Springfield Equine Retirement

When my horse Trey moved to Springfield farm, he was 19; he recently had been diagnosed with a bone chip in his ankle, and he was unable to be ridden anymore. I was very busy with my two young children at the time, and had been looking for a barn who could not only attend to Trey’s needs, but also love him. Trey instantly settled in on the farm and made friends with the other old-timers. Over the years, it honestly felt like Trey had lived there for years, he was so comfortable and happy. Lori and Charlie took excellent care of Trey, and I never had to worry about him, which was priceless. As time went on, I had other family obligations to attend to which means I got out to the barn less and less. Trey never wanted for anything during his time at Springfield, and that included unconditional love and attention from Lori and Charlie. When I was too busy to come out, I would get a quick text or picture of Trey napping or playing, which always made my day. In the summer of 2013, Trey had to be put down following a brief but severe illness. Lori and Charlie (and their staff) helped guide me through that difficult process in the best possible way. At Springfield, Trey found a peaceful and loving environment in which to live out his days. While I wish he had many more years on the farm, the years he spent there were wonderful and I know we both felt it was a special place to be. Trey is now buried on the property at Springfield, and I can’t imagine a better resting place for my special boy.

I can’t say enough good things about the Elrod’s and the wonderful care that they gave to my mare, Holly. I had to move out of state and knew that my 26 year old mare could not make the move with me. Without any reservation, I knew that I could leave her in their care and know that she would be lovingly and properly cared for. She lived many more happy and content years because of their diligence and kindness. They always kept me updated through photos, texts, phone calls and emails. I felt completely at ease with my decision to let Holly spend her remaining years at Springfield Farm.

When it was time to make the most difficult decision, they were there through multiple phone calls, vet visits, nutrition consults, tears and laughter. Most importantly, they were there for Holly, by her side, when I was unable to be. The comfort that she was with people who loved her sweet, quirky personality meant so much to me and my family. After Holly was euthanized, I received emails, texts and a beautifully wrapped package from Lori. Another boarder, Nancy, even reached out to me with kind words and a photo. Holly is buried next to Nancy's horse,Trey, and she had placed flowers on their graves. It was a such a sweet gesture and made my heart happy to think that Holly was still being taken care of.

I am thankful for the excellent care they provided Holly and would not hesitate to retire her daughter, Rory, at Springfield Farm in the future.

Lori and Charlie are amazing caretakers of my horse, Fassetta. When I moved Fassetta from Seattle, WA to Ithaca, NY, Lori and Charlie communicated with me frequently to ensure they were there when she arrived. When Fassetta arrived, they had set up a spacious quarantine paddock and stall with plenty of shavings, water, and a hay net and checked on her frequently until she settled in. Taking her temp twice/day and monitoring her feed, hay and water intake helped assure us that Fassetta had made the long trip in great shape and could be safely turned out with the other horses. Lori sent me daily messages and pictures to let me know Fassetta was doing well. In the year Fassetta has been under their care, she has flourished and is enjoying her retirement in upstate New York with her buddies Galileo and Aussie. As a graduate student with limited time and money the barn is only a fifteen-minute drive from Cornell’s campus on well-maintained roads. Their facility is truly one in a million. My horse is receiving top-tier care for an affordable price. The barn is a place for me to relax and destress after being in the lab all day. Whenever I come out to see Fassetta, I usually see Lori, Julie or Charlie around the barn. I know the permanent retirees: Gal, Aussie, Fassetta, Ricky, Peaches, and Bella love living there because they always greet people who come up to the barn and are excited to come in for grain in the morning and evening. Because the horses are checked on multiple times per day, any emergencies are caught early. For example, Fassetta was acting unusually lethargic a couple months ago and Lori quickly identified her changed attitude as potential anaplasmosis (tick borne infection). Dr. Annie Maddison from Starland Vet was at the barn the same day to treat Fassetta. Unfortunately, Fassetta had another infection and Lori told me immediately and offered to be at the barn when the vet came. This quick response is one of many examples of the excellent care the horses receive. Not only do Lori and Charlie take amazing care of my horse, but they also go above and beyond to communicate with the owners of the horses to ensure everyone stays up to date. They have helped me create a second home here with my horse. I could not ask for a better retirement for Fassetta!