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Horses that were locked out of certain areas at the OC Equestrian Center have regained access to arenas, turnouts and round pens — allowing equestrians to properly exercise the animals while a lawsuit plays out in court.
Orange County Superior Court Judge Sheila Recio granted a temporary restraining order on Wednesday, making OC Fair & Event Center staff unlock the facilities for equestrians who were locked out of these areas for about a month.
It’s the newest development in the battle between fairgrounds staff and equestrians who argue they’re being priced out of the center — one of the few remaining public horse boarding facilities in Orange County.
Boarders and trainers at the Equestrian Center have been fighting increasing rental rates that many say they won’t be able to afford.
Renters who previously paid $644 monthly for a 12-by-12-foot boarding stall for their horse will have to pay $979 per month starting in 2025 under a new contract sent to boarders earlier this year.
[Read: OC Equestrian Center Rent Hikes Start This Week as Tension Mounts]
A group of equestrians refused to sign the updated contract that includes the rent hikes and other provisions like paying a 50% deposit — based on one month’s rent — for each stall, equipment room and locker they’ll be using.
Some business owners who give lessons at the center would be facing thousands of dollars in deposits under the updated agreement.
In late June, all boarders who didn’t sign the contract were served with 30-day notices to sign or leave the property.
[Read: Housing Horses at the OC Equestrian Center is Getting More Expensive]
After 30 days passed, fairgrounds staff locked up access to arenas, turnout spaces and round pens at the center on Aug. 1.
These facilities — which are used to exercise horses and allow them to run and walk freely outside their stalls — were made only available to the boarders who signed the contract.
Equestrians protested outside the fairgrounds the same day as thousands attended the OC Fair.
They held signs and rode painted horses emphasizing concerns that locking these areas could result in serious health issues for the animals who were confined to their stall and nearby parking lots to get exercise.
[Read: Concerns Mount About Horses Held Hostage at OC Fairgrounds]
The judge’s order reversed that lockout decision and required fairgrounds staff to reopen these areas to all equestrians while the lawsuit plays out, regardless of whether they’ve signed the new contract or not.
The lawsuit was filed in late August by two equestrians who run nonprofits out of the center — Gibran Stout, president of OC Vaulting, and Lisa Sabo, president of Changing Strides.
“Nobody wants a lawsuit,” Stout said. “However, OCFEC’s pursuit of a lockout created unreasonable risks to the health and safety of the horses and their riders.”
“There literally was nowhere to turn but court,” she said.
The lawsuit claims equestrians are tenants and fairgrounds staff broke the law by locking them out of areas dire to the horses’ health.
Fairgrounds staff claim the equestrians aren’t legally considered tenants and they have the right to remove property if the equestrians don’t hold a valid contract to occupy the center.
“Petitioners are former renters who are angry about a rent increase of $300.00,” reads a response from the fairgrounds filed in court. “After a high-pressure media campaign, disproven claims of animal abuse, and months of protests they now file a lawsuit and ask this Court to force Respondents to continue to feed, care for, clean the stalls of, and exercise their horses while their lawsuit is pending.”
The debate caught the attention of OC Supervisor Katrina Foley who discussed the issue at the Aug. 27 board meeting.
“I am very concerned about the health of the horses,” she said. “It’s not fair to the horses by the fairgrounds board or by the boarders to be using them as a pawn in this.”
Foley said there wasn’t much they could do since the center doesn’t fall under county jurisdiction.
“I’m just concerned that the horses are being used as a way to leverage — I don’t agree with that because it’s not fair to the animals,” she said.
Stout said the center should simply be required to follow the law.
“The court has already issued a temporary restraining order and hopefully will go further as the litigation progresses,” Stout said.
“The next steps are to let our attorneys pursue our claims in court and have the court decide them. Of course, if OCFEC wants to talk to us, we remain open to meeting and discussing with them.”
Angelina Hicks is a Voice of OC Tracy Wood Reporting Fellow. Contact her at ahicks@voiceofoc.org or on Twitter @angelinahicks13
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