SPOTLIGHT

FOUNTAIN GREENE FARM

A place for horses to rest, relax, and recover

WORDS: ANNIE BIRMINGHAM

PHOTOS: KATE CAREY & LILLY JOHNSTON

NANCY BANFIELD first envisioned the concept of a farm that specifically catered to the needs of aging or injured horses over thirty years ago. Banfield, who grew up working in barns from childhood, knew that it was possible to keep horses healthy and happy at any age with the proper care.

When the opportunity arose to purchase 250 acres of pasture in Wake, VA, Banfield and her family relocated to what is now known as Fountain Greene Farm and committed to creating a state-of-the-art program for horses needing retirement, rehabilitation, or safekeeping.

Marissa has a quiet moment with Tai, Nantucket and Marco

They also teamed up with Kate Carey, the managing partner of the farm, who has completed a barn management and teaching certification from the British Horse Society. Over the years, Banfield has turned the business over to Carey and the team of women who have dedicated themselves to Fountain Greene. With their decades of experience, professionals often seek them out for their expertise, and many send their horses.

Fountain Greene’s retirement options differ from other facilities in that a large staff provides individualized care where horses are never turned out in large groups, instead pasturing each horse with one or two compatible friends.

“Our horses are safe to be healthy playful social animals without the stress of hazing and harassment,” says Banfield. The farm’s retired horses have access to large, regularly reseeded pastures, stalls with fans, and blanketing and heated water if needed in the moderate Virginia climate. Each horse receives regular maintenance (vaccinations, deworming, and dental), routine trimming or shoeing, as well as clipping, grooming, and bathing.

Each horse is also individually assessed upon arrival to determine the best schedule to gradually ease into retirement. The horses are provided the turnout time they are comfortable with, whether that be 24/7 with an attached stall option, or just a few hours out in the morning before coming inside to a clean stall and hay. Says Banfield, “The turnouts are customized and assessed as their needs and comfort levels change to create a stress-free environment. Our theme is rest, relax, and recover.”

Fountain Greene also takes the time to properly evaluate each horse’s individual dietary needs. Older horses with few teeth get fed a highly nutritious gruel four times daily designed to combat muscle wasting. The feed and medications are directly delivered so that each horse receives personalized treatment, taking potential issues like Cushings and laminitis into account.

In addition to retirement, the farm prides itself on an extensive rehabilitation program, working closely with top veterinary clinics to provide care for horses in recovery and utilizing graduated outdoor medic pads that are benchmarked to larger areas as they are prescribed. This procedure provides comfort to horses with soft tissue or similar high-performance issues while they take the necessary time to “rest, relax, and recover.”

This specialized care allows horses to leave Fountain Greene directly to the largest show circuits in the country in prime condition. As Carey explains, “We will not compromise our quality of care in any area…we are all committed to our mission. The horses come first.”

Perhaps most unique to Fountain Greene Farm is their “Safekeeping” option, developed for horses that need a bit of a break between show circuits. This program allows horses to rest and enjoy the quiet and calm of the farm while the qualified team at Fountain Greene maintains their fitness level so that they can return to competition at any time.

Donatello is turned out during his Safe Keeping stint

“Recent studies have shown that horses in large supervised turnout situations maintain a high level of fitness and soundness. We add light sessions on our GGT footing as requested,” says Banfield. “This flexible alternative provides the owner with a quality, affordable respite for the horse while not compromising the care of a top show barn.”

Safekeeping also offers an affordable option to college-bound students, vacationing amateurs, or professionals reducing the number of horses they have at the shows. Most importantly, top competition horses get a necessary mental and physical break.

Carey regards the safekeeping program as “intentional recovery. The horses aren’t just turned out. They are kept legged up and fit but with hours of private daily turnout in our fields, and without the chaos and energy of a show barn.”

“We will not compromise our quality of care in any area…we are all committed to our mission. The horses come first.”

—KATE CAREY, MANAGING PARTNER, FOUNTAIN GREENE FARM

In addition to the quality of care that the staff at Fountain Greene offers to the horses, the farm also emphasizes opportunities to give back to the local area. The staff is composed mostly of women, many of whom are single mothers within the community. The farm frequently opens its doors to local children to provide them with education regarding equine care and the value of hard work. Corn, strawberries, and tomatoes (grown and harvested on the property), as well as eggs from the farm’s chickens, are delivered to those in need on a regular basis. These charitable acts set the farm apart as a purveyor of good, and Fountain Greene takes great pride in doing so.

To find out more information about the services offered by the team at Fountain Greene Farm, please visit their website at www.fountaingreenefarm.com.