Arcadian Pastures Equine

08/14/2024

Good morning! ☀️

08/02/2024

Horses out as much as possible! We live by it!

Love this post from Abbotts View Livery: Barefoot and Back to Nature, it really resonates with what we try to do here. We want our horses to be happy and healthy and we know that our horses are calm and happy. Our horses have friends and 24/7 hay, they run and play, which is not a behaviour you see in horses that are anxious and stressed.

The post reads..........

Your horse does not love his stable. Sorry.

A few weeks ago I shared this post and it went viral. It reached 1572985 people.
Due to this reach, unsurprisingly I saw alot of comments along these lines

"My horse loves his stable"
"He waits at the gate to come in"
"You don't know my horse, he hated living out"
"My horse would be dead if i didn't stable him"

For some of you, stabling is likely your only option. I understand how hard it is when you are on a livery with certain rules and management practices, and I also understand if you are doing it for welfare reasons. No horse should be stood in knee high mud, or subjected to lush grass when they are lami prone and a stable is a good way of preventing this.

However. Have you ever thought there might be a better way?

For me, shutting my horse in a stable without free choice is just not something I am ever willing to consider again.

This started when I was lucky enough to have my horses at home for the first time, around 2012.

I remember one night I decided to go out and see my horses in their comfy beds at around 10.30/11pm. I strolled over in my pajamas, opened the barn gate and was shocked to be greeted by neighs and empty haynets.

I didn't turn out till 6-7am the next day... That meant another 7-8 hours of standing in a square with nothing to eat. Horses only sleep for a few hours a day, so the time they spend in a stable is mostly stood still, staring at four walls.

Yes we can improve this by adding enrichment, slow feeder haynets, multiple haynets spread around the stall, a window to touch the horse next door etc, but is this really all enough?

No, its not.

There is no other large companion animal we subject to this kind of imprisonment too. Yes some of you might crate our dogs overnight, but dogs need even more sleep than us and sleep through the night. They aren't designed to move miles a day or eat constantly.

It's no wonder we have horses exhibiting so many stress behaviors in a stable. Weaving, cribbing, box walking or losing their minds completely and thrashing around. Arguably one of the worst coping mechanisms is shutting down, which is exactly what my horse used to do. He would stand, facing the back wall completely still and silent. Giving off the impression that he was fine, when he was far from it.
The humanizing part of me LOVED my horses in stables. They were clean, they had their comfy beds, and when I first brought them in they seemed happy to be there. Munching on their hay and standing quietly while I brushed them and changed rugs. They even waited at the gate to come in.

Ever thought why your horse waits at the gate?

Ever thought its because their field is lacking something? Or because they are very easy to get into a routine? Or because they are positively reinforced by food when they do come in?

Try putting the things your stable offers outside... Make sure there is ample forage, friends (other horses!!), shelter and give them their feeds outside. Leave the stable door open and give them the choice WHEN to be in, and how long for.

Often horses wait at the gate as there paddock lacks these things. They know they will get a feed and hay in their stable, but this does not mean they want shutting in there for hours on end. Horses don't think into the future, so they don't think 'if i come into that stable now it means I'll be in there for hours, better not'.

My mission is to educate people so they learn that stables are not enough and there is a better way. We are depriving these animals from how they are designed to live. Constantly moving and foraging and being with other horses.

Anthropomorphism is so dangerous. This means the apply human values onto an animal, and its exactly what people where doing in most of the comments on that post.

I don't want to hear your excuses for why your horse loves his stable or how its your only option, I want to challenge you to ask yourself why you feel the need to defend yourself? And challenge you to consider another way.

06/29/2024

Hard working cats clocking in for night check 🐈‍⬛

05/14/2024

Beautiful morning!

04/17/2024

Atleast the grass appreciates all of this rain!

03/08/2024

It’s been a longggg winter, but with muddy season upon us, that hopefully means the warmth and dry is not far away!
If you’re looking for a greener pasture for your horse this summer come check out our farm!
Many multiple acre lush fields, Dry lots for our restricted friends, and 12x12 stalls with attached run outs!
We are flexible with care to accommodate all horses needs!
Pm us for more info about boarding prices and what is included. All boarding on our farm is Full care!

01/08/2024

Beautiful snowy morning!

12/09/2023

We have a couple of stalls available for board!

Our quiet 136 acre farm is located in Sloansville NY, centered between neighboring towns such as Duanesburg, Schoharie, Cobleskill, and Sharon Springs. About 15-20 minutes to neighboring towns!

Full care indoor board includes:
-12x12 matted stalls
-Am/pm feedings of hay based on your horses size
-Fresh water daily
-Daily stall cleaning with added shavings
-Daily turnout/in (weather permitting in the cold months), horses stay out as much as possible in the summer months!
-Grain will be fed if supplied by owner, grain can be supplied by the barn at an additional cost
-Extra hay can be fed at additional cost as well!

