Welcome to the Family!

On behalf of all of us here at Phoenix Acres: Welcome! We would like to take this opportunity to say thank you for choosing Phoenix Acres for the care and well being of your horse. We hope you find your time with us rewarding and conflict free. In order to ensure the best care for our clients and their horses, the following rules and schedules will apply to all clients.

Farm Rules:

  1. You are more than welcome – and encouraged – to visit your horse at any time without advance notice to us unless you plan to arrive before 10 AM or after 10 PM.
  2. Normal barn hours are 10 AM to 10 PM, 7 days a week. Please check during foaling season (late March through early June) to prevent upsetting mares trying to bring their precious babies into the world.
  3. You may use any of the facilities in the barn. Please return them to their proper place and condition after each use.
  4. You may use the arena at any time at your own risk. You may want to call ahead to be sure no one else has plans to use it at the same time as you. Arena use is on a first come, first use basis – but please limit your use to one hour if there are others waiting.
  5. ABSOLUTELY NO SMOKING OR OPEN FLAME IS ALLOWED IN OR NEAR THE BARN!!
  6. Please mark your tack and supplies that you leave at Phoenix Acres. Let us know when you bring in something new so we can add it to your inventory list. Please do not use someone else’s tack without their permission!
  7. ALL children under 18 must be supervised! If your child will be riding, they must wear a helmet.
  8. Animal cruelty WILL NOT BE TOLERATED. Any acts deemed cruel will be discussed with you. Continued or blatant cruelty will result in immediate termination of your boarding/training agreement and will be reported to the appropriate authorities if necessary.
  9. Please do not turn out someone else’s horse unless you have their permission and then only into the appropriate turn out area for that horse. If you do not know where the horse is supposed to be turned out – ASK!!
  10. Suggestions? Let us know what you would like to see here at the farm or have changed and we will do our best to accommodate you.

Schedules:

Billing: Invoices are mailed each month. Board will be billed one month in advance. All incurred expenses in the month prior, paid and unpaid, will be included on the invoice to help you keep track of your horse related expenses. Balances are due by the 10th of each month. All past due balances will incur interest at the rate of 10% per annum.

Farrier: We schedule a farrier visit every month. The horses are on an every other month trimming schedule unless you specify otherwise. Your horse will automatically be trimmed and/or shod as per this schedule. You will see the date and cost of the visit on your invoice.

Deworming: We deworm with Ivermectin every other month (February, April, June, August, October, and December). Deworming is not optional. You will see the date and cost of the deworming on your invoice.

Vaccinations: We vaccinate with 5- way vaccine (Eastern/Western Encephalomyelitis, Tetanus, Influenza, Rhinopneumonitis), and Strangles twice a year (normally in April and October). Routine vaccines are not optional. At your request, we will vaccinate your horse for Rabies once a year (normally in April). We highly recommend the Rabies vaccine; but it is optional. You will see the date and cost of the vaccinations on your invoice.

Turnout: Each horse will have daily turnout unless there is a medical or weather reason preventing this. The farm is currently designated with four separate turn out areas. These areas each have a name (such as ‘The Sahara’, and ‘Egypt’) and are listed on a “map” in the barn area along with gate signs. Great care will be taken to match the personalities of the horses in each area to prevent too much “arguing” among the horses. Because of this, please be certain you have turned your house out into the correct area! The horses (except stallions) owned by Phoenix Acres are usually left out 24/7 unless the weather is too bad. If you would like your horse to remain out in nice weather, please let us know.

Feeding: We routinely feed daily, but each horse is an individual and will be on the routine most suited to their health and needs.

Grooming: The heavy-duty stuff is up to you, but we will do our best to help you keep them from looking like ‘scruff-muffins’ when you are not available (like after that good mud roll in the spring!).

Stalls: The stalls are picked out daily (twice daily for little piggy’s), stripped and re-bedded weekly. If you know anyone interested in picking up manure for use in gardens, etc., let us know. They are welcome to dig into the ‘pile’ for free.

That about covers it! If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask. Again, let us say thank you for trusting us to care for your precious horse, and welcome the Phoenix Acres family.

Best Wishes,

Corrine Carter

Phoenix Acres