I have a 10-year-old half Arabian mare who is in need of a retirement farm. Can anyone recommend any good retirement farms in Illinois, Indiana or Kentucky? Based on its web site and comments, I like Paradign Farms – but it is in TN – over 450 miles from me. If possible, I would like to have my mare closer. Thanks for any suggestions.
Budget? Would other close by states suffice if the distance from where you live is less then 450 miles? Easier to recommend if you give at least an idea of where you live.
Findelight, I am in central IL. Practically anything in IL, IN or KY would be closer than 450 miles. Budget – don’t know. Am currently paying $550 for full board, but imagine retirement farm would be less since there would not be a need for an indoor arena, outdoor arena, etc.
Is Cincinnati too far? I have my retiree at a private facility in Loveland, Ohio which is a suburb of Cincinnati. It’s $435 a month, excellent care. We do have trails but no arenas. The facility has on property owners and is set up to maximize movement, only retirees live on it.
There tends to be a big drop in options price wise for retirement: $400+ gets you something with a stall. Then you drop down to pasture board at the $200-250 range (sometimes less, but then it’s usually just a couple horses in a field with pretty much no care) with minimal interaction with the animal (it’s basics are cared for but that’s about it, it’s probably seen once or twice a day when it’s fed). I’ve had mine in the latter situation and it didn’t work for us. It depends on what your horse needs.
I’m at a retirement barn near Cinci but it’s 500. That’s stall, turnout, blanketing, meds and light grooming but no frills. You might look around the Louisville area, might be more options with less care and cost…the minimalist ones around here are around 300 But are too minimal for me, as in the horse’s look like crap when you drive by, and I don’t mean fuzzy and mud covered, I mean they don’t look healthy. And at least one would be best described as a dump.
I paid $360/month for full board in Fort Wayne, IN, that would be a great retirement situation. Every horse has a stall, turnout in good weather (they manage the hell out of their pastures :)), they will blanket, trim feet (little extra) & just generally great care. I was in VA & never worried about the horse being neglected. PM me if you want the contact info; I think he’s got a stall available now.
If you’re looking in Kentucky I’d highly recommend Melody Adler at Aurora Farms for retiree care. A friend had sent her horse there for retirement and recommended it to me when I needed a lay up care for my horse post-colic surgery. Melody took amazing care of my horse and I wouldn’t hesitate to trust my horse with her. PM me if you want more info or contact information.
