![how to retire horses on pocket stables how to retire horses on pocket stables](https://media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com/image/upload/t_fit-560w,f_auto,q_auto:best/newscms/2016_08/989321/caissonhorse-kennedy-inline-002-today-160225.jpg)
![how to retire horses on pocket stables how to retire horses on pocket stables](https://media.pocketgamer.com/artwork/na-31799-1597916725/Champion_Horse_Racing-iOS-Android-Artwork.jpg)
“When a horse comes to me, his care and well-being are paramount,” McMillan says. Roseanna McMillan, who developed White Rock Manor in the late 1980s, notes that entrusting your older horse into the care of knowledgeable and committed professionals allows you more flexibility.
![how to retire horses on pocket stables how to retire horses on pocket stables](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/UdquV5FUpSM/maxresdefault.jpg)
While that’s a viable choice, consider the amount of care involved. You might be considering keeping your retired mount on your own property. We always check to make sure the horses are eating-we don’t just feed them and walk away.” “Every horse has his own bucket that’s color-coded, and each horse is on a different medication, supplement, and diet. “We recognize the signs and can do something before anything reaches a critical level,” Johnson says. A veterinarian vaccinates and floats all residents’ teeth on a schedule, checking for dental issues and heading them off early when possible, thanks to this routine. “They get their grain and their hay, and then they wander out to the waterer, which is a really great chance to observe each horse and see that they’re all healthy and traveling in a group.”Ĭottonwood Stables’ horses have standing farrier appointments every six weeks. “Each morning when I go to feed at 7:00, they’re all taking their morning nap in the sun to warm their bodies up,” says McMillan. Having a regular routine boosts your senior horse’s health and comfort level. But for an older horse, inactivity can cause stiffness and stocking up. McMillan agrees, noting that a typical show horse might spend 12 or 14 hours without moving freely. “I’ve learned from working with veterinarians that older horses with arthritis and other issues are better out and about, moving instead of standing in a stall,” Johnson advises. In the meantime, find a way to keep him moving. Consider how your horse has been housed throughout his life when planning for retirement, and expect an adjustment period. Complete turnout could be a shock to his system, she says.
How to retire horses on pocket stables full#
Johnson maintains that a horse used to a life of strenuous competition is accustomed to being pampered and kept in a stall, so full turnout isn’t always the best option, at least not to begin his retirement. And unless the owner is there to take care of him, the horse might not get individualized attention that a senior horse can require.” “The horse might spend four hours a day turned out and the rest of the time in a stall. “When a performance horse reaches an age where he’s living with health or soundness issues and he can no longer do his job, the owner may look around at the training barn and think, is this where I want my horse to spend the rest of his life?” Johnson says. Most of the owners of Johnson’s charges chose her facility as a long-term residence for their former show horses. Johnson’s Cottonwood Stables is a retirement haven for 30 performance horses that can no longer be ridden many are geriatric. Talk to other boarders to ensure that you’re comfortable with the facility’s atmosphere. If you live in a very cold or very warm climate, your older horse may struggle during the extreme temperatures that he previously handled with ease.įavor senior horse retirement facility with small-herd turnout so your senior can get food and water without anxiety. If you live in a metropolitan area, you might be hard-pressed to find a facility with adequate land to allow your horse freedom to move around most of the day. If he’ll be turned out with a large herd and left to fend for himself, and that situation doesn’t suit his personality, then the 400 acres hardly matter.Īlso consider location, says McMillan. For example, if you’re told there are 400 acres of turnout pasture, ask if your horse’s specific turnout needs will be met. McMillan advises asking specific, clarifying questions of the facility owner or manager. Is this someplace you’d want to live for the rest of your life?” “What do the horses look like? Look for cuts and unexpected limping. “Are the stalls clean? Are the water buckets full? How safe is the barn? How safe is the fencing?” Johnson suggests you ask. Pay attention to the same things you look for in a good boarding establishment: competency of care, experienced staff, good references, and a positive track record. Are their feet maintained? Are they healthy and happy-looking? These are good signs your horse will also thrive in this atmosphere. Johnson recommends looking at the other horses boarded at your horse’s potential new home.