Horse, boarding, stables, Silver Spring, Olney, MD

Millhaven Horse Farm

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Horse Care

Turnout is determined by the weather.

WHAT'S THE TURNOUT SCHEDULE?

Turnout is determined by the weather. When it's mild outside, horses are in the pasture 24/7, except at mealtimes. Turnout reduces the risk for colic. However, on very hot and humid days, horses are in with fans on as needed and are out overnight. During winter, the horses are in overnight and are outside all day. We also bring horses in if heavy rain, a bad storm or icy conditions are predicted.

HOW ARE HORSES FED?

Horses are fed in their stalls morning and evening. Hay is provided before the evening serving of grain. In winter, when they are stalled overnight, the horses are hayed again around 11 p.m. during late night check. This schedule ensures they don't go for long periods of time without digesting food, which increases the risk for gastric ulcers and colic. A few horses in the barn that are aged or "hard keepers" require a third serving of grain late at night.

The amount of grain and hay that each horse receives is determined by individual needs. We watch weight carefully and make adjustments as needed. We hay generously, since more hay and less grain is healthier.

WHAT TYPE OF GRAIN IS FED?

Most horses receive sweet feed with 10% protein. A few horses require feed with a high fat content and, for these, we stock Triple Crown Complete. For aged horses in the barn that require senior feed, we stock Purina Equine Senior. We surcharge for premium feed because it costs far more than sweet feed.

Ramsey (left) and Lenny say "hey."

WHAT TYPE OF HAY IS FED?

Usually orchard grass, sometimes Timothy. We use square hay bales, not round bales.

ARE THE FIELDS HAYED?

Smaller, semi-private fields are hayed morning and evening anytime the grass gets sparse. The large, general turnout field has adequate grass for all horses in warm months and enough for daily turnout in winter. If there is snow on the ground, however, all fields are hayed, and flakes are spread across the fields to prevent squabbling.

HOW ARE SUPPLEMENTS AND MEDICATION HANDLED?

For supplements, most boarders use the SmartPak system and have the supplements delivered to the barn. We administer supplements with the evening meal (morning and evening administration can be provided if really necessary). If boarders don't use SmartPak, we ask them to provide daily doses of supplements in Ziploc style, snack-sized bags and to mark each bag with the horse's name. Administration of medication varies depending on the type of drug and protocol required. We work with boarders and the veterinarian to see that medications are administered properly.

Horses are hand led to and from fields

ARE GELDINGS AND MARES TURNED OUT TOGETHER?

Yes, and we encounter very few problems. We strive to let horses be horses, within reason. If a horse causes problems in the big field, however, we move that horse out of the general turnout field and into a semi-private pasture.

ARE HORSES HAND-LED TO AND FROM FIELDS?

Yes. They are walked individually or in groups of two or three.

Manure is hauled off the farm.

HOW IS THE FARM CLEANED AND MAINTAINED?

Stalls are cleaned every day except Sunday. They are routinely stripped and re-bedded as needed with sawdust or shavings. Aisles are blown out daily. The wash stalls, a favorite place for boarders to visit while they groom and tack up, are power-washed weekly.

Water buckets are dumped daily and refilled and are scrubbed at least once weekly or more often if needed. Water tubs in fields are also routinely scrubbed. Our staff does a great job seeing to it that horses have clean, fresh water at all times.

The indoor arena is dragged and watered and the outdoor ring dragged periodically to keep the footing nice. Of course, fencing and stalls are repaired as needed, and the pastures are periodically fertilized and seeded.

HOW IS MANURE HANDLED?

Manure is hauled off the property, which keeps the farm cleaner and, in warm weather, keeps the fly population down.

IS SOMEONE PRESENT ON THE FARM AT ALL TIMES?

Millhaven horses have someone watching over them at virtually all times. Our home is built above the main barn. We can look out our windows to check on horses or run down the steps directly into the barn. Our staff lives on the property and homes surround our pastures.

Anytime that horses are in stalls overnight, a "late night check" is conducted about 11 PM. Each horse receives more hay, water buckets are checked and filled if needed and we simply make sure that each horse looks healthy and happy.

DO YOU HAVE RESTRICTED HOURS?

You may ride any time you like. We appreciate it, however, if boarders riding at night try to finish up by 9:00 p.m. so the horses and residents can settle down for the night.

Leonardo gets his annual dental check from Dr. Sarah Smith.

