By VERA LAWLOR
Picasso was only three-years-old when he began his job helping to teach adults and
children how to ride at Watchung stables. The Paint, who is fondly recalled for his love of
trails and jumping, served students for 22 years before being retired to Tate’s Way Farm
in Flemington, New Jersey.
“He was our first retiree and we just lost him recently after spending four-and-a half
wonderful years resting,” said Nancy Scileppi, an officer of the Watchung Stable Auxiliary
that established the School Horses of Watchung Retirement Program in 2002.
“Our mission is to provide dignified, healthy, and comfortable retirement homes for the
school horses who served us so well.”
“These horses live a very natural life here,” said Ira Tate, who owns the farm and is a
member of the Watchung school horse retirement committee. “They are turned out all the
time with access to shelter whenever they want it — they prefer to stay out in the field.”
The retirement program was started, Scileppi said, with not just the approval but also the
help of the county. Retired horses are donated to the program, and have 60 days free
board while the auxiliary seeks out a new home. The Union County Mounted Police
Department donated a trailer to transport the retirees.
“They even did the artwork on the trailer to help advertise our program,” Scileppi said.
The non-profit organization relies entirely on adoption fees ($500), donations from
individuals, as well as monies that come from fundraisers such as raffles and the sale of
commemorative mugs. Children who ride at the barn also help raise money.
Horses being sent into retirement have their teeth floated and feet trimmed, and they are
current on shots. They also leave with a new heavy duty winter blanket, lead line and
halter.
Applicants seeking to adopt the horses are well screened, with committee members
paying a visit to the property to make sure the fencing is secure, there’s shelter for the
horse, and the potential adopter knows the routine of caring for a horse.
References are required from a veterinarian and a farrier, and committee members
make follow-up visits to ensure the horses are comfortable and happy.
“Our retirees do not go to first time horse owners as a novelty pet,” Scileppi said. “We don’
t want these horses to be neglected in a pasture.” Some, she said, can be ridden, but
due to health issues others are adopted out strictly as companion animals for other
horses.
Teddy, 24, who was so gentle he worked strictly as a beginner horse for 16 years, was
adopted by Scileppi.
Her daughters Monica and Nina, junior instructors at the barn, had both ridden Teddy as
beginners.
“They were thrilled with the idea of adopting him for retirement, he was so deserving.”
Scileppi said. “He was a favorite at the barn, and the kids continue to ask about him all
the time.”
Teddy is among the herd at the Tate’s farm where he buddies up with Scileppi’s 34-year-
old retired pony.
“They are like Mutt and Jeff following each other around on 40 acres — Teddy is living the
life of Riley,” Scileppi said.
It’s not easy, she added, to find homes for horses because it’s an expense you are
asking people to take on.
Besides being a wonderful thing to do, adopting a retired school horse comes with other
advantages, Tate said.
“Your getting a horse that’s, been there done that, and is safe as could be,” he said. “You
can get on and go for nice quiet rides — most of these horses can still do light trotting.”
In 2003, a group of students at Lord Stirling Stable, a Somerset County-run barn in
Basking Ridge, founded the Friends of Lord Stirling School Horse Retirement Program.
They reached out to the Watchung retirement committee for guidance.
“All of the horses at Lord Stirling Stable are very much loved and well cared for, and we
wanted this love and care to continue when they became no longer serviceable or
suitable for the lesson program,” said Jennifer Graham, one of the founding members.
Horses that have worked in the riding school for a year or longer are eligible for the
retirement program.
“Whether they are leaving because of lameness issues or because they can no longer
handle the workload physically or mentally, they all deserve our dedication to finding
them new loving homes, rather than letting their future remain uncertain,” Graham said.
“We are extremely happy that the county allowed us to do this, and they have been very
supportive of all of our fundraising ideas."
Here’s how the Lord Stirling retirement program works: The committee keeps a
database of applications of interest from students in adopting particular horses, should
they ever be taken out of the school program.
Stable management determines when a horse is no longer fit for the riding program, and
contacts the retirement committee. If a student has expressed an interest in the horse,
the committee lets that student take over the purchase. If nobody is interested in the
horse, then the committee purchases that horse.
Because the county facility is not a sale barn, this purchase is made between the
committee and the dealer. The county, Graham said, exchanges horses for horses with
no money changing hands.
“We do the trade over the phone so the horses we purchase never actually have to leave
the barn, and we have found the dealer to be very fair,” Graham said.
