52 South Rd. Readfield Maine
GET YOUR HORSE ON TRACK!
OPEN FOR BOARDING!
We now offer “Paddock Paradise” Consult, Design and Build services
http://harmonious-habitats.org
Track life for
Healthy Happy Horses!
Natural Track Boarding
Creating an environment as close to what nature intended for the horse, while living with us in domestication, is our ultimate responsibility to them.
Natural Track Boarding is a concept created by Jamie Jackson, called “Paddock Paradise”. Jackson is the founder of the Association for the Advancement of Natural Horse Care Practices (AANHCP) and a world renowned hoof care professional, author, researcher and noted expert on both wild and domestic horses. This style of boarding is based on extensive research of the “lifestyles of the wild and free-roaming horses and was conceived as a way to provide domestic horses with an environment that more closely resembles their natural habitat” allowing them to live longer, healthier and happier lives!
In the wild, horses roam across great distances. They tend to follow the same routes, “tracks”, repeatedly to varying territories to meet all their requirements. Horses seek out water, roughage, rolling spots, mineral sources, shelter and companions. As prey animals, they don’t linger long, they avoid small confined spaces and are always on the move.
The goal of this boarding system is to allow natural health and soundness in body and mind. According to Jackson’s research, track boarding is an ideal preventative/corrective to many of the illnesses and disorders our horses succumb to when living against their nature: alone, in confinement, breathing hazardous gasses from their own urine , and unable to achieve adequate stimulation and movement. “A Track system can virtually eliminate the risk of issues such as laminitis, colic, Navicular, Cushings, neurological vices and poor muscle conditioning”-as it allows horses to live and eat the way nature intended-in varying terrain and on the move!
Varying surroundings and terrains on the track make it a more enriching/interesting environment for horses…..
….all while conditioning their muscles and strengthening their hooves naturally.
In her book, A Lifetime of Soundness, Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Hiltrud Strasser says that “most of the common health problems and lameness afflicting domestic horses are a direct result of man-made violations of their natural lifestyle, and can be prevented or cured through a removal of the cause and a return to natural lifestyle.”
The powerful benefits of natural boarding are being proven again and again on track systems popping up all over the world, changing the way we care for the whole horse. With the marked improvement in body conditioning, reducing the time needed for warm up exercises, and attitude, horses that were unable to relax become calmer and less stressed, less spooking! It is not surprising that many large competition facilities are following suit; building tracks, going barefoot and reporting exceptional changes in their horses health, hooves, behavior, and abilities!
Our track system is comprised of 10-15 foot wide paths outlined with fencing that consists of a permanent boundary fence and a movable inner fence. The paths wind in and around fields and forest, going up and down hills and over a variety of terrain and obstacles purposely placed around the track and changed periodically to elicit curiosity, problem solving, confidence building, and body/hoof conditioning. There are multiple feed, water, and mineral stations located around the track to continually perpetuate forward movement. Resting and rolling areas are also designed into the track to allow horses the choice to move off the main track for a rest, roll, or play/grooming time with buddies.
We have built our natural boarding track with respect to the horse and their humans’ needs in mind. We strive to make this a learning environment that is friendly to all disciplines and happily welcome outside trainers and instructors. Our belief in lifelong learning leaves us open to new concepts and differences in learning styles and approaches therefore creating a judgement free space where you and your horse(s) can be respected and supported on your journey in any discipline that you choose to enjoy together.
The track is designed for barefoot horses. Most horses, given a proper diet, a proper barefoot trim, and freedom to move continuously over varying terrain will maintain rock solid hooves able to participate without lameness in any event! Those wishing to go barefoot on the track will benefit from a much quicker rehabilitation time when combined with a natural barefoot trim. A sound and solid hoof can typically be achieved in 5-8 months after the shoes come off (hoof boots can be used for riding during rehab). We work with Luke Tanner, owner of “L and M Horseworks”, to bring and keep all our horses on the track successfully barefoot.
Taken from Lukes website linked below:
NATURAL HOOF CARE
“What is natural hoof care”? In short, NHC is the mimicking of the natural wear patterns documented in wild horses of the US Great Basin. We then take these natural patterns and apply them to the individual horse and hoof in the care of a qualified NHC practitioner. All horses can go barefoot and thrive with natural hoof care allowing the horse to be healthier and perform better. Horseshoes only harm the hoof, weaken it, and cause harm. They cover up issues in the hoof that can be rectified and healed with time and proper natural hoof care. We can help your horse with NHC.
AANHCP headquarters Paddock Paradise.
