Why is the need so great for equine retirement sanctuaries?

Memorial Field

Our OTTBs

Mitchell Farm Equine Retirement ~ Where A Horse Can Just Be A Horse

Retirement sanctuaries fill a critical need by giving safe permanent homes to older and infirm horses thus allowing rescue networks to concentrate on horses who are sound enough to be re-homed.  Equine rescue organizations do their best to relocate and/or retrain neglected, abused or just plain unwanted horses. The job is overwhelming! 

Where Will Your Horse Spend Its Golden Years?

Splash  1975 - 2005

Contact us for information on planning for your horse's safe retirement in the event of your death with a PET TRUST or LIFE INSURANCE.

Memorial Field

Current Residents

​​​​Splash is the cornerstone of Mitchell Farm Equine Retirement.  He was great friend and companion to Founder/Executive Director, Dee Doolittle for 20 years.  Splash was loved by all who knew him, and was known for his sense of humor and sweet temperament. In his prime, Splash was a wonderful pleasure/show horse.  In his middle age, Splash and Dee enjoyed hunter paces and trail riding together.  In retirement, he was lucky enough to spend quiet happy days grazing in big beautiful pastures at Mitchell Farm Equine Retirement.  Splash passed away in February, 2005 at the ripe old age of 30.  He had a great life!

Our equine retirees have earned their retirement and therefore will not ever be ridden again.  Without the pressures of competition or bearing human weight, they are free to remember, or learn, what it means to "just be a horse".  Volunteers groom each horse on a regular basis: minor medical and dietary needs are handled by the staff; dental, hoof care and routine health care or issues are attended to by our veterinarian and farrier.

What is an OTTB?

It stands for Off The Track Thoroughbred.  These horses started their equestrian careers as race horses and are registered with the Jockey Club.  Some may have only raced a couple of times, others who where more successful, several years.  When their racing career is finished they are still quite young and usually are transitioned into other equestrian pursuits.  Some mares become brood mares, some horses are re-trained for jumping, eventing or dressage.  They are eventually in need of retirement.  Our OTTBs were lucky enough to find safe permanent sanctuary here at Mitchell Farm.  

​Mitchell Farm Equine Retirement is accreditted by  TAA.  The 501(c)(3) nonprofit Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance accredits, inspects, and awards grants to approved aftercare organizations to retrain, retire, and rehome Thoroughbreds using industry-wide funding.

Funded initially by seed money from Breeders’ Cup Ltd., The Jockey Club, and Keeneland Association Inc., the TAA is supported by owners, trainers, breeders, racetracks, aftercare professionals, and other industry groups.