To most people, the aging process seems cruel. Your body becomes less dependable, you can’t do things as quickly as you used to, and you take a long time to recover from illness and injury. For horses, all of this applies and, in many cases, to a greater extent. Young horses are useful for sport, while old horses are often too fragile for the show ring. The same goes for younger horses that have been injured on the job.

What’s done with these animals once their careers are over varies. Some are kept in boarding facilities alongside show horses. Others are donated to therapeutic riding programs. Sadly, however, a great number remain unwanted or uncared for. Or their owners no longer have the financial means to support them.

In an effort to address this problem, some horse lovers entertain the idea of starting facilities that are specifically designed for accommodating and possibly rehabilitating retired or rescued horses. While the need for these farms definitely exists, potential facility operators should be aware of what they are getting into, according to those already in the business. Running a specialized facility is significantly different from operating an ordinary boarding facility