Manakin Equine Retirement Association

04/17/2026

We said goodbye to Bailey last Friday. Her last day on earth was a spa day. Haley came up from North Carolina, and Stephen took the day off from work. Kim spruced her all up with a bath and hand-grazed her for the afternoon, and she had all the treats she wanted. Here's a story I wrote about her a couple of years ago. RIP Bailey Irish Creme.

The story of a mischievous paint pony

04/15/2026

We currently have space available for one gelding at one of our satellite facilities. This is a small farm, five minutes from our main facility. The property has good board fencing, run-ins, stalls, and electricity.

Our team members visit twice each day for feeding and wellness checks on the horses and the property. We handle blanketing, fly masks, and routine first aid as needed. We can also coordinate vet and farrier calls. Our operation is licensed and insured, and everyone on our team is fully qualified for the work they perform.

Please message us if you’re looking for this type of program for your retired gelding.

03/27/2026

These two old guys are living their best life. Are your horses ready for retirement? Drop us a line and learn the options.

01/02/2026

Happy New Year from Manakin Equine Retirement Association 🎉🐴
As we head into the new year, we’re working to make our pastures and stalls safer and more comfortable for our retired horses. We’re raising funds for fencing upgrades and stall mat renovations—practical improvements that make a real difference every day.

• Each 16' fence plank costs $18
• Stall mats are $60 each, and we need 6 mats per stall

Every donation—large or small—directly supports our programs and helps us give our horses the safe, dignified retirement they deserve.

If you’re able to help, we’d be deeply grateful. Thank you for supporting our horses and starting the year with kindness 💚

The Horses Appreciate Your Support! Make a Donation While our Boarding and Riding Programs provide much of the revenue to support our retirees, we still depend on you, our friends and supporters, to help maintain the care of these wonderful creatures. After facility costs and feed / hay, our biggest...

12/06/2025

These guys hate being confined to their stalls so you can see they were real happy to finally get out into the snow.

11/02/2025

10/17/2025

Morning check-in with a couple of retired guys living their best life.

08/07/2025

Seven new posts and seven new planks. Fifty three to go! 😱😛😁

08/05/2025

At an older facility like ours, fence maintenance is an ongoing project. We just scored these 60 oak planks from Runabout Lumber in Gordonsville. Now we need about 50 wood posts. We can use square, round, new or used. Seven footers. Drop me a message if you have some. MERA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, donations are welcome. 

07/31/2025

Come see Mike’s clinic here on August 29th and 30th.

https://bedfordnewcanaanmag.com/uncategorized/martha-stewarts-master-farrier-the-hoof-doctor-michael-wildenstein/?fbclid=IwQ0xDSwL4IZxleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHtt-VRdJJUWf3q0orLNrNRdyhHuFojSKIe8GNr48JrrVnWsUosA2pc3JHVio_aem_0LT_5vFoH7D8AgE3DiKsZw

MARTHA STEWART’S MASTER FARRIER: ‘THE HOOF DOCTOR’ MICHAEL WILDENSTEIN When any of Martha’s horses require special attention...Martha calls upon the Master Farrier, Michael Wildenstein, ‘the Hoof Doctor’, to come for a ‘barn call’.