The sale price depends on why the horse is being pulled from the riding program. For
example, if it’s because he or she is ring sour, but otherwise perfectly sound, the
purchase price could be as high as $2,000.
If on the other hand, the horse is unsound, and can only be lightly ridden, then the price
could be closer to $500.
Whatever the amount, that’s the adoption fee that will be asked of the new owner. Retired
horses live at Lord Stirling until a home can be found, with the committee paying monthly
board of $450.
“We’ve been very lucky that there’s always a stall available to us,” Graham said.
“Everyone involved thinks its best to only move the horse once as it can be very traumatic
for them.”
Stable management, she said, is very accommodating of the retired horses keeping
them on the same worming, shots, shoeing, and dentistry schedule.
“We pay the bills but we don’t have to worry about making the appointments,” Graham
said.
It can take anywhere from one to six months to find a new home, and once found, horses
are transported by the adopters or by volunteers at Lord Stirling Stables. In 2005, the
expense for running the non-profit retirement program — boarding, farrier and veterinary
fees — came to $8,200. The committee is run entirely on funds from individual donations
and fundraisers such as movie and play nights (the committee purchases tickets in bulk
at a reduced rate and sells them at the regular price), silent auctions, and the sale of
retiree’s shoes painted and inscribed with the horse’s name.
Retirees include Toronto, a paint and the “baby of the barn” who was retired at age five
due to a tendon injury. He is now in a home where he will only be ridden lightly.
As with the Watchung program, members of the Lord Stirling committee visit the home of
a potential adopter to make sure it is safe and comfortable for the new retiree.
They also request references. And, once the horse is placed in a new home, they
continue to monitor his or her care.
“According to the adoption agreement the new owner is required to give us 60 days
notice if for some reason they can no longer care for one of our horses, and we will take
the horse back,” Graham said.
Most recently, Linus, a 10-year-old paint horse, entered the adoption program. Due to
some lameness issues he can no longer work in the riding school.
“We are looking for a new home for him where he will be a companion horse first with an
option to be lightly ridden second,” Graham said. “He needs somebody who won’t care if
he turns up lame one day and can’t be ridden.”
For more information on the School Horses of Watchung Retirement Program visit
www.showretirementprogram.org. For more information of the Friends of Lord Stirling
School Horse Retirement Program visit www.flssnj.org.
Picasso was only three-years-old when he began his job helping to teach adults and
children how to ride at Watchung stables. The Paint, who is fondly recalled for his love of
trails and jumping, served students for 22 years before being retired to Tate’s Way Farm
in Flemington, New Jersey.
“He was our first retiree and we just lost him recently after spending four-and-a half
wonderful years resting,” said Nancy Scileppi, an officer of the Watchung Stable Auxiliary
that established the School Horses of Watchung Retirement Program in 2002.
“Our mission is to provide dignified, healthy, and comfortable retirement homes for the
school horses who served us so well.”
“These horses live a very natural life here,” said Ira Tate, who owns the farm and is a
member of the Watchung school horse retirement committee. “They are turned out all the
time with access to shelter whenever they want it — they prefer to stay out in the field.”
The retirement program was started, Scileppi said, with not just the approval but also the
help of the county. Retired horses are donated to the program, and have 60 days free
board while the auxiliary seeks out a new home. The Union County Mounted Police
Department donated a trailer to transport the retirees.
“They even did the artwork on the trailer to help advertise our program,” Scileppi said.
The non-profit organization relies entirely on adoption fees ($500), donations from
individuals, as well as monies that come from fundraisers such as raffles and the sale of
commemorative mugs. Children who ride at the barn also help raise money.
Horses being sent into retirement have their teeth floated and feet trimmed, and they are
current on shots. They also leave with a new heavy duty winter blanket, lead line and
halter.
Applicants seeking to adopt the horses are well screened, with committee members
paying a visit to the property to make sure the fencing is secure, there’s shelter for the
horse, and the potential adopter knows the routine of caring for a horse.
References are required from a veterinarian and a farrier, and committee members
make follow-up visits to ensure the horses are comfortable and happy.
“Our retirees do not go to first time horse owners as a novelty pet,” Scileppi said. “We don’
t want these horses to be neglected in a pasture.” Some, she said, can be ridden, but
due to health issues others are adopted out strictly as companion animals for other
horses.
Teddy, 24, who was so gentle he worked strictly as a beginner horse for 16 years, was
adopted by Scileppi.
Her daughters Monica and Nina, junior instructors at the barn, had both ridden Teddy as
beginners.
“They were thrilled with the idea of adopting him for retirement, he was so deserving.”
