I can't believe you guys can stand to clean stalls in short shoes. The shavings get in them & drive me nuts. I used to get those short LL bean mocs from my mother & I hated them!!
The management issue is a big one. Unfortunately I have yet to see a boarding barn in my area that actually manages the place so as to reduce flies (or other parasites). Picking out paddocks, which...
I was at a barn similar to the one described by OP. Facilities were nice, but I saw things that made me want to smash my face against the wall on a daily basis.