Why is it so hard to find a place for my retiree?

[TheAnxiousAmmy]

COTH… I am so stressed out. All I want is to find a nice place for my senior horse where he will get good care. We’re paying close to $2000 a month right now to board him, so it’s not even like I’m trying to be cheap. For reasons irrelevant to this post, he can’t stay where he is, and I cannot find a place close to me. He’s a super senior, but he’s not complicated. He still eats like a normal horse, and doesn’t require any special modifications aside from extended turnout. I even lightly ride him still. I know most full care show barns want you to show. That’s understandable. But finding a place to put him where he still gets that same level of attention as a retired horse has been impossible. I would sell all my belongings to pay for this horse to have a nice place to go lol I’d sell one of my kidneys, too. I’d literally do anything for this horse, and if I could put him in my backyard, I would. I also don’t think I could send him far away because he’s my emotional support animal—I’ve had him for 18 years. The dude is my horcrux (I’m disappointed in you if you don’t get the reference). I love just hanging out with him. I’m not even sure why I am making this post. I guess to commiserate over aging horses and that it is so unfair they don’t live forever. I don’t think I will ever purchase another horse without having land at home to retire them on. Leasing a horse sounds great right about now.

Tell me happy stories about your super seniors because grappling with moving him, the possibility of him being far way, AND acknowledging that he is an old man is really hitting me hard today.

PS: if you know of anyone in need of a kidney with a great place for a senior horse to land in the DFW, (TX) area let me know.

[ThreeWishes]

Awww I’m so sorry ! If you were in Florida I’d beg you to send him to me. I just moved my horse home and he’s lonely. I hope you find a place close. Good luck!

[OverandOnward]

I hope you find some good answers, because I need them, too. I am also short of a good place for an easy retirement horse.

Years ago I ran an ad “ISO pasture board for horse” and was specific about what I wanted – grassy pastures, eyes on the horse, etc., and what I didn’t want – no dirt lots, no huge acreage with an unsupervised herd.

Low & behold, the perfect place contacted me. My horse was there for 3 years before he passed away.

I need the same thing to happen all over again …

If I find the perfect place but far away, maybe I will just move to that area to be close to my horse. It’s that desperate.

[fordtraktor]

Wow, that is a lot! I have done retiree boarding in the past, and field board with grain 2x a day and unlimited hay in small groups can be done around here for around $500/month. We are full though.

I know we have a few here with retirees at good places, I just can’t remember their COTH names! Find a place where you get to see pictures every week or two. When I did long distance retirees, I tried to send pics a few times per month.

My owners were superb and would send anything I asked for, like fly sheets and masks, and medical tests as they aged and got Cushings. You sound like a similar owner. I am sure you can find a place with time.

[atr]

I feel so fortunate to have found the place I have for my old man. Its not cheap–averages about $550 a month, but he gets excellent individual care in a small barn with lovely summer grass pastures and big dry lot turnout with selected friends in the winter. He’s handled every day, he’s still under the care of my vet practice and his trimmer is really good.

I found them on a local Facebook horse page purely by chance. They are an hour or so from me.

[StormyDay]

If you’re willing to send him a bit further away, my old neighbor does retiree field board. She’s great. Blankets everyone, grooms when they need it. High quality food. Takes care of all vet/farrier appointments. And it’s like $350-$375 a month.

[trubandloki]

The kind of barn you are looking for likely does not have frequent openings so does not advertise. You need to find it by word of mouth.

Do you have a local horse oriented facebook group? Post there asking about low key boarding for a retired horse. Ask you farrier if they know anywhere. Ask your vet if they know anywhere.

[fivestrideline]

I found the best retirement barn through word of mouth - BO is an angel and worth 10x what I pay. Definitely post specific ISO on social, but maybe someone here will be able to find something for you.

I will say - my retirement barn doesn’t take riding clients - everything is retired or on rehab. Owners are welcome to come groom/hang out/etc, but it’s not a boarding barn. Keeps costs down and keeps BO sane, I think .

Boarding horses (both finding a place, and owning the place) is such a crapshoot these days. I feel for you, OP!

[JB]

Ask your vet and farrier (and chiro and mt if you use those) if they know of anyone private. My vet has occasionally asked me if I could take in a client’s horse because our farm met that horse’s needs

[Heinz_57]

@TheAnxiousAmmy

Tell me happy stories about your super seniors because grappling with moving him, the possibility of him being far way, AND acknowledging that he is an old man is really hitting me hard today.

