Leading the Way in Horse Retirement Since 1988
USHJA Approved Equine Retirement Facility
Located in Central Pennsylvania we are a premier full care horse retirement facility providing personalized care for 15-20 retired horses in small herds or private turnout.
We have set the standard in horse retirement for over thirty years.
Owners retired horses are kept safe, healthy, and happy grazing our manicured pastures fenced entirely with superior fencing, protected from the weather by run in sheds with 6-8' overhangs that insure your horse is protected from the weather. Sheds are bedded for your horses' comfort.
Your horse is fed only premium extruded feeds in a box stall or separately in their own paddock. High quality hay baled in small bales is provided free choice in slow feed hay bags 24/7 when needed.
Our farrier is one of the best in the country - just ask our clients. Your horse's health is managed by our full-time equine vets.
Your horse's caretakers have over 100 years combined horse experience, founding one of the first retirement farms of its kind because of our love and belief in the lifetime commitment to not only our horses, but our other animals as well.
All of this equals Peace of Mind for the loving owners from all over the United States, Europe, and Asia who retire their horses to Orchard Equine Retirement.
"God blessed Gatsby when I found you"
Sacha Walker owner Good to Go, aka Gatsby retired show hunter
So why is Orchard Equine Retirement a horse retirement farm like no other?
We are not a horse rescue or non-profit horse sanctuary, so we do not accept donated horses.
Full Care Horse Retirement Farm
Reasons Orchard Equine Retirement Sets the Bar in Horse Retirement
Infrastructure - Superior Fences, Superb Run In Sheds, Box Stalls, & of course our Manicured Pastures.
Feed - We provide your horse with only the best feeds. That includes high-quality extruded feeds and high-quality hay in small bales, no large round or square bales that require your horse be vaccinated against deadly Botulism.
Care - Our level of care. Founded by Christine Reese in 1988 to provide owners with a retirement farm where owners could rest easy knowing their horses were cared for and loved by an experienced and dedicated person who was truly committed to providing horses with a safe, healthy, & happy retirement.
Commitment - Christine believed in making the lifetime commitment to your horse long before horse retirement was even a concept. Christine refused to sell her first horse and best friend of 28 years, her beloved Prince.
Support - And finally when the day comes that owners must say good bye to their faithful partner and friend, Orchard Equine Retirement offers owners a place to bury their horse - our Heirloom Apple Orchard.
WHY WE BOARD RETIRED HORSES
Orchard Equine Retirement was launched in 1988 after five failed attempts at boarding my retired horse at various facilities that left my horse injured and starved.
Problems:
Riding stables - "no sense letting a nice horse like that stand around and do nothing"
Pasture Turnout- too lazy to bring my horse into the stall I paid for & failure to feed individually or enough.
Unsafe & inadequate fencing.
Show Barns - Not enough pasture. No conception of relationship with a retired horse.
Breeding Farms - Beautiful pastures, safe fencing, but no individual feeding & lack of concern for a horse with no monetary value.
Thus a retirement farm that understands & respects the relationship between you & your horse with high standards of management and care.
Prince's Reckoning, aka "Prince" in his stall with his wins and championships displayed.
Prince's Reckoning, aka "Prince" in his stall with his wins and championships displayed.
“Prince was truly that once in a lifetime horse that so few of us are blessed to find. Many, many heartfelt thanks to the whole Reese family for giving him eight happy years of retirement
We knew we never had to worry about him with you and that as much as Prince did, meant the world to us.”
Hillary Foxsong
Reserve Your Horse's Retirement Today
Peace of Mind is Priceless.
At Orchard Equine Retirement we have been providing Full Care Horse Retirement since 1988. We know that retiring horses is so much more than turning a horse out in a pasture.
Much more. We understand and respect the special relationship owners have with their horses. We understand how difficult it is to separate from your partner and friend.
We've been there. Lying awake at night wondering if they are being fed properly. If they are standing out in the weather, or are they comfortable inside their box stall or run in shed with their buddies.
It is that very relationship with a horse named Prince and the failed search for a horse retirement farm where he could safely retire, that inspires us to this day.
We look forward to discussing the retirement you want for your horse. Please include your horse's name in your message!
Our Rates
We offer flat rate and itemized billing. Clients choose which method best suits their horse's needs and their preferences. Call or send a message to reserve your horse's retirement at the farm that continues to set the standard in horse retirement.
Sincerely,
Christine, Jack, and Sarah
Orchard Equine Retirement