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Discussion on Equine Rehabilitation Center
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Member:
Lstanton
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Posted on Sunday, Nov 2, 2003 - 9:55 pm:
I am considering building a Equine Swim and Rehabilitation Center in North Carolina. This facility will have an on site Vet and Equine Rehad Specialist. My question is how successful do you think this will be in North Carolina? Do you think there is a market for this type of facility in North Carolina? Any imput would be appreciated.
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Member:
Jojo15
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Posted on Sunday, Nov 2, 2003 - 10:50 pm:
I would think unless there is a big equestrian community with A circuit riders and horses or a racetrack, it might not be something the average joe would use or want to pay for... I know of two here in S. Florida both are privately owned and only used by the racehorse community. I have never heard of the average 2-3 horse (small time) owners utilizing it to rehab horses. But then sometimes its just a matter of cost and convenience. I would love to schedule swim time for my 20 year old just because that kind of exercise is so wonderful and easy on the bones.
Who do you want to market it to? I think is your biggest question. And then work around that. If there isn't another one for many miles or at all, you might get people from all over the surrounding states. Have you contacted Vets in your area and see what their take on it is? Or go to the big barns and interview them? Trainers too. Informal polls are a good barometer.
There is an equine facility about 20 miles away from me, full surgery setup and rehab place where everyone takes their horses for serious stuff and the only other one is Gainesville. The vets don't come to you, you go to the vets. This place is mostly for surgery, though.
Sounds like a good idea.
jojo
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Monday, Nov 3, 2003 - 10:42 am:
Since you are close to me Linda I have a pretty good feel for the area. In Greensboro and as you go north there has been a general decline in professional equine facilities over the past decade or two do to suburbanization and a rapid increase in land values. I do not feel there would be much local requirement for such a facility. However south of GB where there seems to growth of larger professional farms and particularly as you approach the Southern Pines area it would not surprise me if such a facility might not be able to be profitable. I am less familiar with the southern side however.
DrO
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Member:
Imogen
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Posted on Tuesday, Nov 4, 2003 - 2:04 am:
As far as I know there is one of these centres in Ireland and about 4-5 in the UK. Relative human population sizes 4 million and about 60 million with generally large equine population (sorry, don't know the figures in detail). As mentioned above, the centres tend to be close to strong racing areas since you have to have valuable horses in the first place to have owners with the money to pay for the rehab.
What most of us ordinary owners do is box our horses to the sea - it's free!
All the best
Imogen
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Member:
Penner
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Posted on Thursday, Nov 6, 2003 - 9:44 pm:
Here is an example of an equine "spa" I read about...
https://www.goodenoughfarms.com/
All I can say is.. WOW! You have got to see this!
Wish I had the $$$ to send my horses there once in a while. In fact, I think it would be nice for me! 
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