Fantasy Farms Striving to be unique...
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10/01/2003
In an equestrian community it is difficult for any one facility to separate itself from the pack and offer quality service that makes it different from the rest. That is what Fantasy Farms has always strived to achieve. After functioning very successfully in NY for over 10 years, Fantasy Farms and owner Meredith Waring have brought to Jupiter Farms the ideals it shared with its New York clients.
Mainly, that each horse and client have their own individual requirements that need to be fulfilled in order for them to feel safe & comfortable at any facility. Whether this means customizing the horses feed, allowing clients to have access to the barn 24/7, designing turnout times and situations for each horse, etc... these needs all must be met. Meredith understands this need, stating that she herself was a boarder at quite a number of barns before she became a barn owner. “It was always very hard for me to leave my horse in someone else's care”..”too many barns had too many rules about times, and feeding that I felt I had no control”. Meredith remembers looking at barns that wouldn’t allow the horse owners on the property at certain times or on specific days. “I always felt cheated” Meredith explains, “ I am paying for a home for my horse, yet I cannot be there when I feel it is necessary”. So, when Fantasy Farms evolved, one of the first rules to be designed was...”Boarders have full access to their horse at anytime”.
Another limitation Meredith encountered as a boarder was the rigid feed plans horses were on. Meredith recalls “many barns fed a set amount or limited types of feed.” So this meant that a performance horse was getting the same type of feed as a retired horse. After doing extensive research with feed companies, Meredith came to the conclusion that every horse needs their feed customized to many factors such as their age, weight, and exercise schedule. There are many feed companies that are happy to come out to your barn and explain their whole line of products. Once you have that information, you can compare them and make an educated decision on which feed best suits your needs. This is exactly what Meredith did. After meeting with a number of feed companies and comparing the nutritional values, Meredith was able to decide which met her horses needs. So, once again, when Fantasy Farms began, all horses were evaluated with their owners, and a feed plan was designed for each individual horse. Owners were informed about what their horses were being fed and were then able to make informed adjustments according to any changes occurring with their horses, such as aging, exercise increase / decrease, weight management, etc...
As far as turnout goes... Fantasy Farms makes sure it is always available to every horse for as much time as they require. Whereas some horses may need only a few hours, some may require much more. Whether the horse needs 2 or 20 hours of turnout, the owners can customize their horses turnout requirements with the barn. Although the stalls are large and airy, with ceiling fans to keep the horses cool, turnout is an important factor at Fantasy Farms. Turnout areas at Fantasy Farms all have shady trees and fresh water for the horses. Some paddocks have grass, and all horses receive hay while they are turned out. Fence safety was a huge issue for Meredith. A loose horse can be not only be a terrifying thought to all of us, but can also be the cause of an accident to others or themselves. For this reason, the entire property of Fantasy Farms is securely fenced in, with an automatic security gate at the entrance. Meredith lives on the property, and has full view of the entire farm from her home.
The atmosphere at Fantasy Farms has always been friendly and relaxed. Safety for horses and riders always comes first. The lessons are all taught by experienced, caring and fully insured trainers. Fantasy Farms offers a wonderful string of school horses that Meredith brought with her from NY. Meredith explains, “finding a good school horse is worth it’s weight in gold, I could never part with my horses, they are all part of our family, and they are what make our lessons safe and allow our students to progress forward in their equestrian goals.” “I always have horses available for lease to riders on a month to month basis, but I evaluate each rider for their own safety as well as the safety of my horses”. Lessons are offered daily, and the farm offers a discount for prepaid lesson plans. Riders of all levels and ages are welcome. The instruction is primarily in Hunt Seat Equitation, but a bit of Dressage is added for a more well rounded comprehensive education.
Fantasy Farms will also be offering a new type of showing experience for its riders as well as any outside riders interested in participating. A “Clear Round” day will take place once a month this year from November through March. It is not a typical horse show event, and rarely seen here in Florida, but it gives riders a chance to expose their horses to a show environment. A Clear Round event is a jumping event where riders ride a set course, abiding by Jumper Rules, but without time constraints. Anyone who completes their round “clear” gets a ribbon. The only competition is against yourself. A “clear round” would include a rider completing a course with no rails down, no refusals, and no path crossing. Upon leaving the arena, the riders who go “clear” will receive their ribbon. Riders will be allowed to enter as many times as they choose. It is a great way to expose new riders and green horses to a show atmosphere, as well as horses and riders looking move up to the next level of their jumping training. It is great fun. Division will start with 18” cross rails and continue up to 3’.
Classes will be $5. There are no dates set yet, but interested participants can check the web site (http://fantasyfarmsjupiter.8m.com) or call: 561-743-8392 for details as time nears.
All in all, Fantasy Farms is always a work in progress. Always trying to improve itself, listening to its clients needs, and making a fun safe environment for people and horses. Whereas Meredith is not only the owner, but a rider and horse lover, she holds the same ideas that were important to her as a boarder, but now has the ability to implement them. “I don’t view it as a business, it is my life”, explains Meredith, “my horses are here and are cared for exactly as my boarders horses a
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