Natural Retirement Boarding
Redemption Farm's natural boarding on the track paddock (see Track Paddock page) is ideal for barefoot transition, layups, young horses and retirement. We specialize in the care of horses with metabolic challenges, such as equine metabolic syndrome (EMS), insulin resistance (IR) and cushings (PPID). Healthy horses are also welcome.
We also have healthy pasture options available on our EquiCentral rotation grazing system for horses who thrive on grass. (more below)
We strive to provide the luxury of full care boarding, with the natural lifestyle of outdoor living in a herd. Stalls are available as needed for medical emergencies, but are typically only used for feeding or appointments. The herd stays outside year round with access to multiple run in sheds and the indoor arena. We have multiple all weather footing dry lot paddocks with run in sheds, as well as various types of gravel and sand covering the surfaced track. This provides the horses with a dry mud-free environment during the winter. We also have larger summer track for those horses who tolerate limited grazing in appropriate weather.
We offer rehab, layup, and retirement boarding only and do not board horses who are currently being ridden.
Our services are appropriate for a temporary transition period or for retirement boarding.
Retirement boarding includes:
- Free choice tested low sugar/starch grass hay in slow feeders available in various locations 24/7
- Customized diet with mineral balancing per hay analysis (see Diet page)
- Monthly maintenance hoof trims
- Blanket changes (if provided by owner)
- Fly protection (if provided by owner)
- Holding for vet, dentist, bodywork, etc
- Routine fecal checks and deworming as appropriate
- Supplement and/or medication administration as needed (provided by owner)
- Basic grooming
- Special requests can be accommodated
Long term retirement boarders will receive regular grooming and attention.
Updates and photos are sent to owners at their desired frequency.
Owners are responsible for veterinary and other service provider expenses.
We live on site and monitor horses closely with at least twice daily individual checks. Paddocks and sheds are cleaned twice daily, hay in slow feeders never runs out, and we have automatic waterers as well as troughs.
Horses without metabolic problems may also be turned out on our grass pastures and track infields. We are careful to allow strategic grazing during times when the sugar levels are lower, based on weather patterns and pasture management. We utilize an EquiCentral rotation grazing layout to manage our land for healthy diverse pastures with more native plants and variety of shrubs and herbs to browse, which is a more species appropriate diet than fertilized monoculture improved grass that was designed for fattening cattle. Our grass herd has access to a surfaced central paddock so they have a clean dry area even in the rainy season, with a spacious shelter, auto waterer and hay available year round. Some horses do best when managed part time on tracks and part time on grass, or with seasonal management changes. We have multiple management options for individuals' varied needs.
We are currently working on adding a silvopasture (semi wooded pasture with trees) for those who can safely graze part time. Silvopasture is ideal for some horses, as grass growing in the shade is typically lower in sugar, the "improved" cattle fattening grass types do not grow well in shade, and the horses will move more browsing for limited grass and forbs.
Horses must be barefoot or in composite shoes only; no metal shoes are allowed. This is partly due to metal shoes being in conflict with our goals, partly for the safety of the other horses, and partly for the horse's own safety since we use small mesh hay nets near ground level, which are not safe for shod horses that may paw at them and get a shoe stuck on the net.
If a horse requires daily hoof boots for comfort or therapy, this is considered a Hoof Rehab case and will be billed at the rehab rate.
Basic retirement or layup board starts at $600 per month.