Luke has been practicing Natural Hoof Care for over 13 years and has taken horses from every discipline and breed barefoot successfully. Currently Luke works in every state in New England. He also worked in Arizona and California for 10 years.
Luke is certified by AANHCP and ISNHCP and is currently an instructor and clinician for the ISNHCP natural hoof care training program.
About Us
Harmony Horse Farm is lovingly owned and operated by Cindy and Eben Dumaine. Living on-site gladly affords them the ability to check the track, fill the hay stations and monitor the horses multiple times daily.
Cindy has been caring for and boarding horses for over 15 years both on her own farm and also working and managing commercial boarding facilities. In addition, she has volunteered at multiple horse rescues. Enjoying every opportunity for self growth and education, Cindy takes many courses and seminars to stay progressive and positive in her personal life and her endeavors with horses.
Eben enjoys caring for the horses and working behind the scenes to help make the farm run smoothly. He is the co-creator of the track, the fence mender, tractor driver, post hole digger, muck hauler, raker, mower, and loving support that has helped make this dream a reality.
Both Cindy and Eben believe in the importance of lifelong learning and put great emphasis on Family time, friendships, nature, and caring for animals of all kinds!
~I have loved horses my whole life and rode as a child at girl scout camps. We lived in the city and could not have horses when I was young, however, when I was older and bought a home I was able to finally have my own horse! This is where I learned everything that I didn’t know about horse care and handling. To gain more experience, I began volunteering at a local horse rescue working with the horses to help get them ready for adoption. The rescue recommended “natural horsemanship” and had a lending library where I borrowed everything they had from clicker training to Pat Parelli. I was intrigued by this natural training concept and wanted to learn more!
I took a job working at Gelinas Farm, a well known Natural horse care and training facility where I learned so much from Joanne and Artie who encouraged me to “never stop learning all that you can about the things that inspire you,” and this began my journey into lifelong learning about myself and horses!
I began taking courses at the Parelli Natural Horsemanship Centers in both Colorado and Florida. In 2014, following the Humanality/ Horsenality (horse/human relationship) course I went on to become fully certified by Dr. Handley in personality strengths assessment and coaching. I enjoy helping people understand their own unique personality traits, and it always amazes me how this affects the relationships with their horses! I am Reiki II certified, have taken courses in Equine bodywork and am trained in equine wellness through the use of Photonic red light therapy.
As we’ve learned more and more about the thriving physical and mental health of horses living in the wild it became clear that creating an environment as close to what nature intended for them, while living in domestication, was our responsibility to them. Our responsibility to you is making your horses wellbeing foremost in everything we do!
Welcome to Harmony Horse Farm, Eben and I are honored to share our “Paddock Paradise” with you!~Cindy
Services
*24/7 turnout on our Natural Boarding Track (Paddock Paradise)
*Access to large run-in shelters
*Guest paddock available with stalls for clinics, truck ins, injury, quarantine, vet/farrier access etc.
* Constant access to fresh water
*Free choice hay 24/7 *Mix of local Maine cut hay fields, along with alfalfa to balance forage nutrients, fed at multiple “hay stations” in slow feed hay nets.
*Grain fed daily ~Our balanced nutrition farm mixed grain is based on Veterinary nutritional research and is included in board.
Grain consists of -Organic Alfalfa pellets, Oats, Vermont Blend*- (New England vitamin/mineral balancer&hoof supplement), and Omega E* (Flax and vitaminE/Omega 3)* from Custom Equine Nutrition https://customequinenutrition.com/
~Boarders personal grain choice will be supplied by boarder and fed out by us.
*Salts and minerals both loose and solid available as free-choice
*Access to rotated pastures
*Fly predators and dragonflies released for insect control~Grounds maintenance for tick control
*70X120 Outdoor arena
*60ft round pen
* Clearspan fabric indoor arena-lots of natural light! (*planned for the future*)
*Playground with obstacles to prepare you and your horse for anything!
*Organized playdays!-free for boarders
*Trails on property and right off property (we’re located right next to a public town trail)
~Additional Services Available
~Lessons available
~Clinics offered
~Equine Reiki treatments
~Photonic Red light therapy for both wellness and target areas of injury or soreness
~Bait Stretching for increased range of motion
~ Holding of your horse for vet, hoof, chiropractic etc…
Prices
- *Full board $535
- *Retirement Board $595
Get in Touch
Harmony Horse Farm
52 South Road Readfield Maine 04355
207-551-7270
Send Us a Message
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Harmony Horse Farm 