About Us
We have been racing and raising thoroughbreds for over 15 years. We
started out with just enough room to house our two broodmares and their
offspring and a couple of trail horses. As many of you have experienced,
the “offspring” and “additions” soon crowded us out of the original farm
and that led us purchase the 170 acres that now comprises Cherokee Ridge
Horse Farm. We are located just off of Exit 4 on the east side of
Interstate 49 in Carencro, Louisiana. We are about three miles north of
the Evangeline Training Center (the old Evangeline Downs Racetrack), 14
miles south of the new Evangeline Downs Racetrack and Casino, and
conveniently located between Delta Downs and Fair Grounds Race Course and
about 3 hours south of Louisiana Downs.
With plenty of room for boarders to ride through hay fields and along
wooded trails, we are an ideal facility for pleasure riders to keep their
personal horses close to town and yet feel like they have escaped to the
country side.
As we are blessed to have this beautiful place to live and to care for
our own horses, we immediately wanted to make the facility available to
others who may not otherwise have the opportunity to work and play in such
a setting.
Not long after the farm began to “take shape”, ATRO (Acadiana
Therapeutic Riding Association) moved their horses in and began offering
classes to mentally and physically challenged children and adults. There
is an old adage that says “The outside of a horse is good for the inside
of a man” and that certainly bears truth with ATRO’s work.
The next outside group to join the family was the Friends of the
Lafayette Mounted Police Unit. This group maintains, trains, and houses
the horses that are used to help the police “To Protect and Serve” the
people of Lafayette with its many events and festivals.
Certified by the international professional organization EAGALA
(Equine-Assisted Growth and Learning Association), a previous owner began
using Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP) on the property in 2000. EAP is
a new and growing form of treatment that uses horses as a tool for
addressing a variety of mental health and human development needs
including behavioral issues, attention deficit disorder, substance abuse,
eating disorders, abuse issues, depression, anxiety, job stress,
relationship problems and communication needs. We are excited that we can
continue to provide this valuable resource to our community.
Separate and apart from the community uses above, we have devoted a
quiet, peaceful, and secluded area to year round mare care, foaling, sales
and show preparation, and a place for race horses to just lay up to rest
from the rigors of racing. This area provides plenty of large naturally
shaded pastures or individual paddocks for these horses.
The farm is staffed by experienced personnel who check all the horses
at least twice a day. Horses are fed and hayed morning and night by people
who really care about the horses that are housed here. Malcolm
Chiasson handles the broodmare, foaling and sales preparation duties.
Malcolm has over 30 years experience with this work. Eva Lydick, Racing
Partnership Manager, loves looking at horses, pouring over thoroughbred
pedigrees and arcane breeding theories and has been involved as an owner
and breeder of thoroughbreds for approximately ten years.
As owners (along with the bank of course!), Mary is busy with her
professional counseling activities on the farm and I handle the overall
management of the place. Please feel free to contact any of us to ask
questions or learn more about Cherokee Ridge Horse Farm. We are here to
share our dream with you.
Bill and Mary Langford
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