Is there a need for layup stables in the midwest?

[Couture TB]

I thought I would post this hear to find out if there would be any interest in a lay up stable in the midwest for show and race horses.

I will soon be moving into a stable on 40 acres with 35 empty stalls, large box stalls with dutch doors to the outside, large pastures, small pastures, private pastures, etc. I have rehabbed quite a few horses with different injuries over the years, tendons, horses that have had surgery for bone chips and other injuries, and have a very nice and expensive vetrinary laser, magentic boots for hocks, knees, and tendons, and also have whirlpool boots, and am a certified massage therapist.

I was toying with the idea of opening up a rehab farm offering those services. Is this something that people would be intersted in? Is this something people would be willing to pay for? For someone else to do all the work?

[Gry2Yng]

I got into a discussion about this with a vet and BO a few years ago. One of the issues the BO brought up is that most horses in training have to hold their stalls at their primary facility. Probably not an issue for horses at home, and maybe not for a long layup where you don't mind giving up your stall, but could be an issue for the 1 or 2 month rehab. Not to encourage or discourage, just a thought.

[betsyk]

I've thought about this because in my wildest dreams, I'd love to win the lottery, buy a farm, and do rehabs & retirements. But when I think about it for real, I don't think the "average" horse owner with a job and a family and one or maybe two horses has the extra cash in the budget to pay for a rehab facility, on top of whatever vet bills have led up to the horse needing that kind of specialized rehab.

I also wonder if there's enough money vs. frustration in starting a service that would do treatments of whatever kind at the horse's own barn -- essentially a traveling vet tech, who could soak a foot or treat an eye ulcer or handwalk a stallbound horse or whatever, on a short term basis for an owner who has a work or family conflict and can't get there themselves. In our area, that sort of thing isn't included in most boarding stable arrangements, so if you can't do it yourself, you look for a friend or teenager or tech from the vet's clinic to fill in. I wonder if you could keep the cost reasonable enough for the average person to manage it, and actually make any money.

[eventerchick517]

Just curious....Where are you moving to? I know a few people who would probably be interested depending on where you are. :)

[ddashaq]

I think if you were going to be near a vet school or major equine hospital you could get some business. ISU had a list of local barns that would do layups for horses that were not ready for a lengthy trip home but did not need to stay in the hospital any longer.

[TBMaggie]

I know of a facility who tried to do this in MN when the race track came in several years ago. Built a new barn with several 'wings' that could be rented out to trainers who had horses on layup, or training. This BO had a training track put in, etc and planned on renting out the barn wings as needed.

I don't think there ever was even one horse there, either in layup or training. And this BO had lots of 'ins' with many horse people. Of course, the track in MN was in serious trouble for a while, closed, and reopened under new people who seem to be doing ok - - Winters in the upper midwest make horse people disappear to warmer climates.