PS: if you know of anyone in need of a kidney with a great place for a senior horse to land in the DFW, (TX) area let me know.

Bless you for being willing and able to go to these lengths to care for him in his old age. He’s a lucky boy.

I wish my barn was built already! I have pondered setting up a small-scale retirement board operation once I finish setting this property up, since I already have a high-maintenance senior - Bo, who would love to have some oldster friends. Although I am a bit outside of your area, 2-3 hours SE of DFW. I hope you can find a new place that fits all your needs! Finding suitable regular boarding seems to be quite a challenge these days, nevermind retirement board.

[walkinthewalk]

There is a place in Shelbyville, TN that is strictly retirement for end of career show horses but her rates for 20 star care are more than reasonable.

I know her and her daughter and if this website sounds too good to be true, I promise you it is everything they say. They do what they advertise. The issue is there is a waiting list, but I don’t know how long it is.

Trinity Sky Farms

Best wishes and best of luck finding a place for your horse. My two are 27 & 29. The 29 year old has been with me 27 years so I empathize with you. I am fortunate to have them on my property.

[Widget]

I had the hardest time finding a spot for my mare! She’s currently 3 hours from me at a great retirement facility (full service retirement) but it’s hard not seeing her regularly! I asked on local FB pages, as well as word of mouth with my horsey contacts (vet, farrier, etc.) but nothing came about. I would have loved to have her retire closer to me at a place where she just needed to keep another horse company. FFWIW, I’m in the Houston area.

[Pico_Banana]

Places like that are out there, you just have to find them! I am looking for someone like you to be horse #4 at my place, but unfortunately we are on the other side of the country.

[Annie10]

Ask at the tack store and feed store

[PonyPenny]

Yes, several CA people have sent their horses there and are very happy.

[SMF11]

If you are going to send your horse away, Paradigm Farms in TN is kind of the gold standard. The owner is @onthebit.

I also do retirement boarding (in NY) and usually find people through word of mouth. I don’t advertise. I am usually full – any good place that’s been around for awhile usually is. Ask your vet, they will know all/most area barns.

The way you describe your situation is exactly what I look for, btw. I want someone who really loves their horse and who’s owned it for a long time. (Because retirees have no monetary value, and I don’t want to risk someone abandoning the horse on my farm).

I am sure a good place is out there, good luck with your search!

[vxf111]

I board retirees. Most places like mine are 100% word of mouth and don’t often have openings because, if you’re good, horses tend to stay until they pass away. Asking your vet/farrier or feed store is a good way to find these smaller places.

[OverandOnward]

Questions for those who know how retirement care farms are run, especially if the horse is living a considerable distance from the owners …

Do owners keep up with monthly board? I would think that there is a risk of the horse becoming ‘out of sight, out of mind’ and the owners abandoning. Are there any steps up-front that will help assure that the owner continues that monthly payment?

Do owners provide adequate funds for extra care if the horse has a vet situation? Same thing, if the horse is no longer nearby, maybe an owner becomes slow or dismissive about this.

I don’t remember the name of the farm, but I saw an ad for one that basically took ownership of the horses kept there so that they could make all decisions, including when the end of life should come. They took an up-front payment from the owner of $6,000 (I think it was) to be to provide for the horse for the remainder of its life, and that was the only financial contribution the owner made. On the one hand I get the logic, on the other I can see an open door for abuse of finances and horses. What do people who know retirement care think of this model?

[clanter]

What part of the DFW area? this is sort of an expansive area

Give a general area… please

[Jarpur]

@TheAnxiousAmmy

Tell me happy stories about your super seniors because grappling with moving him, the possibility of him being far way, AND acknowledging that he is an old man is really hitting me hard today.

The above was a major influence in our buying our place 25 years ago, as my super senior was already in his 30s. I’ve got a homebred 25 year old now that I’m beginning to fret over (he’s perfectly healthy, knock on wood).

Best wishes for something to turn up, agree with other posters that word-of-mouth is probably the way to go. Do you still want to ride him? That might be a bit of a sticking point with someone who would otherwise accept an easy-to-care-for retiree, but doesn’t have the facilities (or the insurance) for a riding boarder.