Ontario's Oak Knoll Stables has announced that the Campbellcroft, Ont.-based operation will be shifting the focus for its state-of-the-art boarding facility.
The announcement from Oak Knoll on its transition is as follows.
Oak Knoll Stables was founded in 2005 as a small, boutique style farm with a maximum population of 30 horses. Starting out with five Broodmares, Ken Morden and Caroline Thornton built a brand new facility and set out to raise racehorses. OK Boromir and OK Commander were among the early winners but after the fiasco of the Slots program being abolished the whole industry was in turmoil. In 2013 we sold virtually all our stock and considered leaving the business.
By sheer good fortune, one buyer who came to see the mare and yearling he had purchased was Tony Infilise, the owner of Hudson Standardbreds. He and his wife, Betty, had planned to move their breeding program from Quebec to Ontario and they felt our farm was a perfect solution for their horses. For the past five years we have managed the broodmares, the foals and the yearlings for Hudson Standardbreds and it has been a truly wonderful experience.
However, the breeding business is very intense and very demanding. Working seven days a week for 365 days is draining and neither of us as young as we were! So we are (sadly) giving up the breeding business and instead will board retired broodmares and riding horses. The farm is located on the southern perimeter of the Ganaraska Forest – an 11,000 acre Conservation area with groomed riding trails throughout the Forest.
Many competitive riders come to this area to train for Endurance rides and there is a local Horse Club (the Ganaraska Forest Horse Club) which has about 90 members. They arrange special events, social events, trail maintenance days and a host of other activities. Recreational riders (both English and Western) are Patrol Members of the Forest and they contribute to the safety of users on the trails.
The horses at Oak Knoll Stables are all going to a farm near Rockwood so the mares will remain as a herd and the weanlings will all be together. Two of the older mares have gone to a wonderful home in PEI where they will be loved and cared for in perpetuity. We believe every Broodmare deserves a safe and healthy home once their breeding days are over. We would welcome any mares who need a permanent home and we will ensure they have the best care possible as long as they live.
For further information or to receive an Application for Boarding please contact: Caroline Thornton at 905-396-3025 or [email protected].