To help facilitate good communications with our owners, we have included the following definitions of service. What is included and what is not. We want our owners to be completely satisfied with the quality of service received. We have a policy of No Surprises.
All Horses:
All horses must have proper identification(halter name plate or neck strap), this is also a requirement for most breeding sheds. Vaccinations must be up to date and verifiable. A negative coggins is required. Out of state horses must have a clean interstate health certificate. All horses will be included in our regular worming schedule. Wormer type will be based on the horses regular worming regiment. Worming is included in the daily rate. Horses will receive regular farrier and dental care as needed and in most cases will be billed to the owner directly by the provider. Our farm Veterinarian is Tom Daugherty of Rood & Riddle. However, we will use your preferred Veterinarian.
Broodmares:
We start maiden and barren mares under lights beginning December 1st. If these mares are sent to us for breeding season only, we prefer to have them prior to December 1st unless the owner is running their own lighting program. We recommend breeding these mares on their second solid heat. All breeding sheds require a clean culture, most require it to be no more than 45 days old and some no more than 30 days.
Maiden mares must be jumped before going to the breeding shed for the first time. We can facilitate this requirement with our teaser and a shield; there will be an additional charge for this service.
Once a maiden or barren mare has conceived, the daily rate for a barren mare remains in place until the mare enters the third trimester in foal. At that time her status is changed to broodmare in foal and the higher daily rate applies.
Timing the mare's cover requires diligence, a good teaser, and veterinary assistance. We strive to have the mare at the breeding shed just before ovulation occurs. This will require several Veterinary examinations of which are billed directly to the owner.
Our post breeding Veterinary checks are listed below. It is highly reccomended that each of them be performed. These are additional charges and are billed directly to the owner. Each have a specific purpose, mainly to detect and resolve problems early. Twins, fetal visibility, good tone, fetal size, fetal development, and a final check to confirm pregnancy.
16 to 18 days - Palpation and Ultrasound
25 to 28 days - Palpation and Ultrasound
35 days - Palpation
45 days - Palpation
60 days - Palpation
100 days - Palpation
We recommend that out of state mares not be shipped until their 100 day palpation. All mares being shipped prior to the 100 day exam will be examined the day of shipment and certified in foal by the Veterinarian prior to departure.
Weanling:
A weanling is a foal that has been weaned from its dam the year it was born up to and including December 31st. On January 1st the weanling becomes a yearling regardless of what month it was born. We do not encourage early weaning of foals and like to keep them with their dam until they are at least 5 months old but not more than 7 months. Mother Nature will indicate when weaning is necessary. The mare’s condition is a very important factor in the decision to wean, as is the health of the foal. We will inform the owner before weaning.
Weanlings get to keep their stall, as their dam will be moved to another part of the farm. This way the weanling can keep its routine and have familiar surroundings to help ease stress during the weaning process.
Yearlings:
All yearlings will have a stall available to them in times of bad weather and to eat one meal a day. (Their second meal will be outside with their buddies.) For the most part they will stay outside so they can run and play and be babies! When they are in to eat, we will look over them for bumps and dings, and clean out their feet. We will teach these babies to be lead and to stand for the vet or farrier. Our program is designed to teach them bravery and leadership. They will have ground manors! Please contact us to discuss our proprietary Juvenile Development program in detail.
We are not starting yearlings under saddle at this time, but for a small fee we will prep the youngster for the training center starting a few weeks before they are scheduled to leave. This will help them ease into the training regiment. For year round boarders we will offer to start their yearlings in the fall of 2005. This includes equipment, rider up, and physical conditioning. The horse will be ready to test for their gate card and to commence speed work upon delivery to the Trainer. We will only prepare horses that we have raised.
Sales Preparation:
Sales Prep horses will have a stall and be turned out individually if a colt and with one other if a filly until the final weeks when all horses are separated. They will be groomed and handled daily so they shine in the sales ring. They will learn to stand quietly with total professionalism and wear a sheet or blanket. They will not be shoved, poked, or prodded. Our program is designed to instill trust of man and to teach without confrontation. We strive to deliver every yearling with the ability to load without problem. There is an eight-week minimum from the day we are required to deliver them to the sales agency. A horse that “freaks-out” at the sale or in the sales ring shows an inability to maintain composure under pressure and can have a negative effect on sales price.
Lay-ups:
Surgical Lay-ups, Major treatments, hand walking only as exercise, and let downs:
These are horses right off the track that need to have let down time before being turned out for a lengthy rest period or horses that require treatment for a short period of time before resuming training and must be hand walked to limit their exercise or horses that are too injured to be turned out and require medications and bandage changes, such as a horse recovering from bone chip removal. The day rate only covers the care of the animals, not medications and consumables. These animals can stay for a week or as long as needed.
Minor treatments with a stall and daily turnout:
These are horses that have had time to let down so they can be turned out in a field or paddock. We will dress them in your protective leg gear or sheets and blankets at your request. A laundry fee will be billed if necessary due to weather conditions and horses habits. We will apply leg braces, poultices, and small wound medications as directed by a vet or trainer. These items are not included in your daily rate and you will be billed accordingly. You may supply your own medications and bandages as well.
Non-breeding stallions or off season board for stallions:
We are not breeding stallions at this time. We can easily accommodate up to 2 stallions at a time. The day rate includes a stall and separate turnout. If this is a pensioned Stallion, the rate maybe lowered depending on the stallions’ disposition.
Un-broke 2 year olds:
Sometimes a yearling is injured or just doesn't’t develop as fast as the others. These animals are often left in the field and broken as late 2 year olds or when they turn 3. We treat these animals just like we would a yearling but pair them up with horses of their own age or older. They may go out with the pensioners, or barren and maiden mares. They will be handled daily, but only to be lead in and out and to clean their feet so they will stand for the farrier and vet.
2 year olds broke then turned out to grow:
Occasionally a youngster goes off to be trained only to come up lame or they are not mature enough to go on to the racetrack straight from the training center. These youngsters are welcome at the farm for some rest and relaxation so they can grow, heal or mature. When the time comes to leg them back up to send them off to the track, we will for a small fee, start them back under saddle to accept weight on their back again before sending them to the Trainer. If your Trainer is close, they are welcome to come by to check on the youngster’s progress!
Retired or pensioned horses:
These are horses that can no longer be of useful service either as a broodmare or riding horse, but they are in good health and can move around fairly well with no daily pain medications. If supplements are required, such as a joint supplement or weight gain supplement, the owner will provide these and we will make sure the animal consumes them as directed by owner or vet.
We will also match them up with suitable turnout buddies and do everything possible to keep these animals happy, healthy and free of stress. A few times a week we will groom each old timer to check for hidden problems, check their teeth and clean out their feet to make sure they are healthy from top to bottom. If they have a fear or phobia about a particular part being touched or groomed, like ears for instance we will not fight with them. Most horses enjoy attention, and just because they are retired we shouldn’t neglect their need for a people connection.
If at anytime a pensioned or retired horse requires special feed or supplements, a turnout rug, corrective shoeing, or daily medications, these are extra and will be billed accordingly. Of course we will notify you first!
If they require a stall for any reason, we will make sure one is available. This is included in your day rate. De-worming is also included for year round boarders.
Owners, Trainers, and Veterinarians can always check on the athlete through our Equine Management Dashboard. The password protected EMD is located on our website and is accessible via the World Wide Web 24 hours a day.
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