WHAT VETERINARIAN DO YOU PRIMARILY USE AND WHAT OTHER VETERINARIANS COME TO MILLHAVEN?

Dr. Stuart Scheinberg and his associate Dr. Sarah Smith of the Animal Medical Hospital in Glenwood, Maryland, provide care to most Millhaven horses. Animal Medical has provided excellent service to us for many years and the practice has a fantastic emergency system. (See Web link below for information on Animal Medical Hospital). At this writing, other veterinarians with regular clients at Millhaven are Drs. Will Engle and Rich Forfa, both well-regarded veterinarians in our area.

To learn more about Dr. Scheinberg and the Animal Medical Hospital, click here.

Dr. Scheinberg on a visit to Millhaven.

CAN I USE MY OWN VETERINARIAN?

We prefer you use our veterinarian because we schedule routine preventive care and it's easier to do when one veterinary practice is involved. You may use another veterinarian if you choose, as long as you take responsibility for scheduling appointments and make sure your horse is kept up-to-date with our health program.

WHAT IS YOUR HEALTH PROGRAM?

Our preventive vaccine and worming schedule was devised for our barn by Dr. Scheinberg.

Horses at Millhaven are wormed every two months. Stool samples are taken periodically to check the efficacy of our worming program.

Vaccines are administered annually for rabies and tetanus, and twice annually for Eastern and Western encephalitis, Potomac Horse Fever and West Nile viruses. We also vaccinate routinely for flu/rhino. We will be happy to provide the exact worming and vaccination schedule upon request. We do not vaccinate against strangles; we've never had a case and there are concerns about the vaccine. Nor do we vaccinate against botulism, because we do not feed round bales. Horses at Millhaven also receive routine preventive dental care annually.

Lewis Rimes getting a shoe just right.

WHAT ABOUT USING MY OWN FARRIER?

You may use any farrier you choose. We have several farriers who come to Millhaven. Those who handle most horses in the barn are Dan Evans, Lewis Rimes and Barry Henderson. We also have two farriers who specialize in barefoot horses: David Roseman and Bob Ciri. All the farriers work with us to schedule visits, and we see that horses are in the barn and available at the time the farriers arrive. If you want to use another farrier, please schedule visits yourself. If you cannot be present to bring your horse in for the farrier, give us at least 24 hours notice about the appointment and we will have your horse in at the appropriate time.

HOW DO BOARDERS PAY FOR VETERINARY AND FARRIER CARE?

Veterinarians and farriers bill boarders directly and you pay them, not us, for the services rendered.

DOES MY HORSE NEED TO BE BLANKETED IN WINTER AND IF I WANT TO BLANKET, WHAT DO I NEED TO SUPPLY?

Unless horses are aged, ill or clipped, blankets are not necessary. In addition, Millhaven horses are brought into the barn overnight in winter and anytime there is very inclement weather. When we close the doors to our main barn building, it tends to be about 10 degrees warmer inside than it is outside.

Many boarders, however, prefer to blanket. In this case, please provide 1) a waterproof sheet with no fill for intermediate weather and 2) a light- or medium-weight waterproof blanket with fill. Heavyweight blankets are too warm for this area! If we have unusually frigid temperatures, we can put the sheet on over the blanket. Make sure sheets and blankets are labeled with your horse's name and keep them in good repair.

ARE HORSES REQUIRED TO WEAR HALTERS?

Yes. Halters help ensure that we can catch and control the horses, which is safer for the horses and our staff. Halters are left on at all times; with 40 horses, it would really run up labor time removing and putting on halters. However, we require that horses have a breakaway halter and that boarders replace these as needed. Non-breakaway halters (including regular leather halters) are strictly forbidden.

Horses that get rub marks easily from halters may wear a breakable leather collar.

Natalie with Gibson and Magnum

HOW ARE NEW HORSES TRANSITIONED ONTO THE FARM?

New horses that will be in the general turnout field are started out in a small, adjoining introductory pasture where they can meet the other horses over the fence before commingling with them. If needed, we put a "buddy" horse in the introductory field with the new horse.

If a horse has been receiving a different brand of sweet feed than we use, we ask new boarders to bring some of the horse's current food; we'll mix that with ours and transition the horse gradually.

Millhaven Horse Farm is near Rockville, Gaithersburg and Olney, Md. It is also convenient to Damascus, Silver Spring and Bethesda Md., and Washington, D.C. You can reach us at 301-963-0630 or email

info@millhavenhorsefarm.com.