Board & Train

Board & Train Our 90 Day Board and Train Program is the Go-To solution in South Florida for a whole host of behavioral and training issues. With a foundation in biomechanically correct movement and a deep understanding of equine behavior, Evan Ackerly has helped hundreds of horses and riders since 2018. Every horse is treated as an individual, focusing on their strengths and gaining a clear understanding of the gaps in their foundational training that may be contributing to the undesirable behaviors that lead the owner to seek out expertise. Kindness, combined with clarity and consistency, create the relaxation that needs to precipitate any learning. Add in professional management, correct riding and top nutrition, and watch the transformation happen. We have hundreds of satisfied clients and fans, many of whom are happy to share their testimony of how our program has helped them. Regardless of the issue, breed, history or desired riding discipline, our program will make a huge difference in your horse, and ultimately your relationship and success with your horse.

Frequently Asked Questions

FACILITY

Tell me about your facility?

Our training facility is an exquisite 15-acre property in Palm City boasting a CBS barn, grassy pastures, round pen, covered arena, jump course, obstacle course, cross country course and a beach with equine access to a clear, 2.5 acre lake for swimming. This unique combination of features allows for the very best in cross training and the solid development of horses for a wide variety of equine disciplines.

STALLS

Stalls are 12×12, padded, with high velocity fans, auto waters, automatic fly system and full bars. They are cleaned daily with shavings refreshed as needed.

FEED/HAY

What do you feed?

We work closely with our Purina equine nutrition specialist to provide the best possible diet for your horse during their stay. Each horse will be evaluated for body score, workload, breed and discipline to determine which one of the products in the Purina Equine Feed catalogue is best suited to maintain the health and peak performance of your horse during their stay. We have personally visited the Purina Research Center Farm in Missouri and attended lectures and educational seminars given by the 8 PhD’s who create and test their product line. We can personally attest to the science and care that Purina brings to its equine feed line. Additionally, we feed free choice Timmothy/Alfalfa hay while stalled. Hay and feed is included in training costs. Straight Alfalfa is available for an additional costs if it is determined that this is needed.

Do you give Supplements?

Any supplements that you request to be given, must be recommended by your vet or nutritionist for a specific purpose. Those required supplements must be pre packaged into daily doses by you and delivered to us, or come in a portioned Smart Pak which can be direct shipped to our facility. This ensures accuracy in dosing and allows us to clearly track the efficacy of those supplements.

TURN OUT

We do overnight turnout for most of our horses. This maximizes their time outside and keeps them out of the direct sun and Florida heat. There are exceptions to this general rule, based on pasture conditions, rain, horse needs, bugs, etc. Our property is treated regularly for both fire ants and mosquitos. Our manure is picked up and hauled off the property twice a week which means we do not have a fly problem. We rarely need fly sheets for our horses in training. Our pastures are hot fenced and horses are turned out individually to avoid injuries.

TRAINING

How often will my horse get ridden?

Horses are worked regularly with the goal of 5-6 days a week. Changes and adjustments are constantly being made to maximize the progress, mental health and required rest of each individual horse. We do have a covered and lit arena, so some horses may even have their daily ride in the evening hours, which is especially useful for those horses who struggle with the heat in the Summer.

Can I come and ride my horse?

While it is an essential part of our program to incorporate the owner into the training process, that does not happen until the very end of the training process, and will vary based on your horse, your riding ability and the goals you have set for the both of you. In the initial stages of training, it is important to allow our professional time to teach your horse the new skills and behaviors, and to solve the challenges that brought you here in the first place. Only after your horse has a working understanding of the training, can we begin to teach you the techniques you will need to maintain the training and to continue building on the new skills and behaviors once you go home. During the initial stages of the program, when you are not riding your horse, we will be happy to send a weekly video of progress and we are in touch frequently. We also post updates of our training horses on our Facebook page, so follow our socials you may even see your horse starring in a video on that platform!

What if I am a Beginner Rider?

