Retirement Boarding

Your horse has worked hard its whole life and is finally in the years when it can relax and just be a horse. Horses are happiest living outdoors but with ailments and arthritis and diseases come medications and special needs and someone able and willing to take on their care.

At Story Book Meadows we have the experience and knowledge and the ability to help your horse enjoy its twilight years in pastures with grass, large roomy shelters, small groups of two or three and individual care.

The owners have over 50 years experience with young horses as well as older horses with Trish’s first horse living to 39 ½ years. To reach that age takes unceasing care and dedication to the needs of the older horse first and foremost. Currently Story Book Meadows is home to a 40 year old miniature horse named Noah and a 33 year old Standardbred mare named Athena.

Retirement Board includes the following:

• A box stall available for your horse to be brought in and out at the discretion of the Farm Manager should your horse need to be in due to an injury, too hot or too cold weather or any other reason the Farm Manager deems your retired horse needs to be inside.

• Your stall will be mucked whenever the horse is inside and adequate shavings will be supplied as needed. The stall has rubber matting and a soft stall mattress to lie down on which helps alleviate pain in joints when standing inside.

• Your horse will live outside 24/7 in good weather in pasture with adequate shelter with a suitable friend. They will not live in a mixed herd.

• The Farm Manager will attend your horse for the Farm Farrier for regular trimming.

• The Farm Manager will attend your horse for the Farm Vet for routine vaccinations and dental care.

• Your horse will be given any medications deemed necessary by your vet on a daily basis.

• Special needs horses such as those with Cushings, Metabolic Syndrome, Heaves, etc will receive special attention when dealing with turnout and management of grass and hay intake and will only be turned out for short periods of time. We do not believe horses should live in dirt paddocks since this is not natural for Horses who are God’s creation.

• In the case of an Emergency the Farm Manager will attend to your horse and call the vet as needed and will also attend to your horse with the vet. Owner will be responsible for all vet fees and any medications given by the Farm Manager.

• Blanketing as required at the Farm Manager’s discretion

• Fly Masks on/off at the Farm Manager’s discretion

• Hay Cubes as required at the Farm Manager’s discretion

• Daily attention and inspection.

• Grooming and exercise as needed at the Farm Manager’s discretion

• Shelter will be cleaned of manure regularly and footing added as needed at the discretion of the Farm Manager

• Regular photos will be sent to you and any time they do something cute we think you’d love to see!

• Any other needs the horse may have can be discussed as they come up

Our hope in offering Retirement Board is for the Owner to enjoy visiting their horse without the worry of all the extra care and attention needed to keep their senior healthy and more importantly happy in these twilight years. You can come as often as you want to visit your horse during regular farm hours or as little as you want knowing all their needs will be looked after.

Meet Athena, our 33 year old standardbred mare. She is an ex-racehorse and has had several foals.

Retirement Horse Board all inclusive cost is only $850/month + hst for total peace of mind for your aging equine friend!

Contact us for more information.