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 to purchase the 170 acres that now comprise 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 countryside.
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”, Acadiana Therapeutic Riding Association (ATRO) 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 is true of ATRO’s work.
Certified by the international professional organization Equine-Assisted Growth and Learning Association (EAGALA), a previous owner began using Equine-Assisted Counseling (EAC) on the property in 2000. EAC 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. EAC is provided through A Stable Journey, LLC. (www.astablejourney.com)
Separate and apart from the community uses above, we have devoted a quiet, peaceful, and secluded area to year round mare care, foaling, 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.
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 either 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
Bill Langford: (337) 280-1535 (mobile) Mary Langford, LPC: (337) 298-4313 (mobile)