We do not provide an entry level riding academy. Owners need to be confident, competent, and safe with the basics of horsemanship which include walking, trotting, and cantering on horseback. If Owner is a beginner rider, not safe riding all gaits of a horse, or does not have a skillset suitable for their horse, we recommend taking lessons catered to Owner’s skill level at an outside lesson program on a seasoned horse while your horse is in training. Lessons with a beginner rider on a horse who is in training will slow both the rider’s and horse’s progress and can even lead to more problems. TACK

Should I bring my saddle?

Our training tack room is fully stocked with a wide variety of saddle types and sizes, each used for a specific purpose, depending on your horse’s needs, fit, and training goals. You do not need to bring your saddle. If something specific arises with saddle fit, you will be consulted and we may recommend bringing your saddle in, and/or consulting a saddle fitter.

What bit do you use?

Most of our training revolves around a snaffle and softening into bits without looking for mechanical advantage to create a soft horse. As with everything, there is no cure all solution and will fit each horse and rider into the appropriate bit for their needs during training.

Can I bring my fly sheet or blanket?

We seldom use or need fly sheets. Our property and barn are treated for pests, our barn has an automatic fly suppression system, our county sprays for Mosquitos regularly, and our pastures are picked and mowed regularly. In cases where the horse has diagnosed skin issues and a fly sheet is recommended by your vet, we will ask that you bring your own. Rarely do we need blankets in Florida. During the cold, our CBS barn remains 10 degrees above and horses are kept inside in extreme cold. We have had rare instances where the overnight temps have dropped into the 20s or 30s, and we do have blankets to fit everyone. If severe cold weather is forecast and you have a blanket you would like to bring in, that would also be welcome.

MEDICAL/FARRER CARE

Can I use my own vet?

All licensed and insured professional practitioners are welcome to treat and service your horse during training. This includes vets, farriers, massage therapists, chiropractors, etc. All appointments MUST be made through our trainer. In the event that your vet or farrier can not come out, or their territory does not extend to our barn, we have a list of professionals whom we love and use for our own horses that we can call out for your horse.

IMPORTANT NOTE: For those horses who are being sent to us for extreme unwanted behavior issues, like bolting, rearing, kicking, or bucking, we always recommend, and in some cases will require, that you have a vet check your horse for pain related causes prior to investing in training. In the course of working with hundreds of horses over the years, we have unfortunately found things like Kissing Spine, Cervical impingement, or soft tissue damage to be the culprit of the unwanted behaviors.

EXPECTATIONS & RESULTS:

What can I expect from my investment?

It is important to understand the training process, and to discuss at length with our trainer all of your horses history, previous training and issues, your goals, and your riding abilities so that we can craft the perfect training program for you. Every horse is an individual, and there is no “one size fits all” program that will work for every horse.

It is also important to have realistic expectations for your horse. For example, our saddle start graduates will have a basic foundation and safe walk trot, canter, and solid stop after our 120 day program; however that 3 yr old horse that was purchased as a pony for an 8 yr old child and sent for 120 day start isn’t graduating “kid safe.”

Over the last 8 years, we have had more than 300 horses through our training program. Most leave our barn and go on to have successful partnerships with their owners. We love to see them haul back in for our clinics and follow up lessons.

FOLLOW UP

Our clients are our clients forever, even after your horse goes home. We pride ourselves on your success and we do see many return for clinics and events. We are also available for haul-in lessons to continue building on your training and the partnership that we have helped you build with your horse. We also coach many “graduates” at horse shows during and after their training.

INVESTMENT

What does the training cost?

Owning horses can be expensive. Investing in training is a big decision and we value your trust. Our initial training program is a 90 day program that breaks down to $2,600/month, payable in two installments of $3,900 on the first of the first month and $3,900 on the first day of the second month. If you desire additional time in training after our 90 day program, the training extension is billed monthly at a rate of $2,500/month.

READY TO SEND YOUR HORSES TO TRAINING?

Schedule a call with our trainer, Evan Ackerly, or book a tour of Tailwind Trails.