Why increased turn out?
It can help with
Digestion
Horses are designed to eat up to 20 hours a day. We provide ample grazing and ad lib hay.
Healthy Relationships
Horses (and people) are herd animals. We encourage both species to create strong, healthy, lasting bonds.
Movement
Horses are designed to move. Their hooves and digestive systems require near constant moving. We have built our system with this need in mind.
Cognitive Enrichment
Our pastures are more than grass. We encourage herbs to grow in all of our pastures, which allows horses to browse and forage as nature intended. We also provide regular cognitive enrichment activities to keep their minds working.
Hoof Health
Our water stations are designed to encourage healthy soles and stimulate strong hooves. The increased movement keeps blood flowing through the hooves.
Stress Reduction
Our facilities are designed with horses' ethology in mind. Everything is specific to their needs. This reduces stress and results in a happier, healthier horses.
Creating Home.
We believe that nature is the best care taker. So, we strive to supply species appropriate environments for all of the animals in our care. We are a full-care, full-service boarding facility in beautiful Suffolk, Virginia.
In the wild, horses move over large tracts of varied terrain, eating small amounts over the course of 18-20 hours. Modern, highly cultivated and fertilized pastures are no replacement for their natural environment. A shift is needed. Knowing that we can't create the mountains of Nevada in South East Virginia, we began brainstorming on what we can do.
We feed a forage-based diet supplemented by Custom Equine Nutrition's Vermont Blend minerals, vitamin E, and flax and tested low NSC hay fed in hay nets. Loose salt is also offered free choice, and feed is soaked to improve hydration and digestion.
We have a modified track system to encourage movement and a rotational grazing program that helps us manage our pastures effectively.
Our pastures are biodiverse, allowing horses to forage as nature intended. In the fall of 2020 we began testing our pastures so that we may ensure a well balanced nutrition program for the horses in our care. The pasture analysis is available for any prospective boarder to review.
We compost manure to spread back on rested pastures once fully composted, keeping all the nutrients where they belong - in our grasses and herbs. To assist with composting, we use hemp bedding in our stalls.
We encourage beneficial insects to thrive on our property, including dragonflies, dung beetles, pollinators, and more. Our farm is a haven for wild birds. We are lucky to host barn swallows, purple martins, robins, finches, wild turkeys, bluebirds, and several raptor species (bald eagle, red tail hawk, and osprey). These animals all do a part to keep "pests" down and work our soil.
Bi-weekly visits from a barefoot trimmer are also available to keep hooves in great shape. We are happy to hold for trims and other appointments, schedule permitting.
We are full, please contact us to be added to our waitlist.
We're more than Pasture Board
Our model of horse care is all inclusive. So feed, hay, minerals, bedding, blanketing, even high quality fly spray are all included in our board. We are a full-service facility that understands that horses are healthier when afforded the freedom to move, graze, and maintain social connections and not be locked in 12 x 12 stalls. We will bring your horse into well bedded and cleaned stalls daily to ensure that they get the individualized care and attention that they deserve, and then they're allowed to be a horse as nature intended the other 23 hours a day.
We will post photos of your horse in our members site, allowing you to stay informed about their care, even when you can't make it to the barn. Of course, we know that Ardani is at its best when our friends and clients are there! So, we take care to create a safe and comfortable environment for our human clients, too.
The fridge is stocked with drinks, there is farm-grown tea in the office, you can gather for lunch around the fire pit, grab a few herbs or veggies from the garden, and if you want to stop in to spend time with your equine family members before heading off to work (or anywhere else where the smell of horse sweat and fly spray may not be appreciated) - we have a shower with hot and cold (city) water in the barn with clean towels ready on standby.
Our farm is a place of relaxation and community. We plan on holding events like wine tasting, movie nights, cookouts and more. And we want you to be a part of it. Ardani is more than a horse boarding facility- it's a place to gather and feel at home.
Clients are welcome to use the farrier, trimmer, and vet of their choice or schedule with us. We are always happy to hold for appointments when we are notified in advance. Outside trainers and instructors are encouraged and welcome! They must provide a Certificate of Insurance and embrace our spirit of inclusiveness.
Due to safety concerns, as we do use hay nets at ground level, only barefoot horses are appropriate for our facility. Special arrangements will, of course, be made for horses who are in corrective shoes temporarily.
We look forward to sharing it with you.
Turnout
Your horses will be outside in mixed herds as much as practical & have access to shelters with fans when they need a break from the summer sun or winter wind.
Large Stalls
We believe horses should be out as much as possible. But it's comforting to know that your horse has a place of her own. Open, airy 13x13 stalls are used for feeding or to await appointments or more.
Fly Control
H-traps in the pastures, fly predators, shelters with fans and Equiderma fly spray are included. Fly sheets, boots, and masks will be put on at no charge
Nutrition
Ad lib forage, rested pastures, loose salt, balanced minerals, and soaked hay pellets are the basis of our feeding program. If your horse has special needs, let's develop a program to help them thrive.
Enrichment
Scratching posts, foraging opportunities, and more keep the horses learning and exploring. The farm has a nice track for riding or hand walking with hills for conditioning.
Amenities
Dedicated stall with electric, hot water in wash rack, washer and drier, shower, bathroom, and climate controlled office make every day a nice day at the barn.
Horses Should be Treated as Individuals
Horses are sentient beings with their own thoughts and feelings about the world around them. We base our care on taking these very real feelings into consideration. For this reason, abusive horse practices (harsh bits, whips, riding behind the vertical, draw reins, etc) will not be tolerated on this property. Love the horse first and the sport second.
We fully support and will work with anyone who is using positive reinforcement (R+) to train their hoses in basic husbandry (cooperative care) and beyond.