Manakin-Sabot Equestrian Center

07/26/2024

Cute farm for sale near Rte 33 in Montpelier!!!

10/05/2023

The footing and lighting in our indoor riding ring have needed upgrading for quite a while, and we are finally moving forward to have it done before the cold weather and short days set in. But we need your help.

The budget for the footing project is $13,000, and Luck Stone has kindly offered to donate $5,000 worth of material, which leaves us with $8,000 to raise. We’re currently more than halfway there! While we don’t yet have a final cost for the lighting upgrade, we expect it to be in the $2,000 range.

Our mission at MSEC/MERA is to provide a dignified retirement or second career for older and unwanted horses, ponies, and donkeys. We do that through revenues raised by horse boarding, our riding lesson programs, and kind donations from the community. In view of this, the IRS has granted us 501 (c) (3) non-profit status. This means any donation you make is tax-deductible as a charitable contribution.

You can make a donation by check payable to the Manakin Equine Retirement Association (MERA) or by using the Make A Donation button on our website. Thanks so much for your help!

Manakin Sabot Equestrian Center is home to the Manakin Equine Retirement Association, Inc a 501 (c) 3 where your board and lesson fees help to support retired and unwanted horses

09/16/2023

Welcome to the farm Wesley! We are so happy to have you here. Show Name - As You Wish- Because you are such a sweet farm boy.

04/03/2023

Many thanks to our wonderful barn family! Your hard work and reliability made it possible for us to take our much needed vacation last week. ❤️❤️

03/01/2023

Half a million workers short? PolycreteUSA offers a hybrid offsite construction strategy to keep your projects moving fast.

02/28/2023

Our non-profit is looking for Volunteers to work Monday and Tuesdays for 2 hours flexible between 6 and 9. Helping barn employee with misc jobs.

02/23/2023

https://gofund.me/4c562154

On February 1, 2023, Kimberly St. John received a call from a veterinarian… Natatia Bledsoe needs your support for Heal the Horses from Byrds Retirement Farm

09/16/2022

Goofing around on the farm.

08/08/2022

Thanks to Heather Lachlan Paoloni and Austin Booth, we have A/C in the tack room!

We have such a great family of supporters here at MERA. Many thanks to Heather Lachlan Paoloni for donating a new air conditioner for the tack room, and to Austin Booth for running the wiring, installing the outlet and hooking up the A/C! Now let's all remember to keep the tack room door shut!

04/27/2022

Here's our listing on Newhorse.com

NewHorse.com page for Manakin Sabot Equestrian Center, a Manakin Sabot, VA horse boarding farm.

04/03/2022

Honor Reichel and Rugrat at their first show of the year.

01/28/2022

The day we’ve been working towards for over two years has finally arrived. Last month, we received our “Determination Letter” from the Internal Revenue Service which bestowed 501 (c) (3) tax exempt status on the Manakin Equine Retirement Association, Inc.

As you know, most MSEC school horses over the years have been retired from other pursuits. Some, like Flash and Lily, were former thoroughbred racehorses. Others were retired from performing in “A” shows and eventing. Still others are just nice but unwanted animals, like Winkle and Myrtle.

Because so many of our four-legged family members are beloved, but non-revenue generating, it dawned on us a couple of years ago that our real focus here is not making big profits but taking care of unwanted animals. We are actually an Animal Welfare Organization. We explained this to the IRS, and they agreed.

Our new status called for a new corporate structure and that’s why we have this new corporate name. As a “Public Charity”, we also have a Board of Directors. Kim Anderson is the Executive Director, and she will continue to handle all of our programs.

Clients will see no immediate change to the operation except that you will now make your checks payable to Manakin Equine Retirement Association or MERA. The big change will come at the end of 2022, when we provide a letter advising which portion of the total fees paid for board and lessons was allocated to the care of our retirees and can be used as a “Charitable Contribution” on your Federal Income Tax return.

This new tax-exempt status comes with other benefits. We can receive tax deductible donations of cash, goods, and services such as equipment, tack and other tangible items. In the coming months, we are to establish a volunteer program that will satisfy community service requirements for students and other folks. Our friends at Hone Marketing are developing a new website (ManakinEquine.com), and we will also be bringing in some new horses who will join our lesson program and perhaps be candidates for retraining and re-homing.

Thank you so much for your support over the past sixteen years. We look forward to riding with you into our new future!