Mill Creek Farm: a Retirement Home for the Horses

Alachua County is full of wide, open spaces and lots of horses. It neighbors Ocala, which is known as the Horse Capital of the World. 

It’s also home to Mill Creek Farm, a “retirement home for the horses.” The farm opens to the public on Saturdays, allowing guests to go for hikes while feeding grateful rescue horses all the carrots they desire along the way. 

The price of admission: Carrots. 

The first time we visited the farm, we brought one small, one pound bag of carrots. We couldn’t have imagined needing more, but we did, and you will. 

If you’re lucky, you might catch a volunteer driving around the farm in a golf cart, selling larger bags of carrots for $5. The second time we came to the farm, we came prepared with one bag of carrots each and several Gatorades. 

Since it was summertime each time we visited, it was brutally hot, hence the electrolytes the second time. Several years ago, the woman who owns the farm planted the trees that the horses now find refuge underneath on hot days. 

She decided to open the farm to the public once a week after reading about an animal abuse story in the community. Her thinking was that if young people saw how gentle these large creatures were, they would grow up to be as gentle with all animals. 

The farm is home to dozens of horses who have been rescued from abusive conditions. At Mill Creek Farm, they are promised to never be ridden again. They simply get to live the rest of their days in peace and eat carrots from adoring fans on Saturdays. 

And all of this is achieved through donations from the public - outside of all the carrots, of course.