Double Flush Stables COVID-19 Shutdown

The Double Flush Stables barn family so many of us in Davie, FL have been a part of for the last six years, is facing it's biggest hurdle yet.  We have watched Christie and Ardicio work to build a place where the unwanted and abused animals get the one more chance they need.  Many of them are "giant" draft horses, who eat over 50lbs of feed a day, and Christie is able to feed them by taking them out on walking trail rides.  With this current COVID-19 situation, and the State shut down, it's impacting them very heavily. Horseback riding, while certainly a "social-distancing friendly" activity, is not considered an "essential business," and so the primary revenue stream for the care of the animals on the farm has dried up. Yet the needs remain: feed, veterinary care, and other varied expenses that come with the care of animals. These expenses have not gone away, even while the revenue required to pay those expenses has dried up.

Many of these giants were rescues, that came from abusive situations or had simply outlived their "usefulness" and would have been put down had they not found a new life and a new herd where they could live in peace. Some simply had no other place to go. Whatever their origin, these giants have formed a herd, and have found a place where they can live their lives in peace, giving trail rides and never having to worry about the threat of mistreatment or the slaughterhouse. Some go on to be adopted by new loving owners. Others live out their lives in their new herd. All of them require food and care.

I'm going to introduce you all to this wonderful herd in a moment, but first I'd like to provide some ways for you to help, if you have the funds and are so inclined.
- Gift certificates for lessons or trail rides are $65 each. While you can't ride now, you could always purchase a gift certificate for use later. To inquire please text [phone redacted]
- You can donate care/support through their vet's office. Call [phone redacted] and let them know you want to contribute to "Double Flush Stables" bill.
- You can place an order for horse food at any of their local feed stores: Timothy/Alfalfa Rabbit feed (used for the horses who don't have enough teeth to eat hay) and senior horse grain are in very high demand.
Davie Feed [phone redacted]
Griffs Feed [phone redacted]
Finishline Feed [phone redacted]
(If you want to donate food, they can pick it up, or you can have it delivered to them directly at the stables located at 4270 and 4266 SW 92nd Ave. Davie, FL 33328.)
- Finally, you can also donate directly via Cash app, Venmo, Apple Pay, or zelle (954-895-6902).
Text directly for specific instructions at [phone redacted]
Thanks for taking the time to read this. If you enjoy the pictures down below, please consider supporting this farm that's become so important to my family. If you can't support monetarily, please spread the word.

And now, let me introduce to you the giant horse herd!

NORA - a 20 year old Belgian Mare - Owner surrendered Nora due to her Chronic Progressive Lymphedema in 2018, and she's on an aggressive treatment for the rest of her life.



Tahiti - an 11 year old Belgian/Paint Horse Mare - Previous fractured pelvis, so she's been prescribed a daily walk to keep her mobility and health up to par. 



Ferrari - a 17 year old Belgian Mare - She was an auction save, with a broken leg.  She's the patriarch of the herd, and just like Mary Poppins.  She's practically perfect in every way.  She suffers from anhydrosis  (cannot sweat), and she requires daily respiratory treatments and special supplements.   


Heidi - a 14 year old Belgian Mare - Heidi came to Double Flush when her owner died of bone cancer, and she needed training.  She goes by "Big Boo" and she's really good at juicing carrots. 


Orchid - a 16 year old Percheron Gelding - He came from the Seminole Indian reservation.  They closed the reenactment program he was a part of, after his team mate died, and found new purpose as the husky member of the herd.  He loves going to weddings, because there is always cake. He also has arthritis, which prevents him from doing carriage rides anymore.  


Sebastian - a 17 year old Clydesdale Gelding - Arrived at the barn after being a pasture pet on a sheep farm, Sebastian is finally around other horses and has a purpose.  He loves little kids.


Odin - a 10 year old Percheron Gelding - The biggest of the herd standing at almost 20 hands high (6.6 feet tall at his shoulder!) He was an owner surrender, who had previously had a shattered knee.  Walking every day is extremely important in order for him to keep his mobility. 


Hiyoh - a 3 year old Bramha Bull/Steer - When you're a cow you can be one of two things, useful or tasty - and he's very useful! He's the trailboss every day, and escorts the giants everywhere they go, and he protects them at night.  No one gets out of that paddock unless Hiyoh says it's OK!


Tuna "Soldiers Tune" - a 15 year old OTTB - He's currently here until Christie finds him the perfect person.  Ready to take a young rider for the best rides of their life.


Rooster - a 7 year old Thoroughbred - He was a racetrack fail, he was a huge coward and came from rough hands.  He had no confidence in himself.  Now he's fierce as fire and fast as the wind.  He now drives a wagon, and carried Christie and her very old mom across the state of Florida in February.  He's steady as a rock.


Maverick - a 7 year old OTTB - He was originally at Double Flush recovering from a broken leg, and returned after two years of failing as a jumper and dressage horse.  He's a fabulous trail horse now, and he loves his life.


Tori - a 12 year old Hackney Pony - She's at Double Flush learning how to ride and drive, and is coming along nicely in her education!  She'll be available for adoption at the end of this summer.  


Muffins - a 19 year old Miniature Horse - She's a miracle pony! She's lived twice as long as anyone thought she would, and is chugging along strong with her dwarfism.  She's about 80 pounds, and her best friend is a Patagonian Cavey.  


Twix - a 3 year old Paso Stallion (soon to be a gelding) - He has been here two days, after being surrendered because he was starving.  He arrived two hours prior to our shutdown notice.  When he gets some weight on, he'll be gelded, trained, and placed with the right person.  


Marauder - a 4 year old Quarter Horse - He was an owner surrender, do to finances and an inability to get the horse trained.  He's been a major healing factor for his new owner, who is a medically disabled Army Ranger veteran.  RLTW



Jellybeans - a 6 year old Paso Mare - She and her sister were left on a property that was sold,. They were feral and in need of a competent home to train them and make them desirable family members.  She's been at the barn just under a year, and is arguably one of the best horses there.  

Holly - 3 year old African Crested Porcupine - She's the ambassador for all the rodents and birds who call Double Flush home.  She loves peanuts and hugs, no really, hugs!


These are most of the animals Christie at Double Flush Stables is currently responsible for, but there are countless others that have come through the gates and gone on to find their perfect person. Many are still at the barn, being boarded there by their new owners.   Christie is an asset to the South Florida community in giving horses another chance, giving them training for a job, and finding the RIGHT people to love them.  Often giving them away for free to the right home.  No adoption fees to recoup her expenses, just a big heart to find horses the right people and fix the problems crippling the past of these animals.