Our Philosophy

PROFESSIONALISM & PASSION

~ Equine retirement is our ONLY business.  ​
~ Our herd’s well-being is our first priority and our commitment to each horse is 24/7, all       day, every day. 
~ We are fully accredited by The Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries and The                 Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance proving a rigorous peer review of all standards and           practices from governance and financial to  equine care and management best practices.
~ We follow the AAEP (American Assoc. of Equine Practitioners) Care Guidelines For            Rescue and Retirement Facilities.

Mitchell Farm assumes the financial responsibility for ALL care, feeding, veterinary and farrier expenses within the above parameters.  

Donation of your horse to Mitchell Farm does not mean goodbye! 
You also become a part of our community and are welcome to visit or groom any time. 

OUR TEAM

~ Dee Doolittle and Husband Hank Horn live on premises.
~ Dee has a lifetime of experience in equine care and management;  19 years             exclusively with senior horse care issues and end of life decisions.
~ Hank keeps the farm running smoothly making necessary repairs, upgrades         and maintaining equipment.

~ Qualified staff of 4
~ Over 30 dedicated, loving volunteers.

~ Appropriate alternative turn out for horses with metabolic conditions.
~ Mitchell Farm is a closed herd reducing the potential for illness.
~ Retirees do not leave the premises for any reason and horses entering     are quarantined.
~ Feed program tailored to the nutritional and special needs of each           individual horse.
~ High quality feed. Free choice salt blocks in stalls and pastures.
~ Minimum 3 feedings per day; 4 if necessary.
~ Forage replacement products and/or soaked feed for horses with poor     dentition.
~ Regular weight and body condition score monitoring. 
~ Medications required for comfort and health maintenance.
~ Excellent horse health record keeping.
~ Blanketing or fly masks and fly spray as conditions demand.  Fly             Predators in use for 16 years.
~ Regular grooming and bathing in warmer months.
~ All farrier needs.  We prefer them to be barefoot if possible but will         shoe if necessary for comfort.

All Inclusive Care Provided By Mitchell Farm Equine Retirement For Our Herd

~ Routine Ve​terinary care (vaccinations, deworming, dental).
~ Fecal analysis and targeted de-worming.
~ Sheath cleaning.
~ Simple emergency care and diagnostics (lacerations, fever, mild colic,               hoof abscess, radiographs, blood testing).
~ Life threatening injuries and illnesses are dealt with on the farm with our       Veterinarian.
~ Off-site surgery and other cost prohibitive procedures will not be an option.
~ Solid long term professional relationships with our Veterinarian, Farrier,         feed and hay suppliers.
~ Euthanasia will be an option only when, in conjunction with a licensed             Veterinarian and within the  AAEP guidelines for euthanasia, it has been         deemed that the horse no longer has Quality of Life.
~ Burial on these premises at the time of death or euthanasia.  Cremation           with ashes back can be arranged for a fee.
~ Monthly email update & photo.

~ Donation of your horse to MFER means           entrusting the  care of your horse to our           caring  professionals for the balance of his         or  her comfortable life.
~ Stallions must be gelded at least 30 days           prior to admission. Mitchell Farm staff             reserves the right to evaluate temperament       prior to gelding.
~ Optional trial agreement available upon           request.

We believe that horses have a right to a quality life of comfort and care even if they are no longer useful to man.  We strive to provide an exceptional equine retirement community where horses are free to remember - or in some cases learn - what it means to be a horse in a more natural, pastoral setting. “Care” is our operative word: caring, well-trained people providing outstanding care that is personalized to each horse’s individual needs and personality.  We combine the benefits of a pastoral environment where horses are free to bond with each other and experience carefully tended pastures with the advantages of daily human care, feeding, grooming, and love.  We call it “Love in Action.”

OUR CURRENT WAIT LIST IS MORE THAN FOUR YEARS

RETIREMENT PROFILE CRITERIA

~ Retired horses preferred to be at least 20                 years old, pasture sound and in reasonably good     health (Some exceptions made for teenage               horses)
~ Must have a negative coggins within one year         and be current with core vaccines

~ Horses 15 or older must have ACTH testing             within six months.
~ Horses from out of state must be accompanied       by a state health certificate

DEDICATION TO YOUR HORSE

~ Minimum twice daily monitoring plus night check and video monitoring in       stalls.
~ Every horse has a stall at night in winter and during the day in hot, buggy         weather.
~ Heated water buckets in winter and fans in summer.
~ 8-12 hours of turnout in small compatible social groups (2-6 horses) in large     grassy pastures (weather permitting).
~ Regular pasture mowing, dragging and picking. Superior manure                       management program.
~ Thoughtful transitioning of horses who have little experience with turn out.
~ Careful selection of pasture mates and slow introduction to any group.