How it all started
Our inspiration sprang from a beloved boy named Irish, whose sudden loss still pains us deeply. For over a decade, this gentle Thoroughbred held our hearts, his days filled with leisurely hacks and special pampering. Knowing Irish’s history of orthopaedic issues signalled an early retirement, we dreamed of welcoming him home to live out his golden years on our own land.
We planned each aspect of our equine retirement stables around caring for Irish in his twilight, from lush grazing paddocks to customised stalls tailored for his comfort. We named the stables “Shadowmere” as a loving nod to his racing days.
Though Irish passed suddenly before we could complete his legacy, his enduring spirit shaped each brick we laid. Now Irish rests peacefully in our garden, a sweet chestnut tree growing in his memory. His shoes remain imprinted in Shadowmere’s threshold, so every resident crosses into a sanctuary inspired by this most special boy.
When we say we built Shadowmere as a home away from home, we truly mean Irish’s home. We channel the care we never got to lavish on him into spoiling those elders we welcome. Shadowmere’s beginning, and ending, will always come back to our magical Irish lad.
At Shadowmere, your prized pony isn’t sentenced to lonely days grazing into retirement—they join an exclusive country club filled with lively chatter, verdant grounds, and amenities catered to their every creaky joint or lavish whim!
As seasoned owners ourselves, we realise many facilities view elder horses as afterthoughts once their galloping glory days fade. But our unique retirement livery celebrates these distinguished ladies and gents, prioritising care as specialised as they are wise. Purpose-built with only eight VIP residents in mind, our halls hum with personalised attention beyond basic needs. From grooming sessions to birthday trims polished off with a carrot cupcake, we merrily pamper each senior’s hours with well-deserved TLC!
Yet amidst the hoof massages and glittered braids, state-of-the-art care shaped by equine nurses and vets maintains their quality of life. We balance luxury with health, combining therapies targeted to common senior issues with daily monitoring from high-tech stables. Out in fragrant herb paddocks, these sage steeds amble unbothered by bustling activity, free to chat and relax under dapples of sunshine.
At Shadowmere, we welcome each treasured resident not as a patient but as revered village elder. Won’t you join our gilded club of distinguished ladies and gentlemen at a barn where age earns pampering— not pity?