Outdoor full care board available as well! 12x12 or larger run ins available!

We have lots of options for turnout depending on your horses needs! Multiple acre grassy fields, dry lots, or small paddocks attached to stalls! Individual or multiple horse turn out available!

Perfect place for retirement or riders who love trails!

Boarders have access to our miles of trails, tack room, water hydrants, and our grass outdoor arenas!

Pm us or call/text - 518-603-2964 for more information!

10/12/2023

Boarding available! Pm us before the cold weather arrives!

09/27/2023

09/23/2023

Bromance of the month goes to Wilder and Samson!

09/13/2023

Our quiet, cozy barn has 4 Stalls available as well as multiple spaces in our run ins! Both indoor and outdoor board are full care! (Grain not included) pm us or call/text 518-603-2964 for more information!

08/03/2023

Lots and lots of pasture board available! Pm us for more info! We are located in Schoharie County, Sloansville NY!

07/22/2023

A beautiful day to sit and relax next to the creek!

Trails are open! Come spend your day doing the same!

07/12/2023

Welcoming new horses to our herd!
Boarding available! Full care indoor/outdoor board, or self care board!
136 acres worth of trails and a large grass arena!
We live on site for around the clock care!
Call/text: 518-603-2964 or pm us! We look forward to talking with you!

07/05/2023

It’s an ‘I’d rather be inside infront of my fan’ kind of day 🥵🥵

06/30/2023

Boarding available!
Our beautifully maintained, quiet, family owned farm offers indoor and outdoor board.

We have multiple options for turnout depending on your horses needs. We offer dry paddocks, multiple acre grass pastures and grass paddocks. Individual and multiple horse turnout available as well!

We will provide am/pm feedings of 1st cut hay, shavings, clean water troughs, daily stall cleaning and turnout. We will feed grain if supplied by owners. Additional services can be provided as well!

Owners will have access to our tackroom, wash area, grass arena, and our miles of private trails!

Pm us or call/text: 518-603-2964 with any questions!

06/23/2023

BEAUTIFUL Day today!
Outdoor and Indoor boarding available!
Pm us for more info!

06/14/2023

Hello everyone!
Our farm with be closed this weekend for a private wedding event!
Thank you!

06/05/2023

Our barn is looking better by the day! Shoutout to Laurent Danthine and his woodworking skills! Not finished yet but definitely getting there 🤩

We now have 4 available stalls for boarding! Pm us!

06/03/2023

Quiet night 😌

05/31/2023

Lots of pastures available for outdoor board!

05/17/2023

Hello everyone! We are excited for this upcoming summer!
Just a reminder that our trails are open! We offer day passes or season passes for you and your trail buddies to come spend a day exploring our farm and woods!
We are definitely planning other activities too for this summer so stay tuned!

Boarding and training available as well! Pm us with questions! We look forward to sharing our farm with you!

05/08/2023

We love a clean barn and naps ☀️

04/20/2023

The grass is looking green!

Boarding available!

- indoor or outdoor board available

- drama free, quiet, family owned horse farm located in Sloansville NY
- 12x12 stalls
- 12x36 run ins
- stalls with run out
- individual or multiple horse turnout
- dry paddocks
- grass paddocks
- multiple acre fields for grazing!

- outdoor arena, roundpen, and miles of trails!

We are very flexible when it comes to the care of your horses! Pm us for more info and prices!

04/01/2023

Raffle ticket winners are in!🥳
Congratulations to numbers 17, 63, and 67 on your FREE season pass! We look forward to seeing you on our trails this season 😊!

04/01/2023

Last chance to win a free season pass!
Winners will be picked April 1st at 5pm!
Tickets will be available until April 1st 3pm
15$ a ticket! Receive a free day pass with the purchase of each ticket! Pm us!

03/29/2023

If you’re looking for a green pasture for your horse to spend their summer on come take a tour of our farm! (Dry lots attached to pastures as well!)

Miles of trails, run ins, 12x12 stalls, tack room and lots of outdoor riding space (we do plan to build our covered arena as we grow).

We are very flexible when it comes to your horses care! Pm is us with questions!

03/23/2023

SEASON PASS RAFFLE REMINDER🎟

If you’re looking for a new place to trail ride this summer or looking to support a local business message us to buy a ticket!

BONUS!!: Recieve a FREE trail day pass with the purchase of EACH raffle ticket with the chance to win the free season pass

100 spots available at 15$ a ticket for a chance to win our season pass ($175 value)!

3 WINNERS!

Winners will be announced April 1st

03/20/2023

May this sunny day melt all of the snow away!