Boarding and Services

Dona Ruth and her husband John strive to provide an atmosphere of learning and fun in an encouraging environment for you and your horse.  They want Ship’s Quarters to be an idyllic haven with a relaxed and peaceful atmosphere for the horse enthusiasts that they serve.  It is their hope that when you come to ride your horse, that it will be the best part of your day. 

Ships Quarters caters to young adult and adult riders.  Most of the boarders are serious riders with a diversity of disciplines, though not all are serious competitors.  They enjoy dressage, hunters, eventing and foxhunting.  Though they are focused, they take time to enjoy each other’s company and provide support to each other.

Dona believes that the best farm management, while providing a relaxed and fun atmosphere for the horse owner, also provides a very structured environment for the horse.  Dona's experience as a critical care nurse for more than twenty years has prepared her perfectly for her role as caregiver for the equine residents of the farm. Her organizational skills, ability to troubleshoot and apply first aid, evaluate emergencies and manage veterinarian orders, enhances the general health and well being of the horses in her care.

Farm Policies

A turn-out blanket is put on your horses for turn out and taken off for stabling, if the weather requires it.  This service is included in your board.  Additional blanket changes may incur additional charges.

All horses are wormed every 8-10 weeks by the farm management and is included in board.  All horses must be vaccinated and some minimum vaccinations are required.  Boarders may use their own veterinarians for vaccinations but proof of vaccinations must be presented to farm management.  Ships Quarters management maintains records and proof of vaccinations.

Boarders may use one of the numerous veterinarians or farriers that attend to horses at Ships Quarters Farm, or may use their own. Bringing in for service people and turnout afterwards in included in the full care board.

Horses are fed free choice amounts of high quality timothy hay that is grown on the farm.  Ships Quarters has 25 acres in hayfields each year.  Alfalfa hay may also be given if the horse requires additional supplementation.

Horses are fed a minimum of two times per day, morning and evening.  Some horses with special feeding needs may be fed lunch and/or late night feedings.  The standard feed is performance Legend feed.   However, the boarder may choose a specialized feed if they wish.  The farm will purchase the chosen feed and the difference in cost between the specialized feed and the standard farm feed will be billed to the boarder. The farm will feed any supplements provided by the boarder according to the boarder’s instructions.

Turnout at the farm is plentiful.  As a general rule, during the fall and winter, horses in group turnout go out at 6:00 AM and come in at 4:00 PM.  During the spring and summer, horses are on evening turnout and go out at approximately 6:00 PM and are brought in at 7:00 AM.  Horses on specialized turnout are out according to their needs and, in most cases, are only out when someone is there to watch over them.

Due to the diversity of interests at Ship’s Quarters, boarders are welcome to bring in non-dressage instructors, as long as those instructors are insured.  Although outside dressage instructors cannot teach at the farm, boarders are, of course, welcome to trailer out for dressage instruction.

Several events are held at Ship’s Quarters Farm each year, and all of Ship’s Quarters Farm boarders are welcome to participate.  A hunter pace is put on by Carrollton Hounds each fall, local dressage organizations host one or two dressage shows a year, and a Ship’s Quarter’s Farm dressage schooling show series, open to the public, is in the works for 2006.

Full care board at Ships Quarters is currently $490 per month with small group turnout and $510 for full care with single turnout of 1-3 hrs daily, Full care board includes most care described above with the exception of worming and vaccinations.  Specialized services will incur additional charges.  Examples of specialized services include specialized feed, turnout, blanketing, or veterinary management.

For horses in training at Ship’s Quarters, the board is $520 per month, which allows specialized individual turnout to prevent injury.  For training fees see the Lessons and Training page.