I've been riding at Slocum's for almost four years now. I bought a horse from them last year.
Many people who are judging the ranch have moved their horses elsewhere, and only after they've moved have they become 'above' the ranch and posted derogatory comments like the ones below. The ranch does not claim to be a fancy show stable. It is down to earth and practical.
The ranch isn't a stable. It has over 150 acres of pasture that the horses share with only each other. The stalls are given to the older horses and the babies during the winter, so that they have the protection they need.
This isn't a fancy place. The ring is a large, fenced-in area with cones to mark a circular perimeter. April does all of the lessons herself, and she's a very practical person. If April tells you that you've done something wrong, she explains why it is wrong and how to fix it. April doesn't believe in beating around the bush. She is very sweet towards young children, but if you're old enough to handle yourself, she is honest with you.
This isn't polished and indoors, but April knows every one of her horses by name and temperament. There's nearly 80 horses on the farm. All of the horses are healthy. Some have problems that all horses have, such as eye problems or colds. But none of the horses are being neglected.
April has horses that are 40 years old. The average horse's lifespan is 30 years. If she was neglecting these horses, they would NOT be living this long.
My horse got injured in an accident. The details of the accident are irrelevant in this case, but he ended up with two huge gashes, one on his shoulder and one on his flank. April spent two hours pulling splinters out of these wounds and then months caring for him. She had to clean the wounds every day, and she always did, no matter how late it was. When the accident happened, the vet thought he might have to be put down. Thanks to April, he is now going out on trails every week, perfectly healthy.
Someone who abused their horses would not have put the time and effort into saving my horse.
The ranch is run on volunteers. I am one of them. Come to the ranch and see how we treat our horses. The horses are friendly, well-fed, and always pleased to get attention. Let us take you on a trail ride, we promise you'll have fun.
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