Medical Retirement
Southern Pines, North Carolina
For the Horse Who Gave You Everything.
Coming soon: veterinary-directed retirement and long-term care for show and performance horses, in the heart of North Carolina's Sandhills horse country.
Regular veterinary, dental and hoof care, a trained team that will see him every day, and the same attention he had at the height of his career.
Join the Interest ListEQUESTRIA is coming soon. We're now accepting interest, and a limited number of horses will be accepted when we open.
Retirement Is Not a Field and a Hay Net
A horse who spent years competing at a high level doesn't stop needing expert care when the competing stops. Aging joints, old injuries and chronic conditions need daily attention, a plan, and people who notice the small changes before they become big ones. EQUESTRIA Medical Retirement is being built for exactly that.
Who Medical Retirement Is For
For medically stable horses who need more than ordinary retirement board, including:
- Senior show and performance horses stepping down from competition
- Horses retired early by injury who need ongoing management
- Horses with chronic or age-related conditions, such as arthritis, metabolic conditions or old soft-tissue injuries
- Owners whose horse needs more care than their home barn can provide, or who are too far away to oversee it themselves
Medical Retirement will be long-term care, not a hospital. Horses needing emergency or intensive medical care will be referred to an appropriate veterinary hospital.
What Your Horse Will Receive
An individualized care plan
A written plan built with you and your veterinarian around comfort, soundness and quality of life, reviewed regularly as his needs change.
Routine veterinary, dental and hoof care
Regular veterinary wellness exams, vaccinations and parasite control; routine dental care to keep him eating comfortably; and ongoing farrier and podiatry care to keep aging feet sound. All scheduled and coordinated for you, and shared with your horse's veterinarian.
Daily expert eyes
A trained team that will know your horse: daily health checks, attentive hoof, weight and condition monitoring, and early attention to anything out of the ordinary.
Comfort and mobility care
Gentle, controlled movement will keep aging joints comfortable, including low-impact work on the Aqua Pacer underwater treadmill when appropriate.
Therapeutic modalities
Theraplate, solarium, cold saltwater leg spa and Class IV laser therapy will be used based on each horse's needs and veterinary guidance.
Thoughtful turnout and companionship
Managed turnout in suitable groups or individual paddocks, matched to each horse's temperament and condition.
Nutrition and medication management
Feeding and supplement programs will be tailored to each horse, and medications given exactly as prescribed.
Coordination with your veterinarian
We will work alongside your horse's veterinarian and keep them informed, so his care is continuous wherever he came from.
You'll Always Know How He's Doing
Many owners will be far from the Sandhills. You'll receive regular updates with photos and video, prompt answers when you call, and immediate contact if anything changes. Visits will always be welcome.
“They don't stop needing us when they stop competing.”
The Sandhills
Mild winters, sandy ground that drains well and is easy on older joints, and a quiet, rural setting near Southern Pines, one of the Southeast's most established horse communities. No long northern winters standing in frozen paddocks.
We'll connect you with experienced professional shippers who haul regularly along the East Coast and from Texas.
EQUESTRIA was founded by Trish Dixon, a lifelong horsewoman with more than 20 years leading healthcare organizations. Trish is pursuing her veterinary technician credential and equine rehabilitation certification, and is building a team of Sandhills veterinarians and horse professionals. She reads every inquiry herself, and you'll hear from her directly.
Join the Medical Retirement Interest List
Tell us about your horse. Trish reads every inquiry personally and will reach out to discuss his needs.