
Supervisor Katrina Foley, who represents the Fifth District that includes the Costa Mesa-based fairgrounds on the OC Board of Supervisors, said she is disappointed in how discussions between equestrians and the administration has played out and that the conflict is now affecting the well-being of the horses.
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“They should have continued to try to work out their disputes before putting the horses’ safety at risk and locking the arena, preventing tenants who have horses in stalls from being able to use the areas,” Foley said. “There needs to be a summoning of people to the table to try to work this out in a professional way, so that we can keep the horses safe, protect what is left of our equestrian culture in Orange County and make sure that operations at the fairgrounds are run according to state law.”
Foley said she wants to bring all parties together for a meeting to reach a mutual understanding and find solutions. Richards said there is no room for negotiations.
“It’s plain and simple. Sign the agreement, pay the back fees and you have full use of the property,” Richards said. “That’s what it boils down to.”
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