Do you have a legal right to own and operate a horse-related business, or is business operation a privilege that can be grantedÑand taken awayÑby some governmental agency? Does the answer change if neighbors object to your business?

The answers might have been relatively straightforward years ago, when the United States was an agricultural society and there was a lot of land and not very many people. But times have changed. Horses are viewed as a luxury by many people these days and rapid population growth has been mirrored by a decrease in land available for equine pursuits. Residential development now encroaches on land used for horse businessesÑor vice versa, depending on whether you are the operator of a horse business or a neighbor who does not want to live next door to a stable