About Double Diamond Acres
Here is the story of our stable and how it came to be, as well as the care our horses receive
How it all started
Double Diamond Acres first began in 2012 when the owner, Erica5, saw the growing number of GP. The sales were crowded with horses and ponies that just because of their GP and experience, they were being sold at as little as 500e! She began a small string of horses in her stables, re-training and competing with them, but it wasn't too serious.
Then, in 2013, Erica5 was able to open a facility with services and programs to offer to the public. She started noticing that the lack of want of these horses in the public was growing. She wanted people to realize that these horses are good horses, and not just horses with below average GP.
Today, DDA is a growing facilities with many programs and services to offer to all howrse players. We hope to inspire others to do this as well, so that those horses that are never bought can find forever homes!
Then, in 2013, Erica5 was able to open a facility with services and programs to offer to the public. She started noticing that the lack of want of these horses in the public was growing. She wanted people to realize that these horses are good horses, and not just horses with below average GP.
Today, DDA is a growing facilities with many programs and services to offer to all howrse players. We hope to inspire others to do this as well, so that those horses that are never bought can find forever homes!
Facilities
Double Diamond Acres is a medium-sized stables based in the US. Our custom, unique stable design is the remote place for breeding, training, and rehabilitating horses and ponies of all shapes and sizes. Our office is straight from the entry path, and connects to the first barn.
We currently have two large barns and one smaller barn on our base, one for stallions, one for mares and geldings, and another for pregnant mares and/or foals. They are each place moderately around the property so that the stallions won't become aggressive because they smell mares around. Each barn has comfortably sized stalls, each with a hay net hook, a hay rack, a grain bin, and a water trough. They also have connecting paddocks in the back that can be opened or closed. The stalls are cleaned twice a day by our staff or the owners, and the bedding is replaced at least once a day to either shavings, straw, or sand. Stall mats of all comfort levels are provided, and are custom for the horse. Each barn has their own tack room, roomy wash stall, and four pairs of cross ties.
We have around six pastures around our stables of all shapes and sizes, each with safe fencing and terrain. Tornado-safe shelters are provided in each pasture in the safest locations. The pastures also have hay at all times as well as water. Each pasture is checked for weeds and damage at least three times a year, and horses are rotated to different pastures based on their needs.
Double Diamond Acres currently has five arenas total, one dressage arena, one large jumping arena, one outdoor arena, and two indoor arenas. Each arena is filled with sand and has a medical emergency box inside for both horse and rider. There are also benches/bleachers for each arena for academy shows and visitors. All arenas have the appropriate equipment. For example, the dressage arena has correct letters and the showjumping arena has approved jumps and fillers. All arenas (except the dressage arena) have several schooling poles and standards, barrels, cones, etc.
The Breeding Clinic is located in the right corner of our stables, right next to the mare and foal barn and pasture. All breeding procedures take process there. There is a high-roofed sanded area inside for natural coverings to take place, but we have the equipment for semen to be collected from the stallions as well. All breeding records are kept inside the breeding office by the breeding arena so there are no breeding mistakes.
We currently have two large barns and one smaller barn on our base, one for stallions, one for mares and geldings, and another for pregnant mares and/or foals. They are each place moderately around the property so that the stallions won't become aggressive because they smell mares around. Each barn has comfortably sized stalls, each with a hay net hook, a hay rack, a grain bin, and a water trough. They also have connecting paddocks in the back that can be opened or closed. The stalls are cleaned twice a day by our staff or the owners, and the bedding is replaced at least once a day to either shavings, straw, or sand. Stall mats of all comfort levels are provided, and are custom for the horse. Each barn has their own tack room, roomy wash stall, and four pairs of cross ties.
We have around six pastures around our stables of all shapes and sizes, each with safe fencing and terrain. Tornado-safe shelters are provided in each pasture in the safest locations. The pastures also have hay at all times as well as water. Each pasture is checked for weeds and damage at least three times a year, and horses are rotated to different pastures based on their needs.
Double Diamond Acres currently has five arenas total, one dressage arena, one large jumping arena, one outdoor arena, and two indoor arenas. Each arena is filled with sand and has a medical emergency box inside for both horse and rider. There are also benches/bleachers for each arena for academy shows and visitors. All arenas have the appropriate equipment. For example, the dressage arena has correct letters and the showjumping arena has approved jumps and fillers. All arenas (except the dressage arena) have several schooling poles and standards, barrels, cones, etc.
The Breeding Clinic is located in the right corner of our stables, right next to the mare and foal barn and pasture. All breeding procedures take process there. There is a high-roofed sanded area inside for natural coverings to take place, but we have the equipment for semen to be collected from the stallions as well. All breeding records are kept inside the breeding office by the breeding arena so there are no breeding mistakes.
Horse Care
At Double Diamond Acres we believe that each horse is different, so each horse requires different needs. All horses are fed at least twice a day, and grained at least once if needed. We have many different feeds from forages to concentrates to as little as salt licks. Each horse has a feeding chart so nothing is forgotten. Foals being weaned are given a special milk broth mixture suitable for their nutrients needs.
Stall care wise, the water buckets/troughs are filled at least four times a day and cleaned at least once. We have spare toys in the feeding room for any horses that are spending more time in their stall lately, bored easily, or developing stable vices. Stable vices, if they occur, will be taken onto first priority to cure from our staff.
Each horse is exercised at least once a day. Their workout depends on their condition and needs. All pregnant mares are walked around for thirty minutes to an hour each day, or lightly ridden. No jumping, dressage, or hardcore riding is ever done to pregnant mares or horses under four years of age.
All horses are shoed by a professional farrier every 4-6 weeks, depending on hoof growth. The farrier comes to our stable about twice a month. Each horse has a vet check every two months, and they are all de-wormed and properly vaccinated for traveling, shows, and for the safety of our other horses. Pregnant mares about 3 weeks prior to the labor are put in the mare and foal barn. Cameras are installed to make sure proper attention is to that mare, but usually someone is in the barn with her at all times.
Stall care wise, the water buckets/troughs are filled at least four times a day and cleaned at least once. We have spare toys in the feeding room for any horses that are spending more time in their stall lately, bored easily, or developing stable vices. Stable vices, if they occur, will be taken onto first priority to cure from our staff.
Each horse is exercised at least once a day. Their workout depends on their condition and needs. All pregnant mares are walked around for thirty minutes to an hour each day, or lightly ridden. No jumping, dressage, or hardcore riding is ever done to pregnant mares or horses under four years of age.
All horses are shoed by a professional farrier every 4-6 weeks, depending on hoof growth. The farrier comes to our stable about twice a month. Each horse has a vet check every two months, and they are all de-wormed and properly vaccinated for traveling, shows, and for the safety of our other horses. Pregnant mares about 3 weeks prior to the labor are put in the mare and foal barn. Cameras are installed to make sure proper attention is to that mare, but usually someone is in the barn with her at all times.