Scileppi said. “He was a favorite at the barn, and the kids continue to ask about him all
the time.”
Teddy is among the herd at the Tate’s farm where he buddies up with Scileppi’s 34-year-
old retired pony.
“They are like Mutt and Jeff following each other around on 40 acres — Teddy is living the
life of Riley,” Scileppi said.
It’s not easy, she added, to find homes for horses because it’s an expense you are
asking people to take on.
Besides being a wonderful thing to do, adopting a retired school horse comes with other
advantages, Tate said.
“Your getting a horse that’s, been there done that, and is safe as could be,” he said. “You
can get on and go for nice quiet rides — most of these horses can still do light trotting.”
In 2003, a group of students at Lord Stirling Stable, a Somerset County-run barn in
Basking Ridge, founded the Friends of Lord Stirling School Horse Retirement Program.
They reached out to the Watchung retirement committee for guidance.
“All of the horses at Lord Stirling Stable are very much loved and well cared for, and we
wanted this love and care to continue when they became no longer serviceable or
suitable for the lesson program,” said Jennifer Graham, one of the founding members.
Horses that have worked in the riding school for a year or longer are eligible for the
retirement program.
“Whether they are leaving because of lameness issues or because they can no longer
handle the workload physically or mentally, they all deserve our dedication to finding
them new loving homes, rather than letting their future remain uncertain,” Graham said.
“We are extremely happy that the county allowed us to do this, and they have been very
supportive of all of our fundraising ideas."
Here’s how the Lord Stirling retirement program works: The committee keeps a
database of applications of interest from students in adopting particular horses, should
they ever be taken out of the school program.
Stable management determines when a horse is no longer fit for the riding program, and
contacts the retirement committee. If a student has expressed an interest in the horse,
the committee lets that student take over the purchase. If nobody is interested in the
horse, then the committee purchases that horse.
Because the county facility is not a sale barn, this purchase is made between the
committee and the dealer. The county, Graham said, exchanges horses for horses with
no money changing hands.
“We do the trade over the phone so the horses we purchase never actually have to leave
the barn, and we have found the dealer to be very fair,” Graham said.
The sale price depends on why the horse is being pulled from the riding program. For
example, if it’s because he or she is ring sour, but otherwise perfectly sound, the
purchase price could be as high as $2,000.
If on the other hand, the horse is unsound, and can only be lightly ridden, then the price
could be closer to $500.
Whatever the amount, that’s the adoption fee that will be asked of the new owner. Retired
horses live at Lord Stirling until a home can be found, with the committee paying monthly
board of $450.
“We’ve been very lucky that there’s always a stall available to us,” Graham said.
“Everyone involved thinks its best to only move the horse once as it can be very traumatic
for them.”
Stable management, she said, is very accommodating of the retired horses keeping
them on the same worming, shots, shoeing, and dentistry schedule.
“We pay the bills but we don’t have to worry about making the appointments,” Graham
said.
It can take anywhere from one to six months to find a new home, and once found, horses
are transported by the adopters or by volunteers at Lord Stirling Stables. In 2005, the
expense for running the non-profit retirement program — boarding, farrier and veterinary
fees — came to $8,200. The committee is run entirely on funds from individual donations
and fundraisers such as movie and play nights (the committee purchases tickets in bulk
at a reduced rate and sells them at the regular price), silent auctions, and the sale of
retiree’s shoes painted and inscribed with the horse’s name.
Retirees include Toronto, a paint and the “baby of the barn” who was retired at age five
due to a tendon injury. He is now in a home where he will only be ridden lightly.
As with the Watchung program, members of the Lord Stirling committee visit the home of
a potential adopter to make sure it is safe and comfortable for the new retiree.
They also request references. And, once the horse is placed in a new home, they
continue to monitor his or her care.
“According to the adoption agreement the new owner is required to give us 60 days
notice if for some reason they can no longer care for one of our horses, and we will take
the horse back,” Graham said.
Most recently, Linus, a 10-year-old paint horse, entered the adoption program. Due to
some lameness issues he can no longer work in the riding school.
“We are looking for a new home for him where he will be a companion horse first with an
option to be lightly ridden second,” Graham said. “He needs somebody who won’t care if
he turns up lame one day and can’t be ridden.”
For more information on the School Horses of Watchung Retirement Program visit
www.showretirementprogram.org. For more information of the Friends of Lord Stirling
School Horse Retirement Program visit www.flssnj.org.
| For Some Horses, Retirement is Just The Beginning |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |