Boarding, training, trail rides, summer camps

Story by Meghan Bradbury

With Florida ranked third for the best states for horse lovers, according to Lawn Love, there are many farms throughout the community that offer boarding options and trainers

A new farm as of May 2022 is Thunder Acres Farms, LLC

Heather Davis said they offer three boarding options for horses full boarding, partial boarding and pasture boarding

"We live on the property, so somebody is there 24/7 We are a small family-owned operation," she said

The full board, which is $800 a month, includes turnout, stall cleaning, grain twice a day and hay provided by Thunder Acres Farms, LLC. There is also stall bedding, water bucket cleaning, fly spray, fly mask or fly sheet on/off and blanket on/off

The partial boarding, $650 a month, includes turnout, stall cleaning and grain twice a day, hay provided by the owner There is also stall bedding, water bucket cleaning, fly spray, fly mask or fly sheet on/off and blanket on/off.

For $450 a month owners can choose the pasture board, which includes grains twice a day, and hay provided by the owner There is also water bucket cleaning, fly spray, fly mask and fly sheet on/off and blanket on/off

"The horse remains out in the pasture and doesn't have a designated stall," Davis said

The farm has 12 stalls, with stalls still available

In addition, the farm offers lessons from a trainer who is on property two to three times a week mostly during the afternoon hours and Saturday mornings

"Available for mostly English hunt seat, saddle seat and she does have some experience with jumping," Davis said, adding that you have to call in advance to set up an appointment

The family purchased the property, as her daughter shows saddle seat.

"We bought a horse that was a rescue from a lady that was in Lakeland. He was born at a very famous breeding barn and was trained and shown as a yearling and a little bit older," Davis said

From there the horse was sold to a boarding school and shown, doing well, until it was sold and

Thunder Acres Farms

Address: 11940 Fox Hill Rd , North Fort Myers Info: 785-554-3114, h77rene@yahoo.com, www thunderacresfarms com

White Horse Farm

Address: 17840 Shelby Lane, North Fort Myers Info: 631-644-2859, whitehorsefarm com

used as a buggy horse in Pennsylvania

"He actually ended up in a slaughterhouse He was just skin and bones, not doing well at all and was rescued," she said "He spent about five months at the rescue rehabbing She had about 600 inquiries for him. We were chosen as his forever home. He is doing really great. He is an amazing show horse."

With the purchase of the horse, and he being shown for the past 18 months, the family decided to help others ride saddle seat

"That is really the goal Most saddle seat riders are Tampa north," Davis said "We are really the only ones in this direction "

Two years ago Manny Termini began White Horse Farms after selling his big riding stable in New York. He said his nephew who lives here told him about the old DJ Ranch in North Fort Myers and told him to check it out.

"I fell in love with it," he said of the property that had been abandoned for many years

The farm offers boarding, English riding and barrel lessons, public trail riding, summer camps, as well as opportunities for Girl Scouts and homeschool outings on the farm

The lessons are offered seven days a week by appointments only. Most kids come every week to do their lessons.

Regular boarding is offered for $400 a month with the owner supplying the food

"I do have stalls after the month of May I have a lot of people that come from cold weather with their horses," Termini said

With the farm connected to Prairie Pines Preserve, trail riding is offered for those 10 years old and older Saturday and Sunday by appointment only The trail ride is offered every hour on the hour from 10 a m to 3 p m White Horse Farms provides the horse for $45 an hour

"It's a very scenic ride You go through parts of the woods they didn't know existed in Fort Myers," Termini said

The Summer Camp is offered for youngsters 7 years old and older from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 1216, June 26-30, July 10-14 and July 24-28.

"We try not to do more than 15 kids a week Some of the weeks are closed and some are open, " he said

Termini said campers learn horse management, bathing and grooming, handling and are able to ride, as well as games on horseback and arts and crafts.

The Girl Scout troops participate in The Day on the Farm and learn about the responsibilities of a horse, grooming and eating to leading a horse and riding them

"Everybody gets a couple laps around the arena, " he said

Homeschool groups have been a big draw for White Horse Farm, as 20 to 30 homeschoolers visit a week.

"The moms organize all of it and we follow their curriculum," Termini said NFMNL