Bair saddles up the 60 quarter horses every morning and puts out hay for them.
SADDLE BARN continued from 17 was severely eroded and treeless. The CCC built erosion controls, planted trees, and built roads and water systems.”
Bair said the barn’ s economics can be challenging because four months out of the year, the horses don’ t generate revenue, but still have to be cared for.
He usually breaks in new horses during that period. He often buys them at auctions. Good, gentle horses can cost $ 5,000 to $ 8,000.
“ Buying a horse is about like buying a car,” he said.“ Nobody wants an ugly one.”
Bair said dealing with the horses is less challenging than dealing with customers who think they know what they’ re doing but don’ t.
“ The animals are the easy part,” he said.“ You just have to learn to read them.”
For his most recent contract with the state, Bair agreed to be paid a flat fee. That worked out well last
The Historic Doc Tilton House
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������������������������������������������������������� year during the pandemic, as many people sought outdoor escapes from being cooped up indoors. Last year’ s traffic was comparable to before the pandemic, Bair said, but this year, he has seen fewer customers. He suspected higher gas prices are playing a role.
Like many businesses, the barn is struggling to hire. Bair said that as more people grow up in towns, fewer know how to deal with horses.
Finding good horses, too, has become more difficult over the years, he said.
Bair said he has lots of repeat customers, including a family from Kentucky that comes twice a year including every October. He has seen the children grow up. The family sends him Christmas cards.
“ You meet a lot of nice people,” he said.“ The good days definitely outweigh the bad days.”
You can get more information about the barn at < browncounty-saddlebarn. com > or by calling 812-988-8166. •
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20 Our Brown County Sept./ Oct. 2022