By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
A new equine center just outside of Hays recently broke ground on an expansion that will include an equine veterinary hospital and rehabilitation center for horses.
The center also plans to start offering therapeutic riding lessons for people who have disabilities.
Triple Eight Equine Center opened about a year ago. It sits on 95 acres off Interstate 70 Toulon exit east of Hays.
It offers riding lessons in a 120-by-80-foot indoor arena with synthetic flooring. The synthetic flooring is supposed to be softer for the horses and easier to maintain. In addition, the facility has four 12-by-12-foot stalls available for overnight rental.
Lexie Macumber (Lesson Assistant), Lisa Kisner- (Advanced lesson instructor), Anne and Brian Lang (Owners)
Riding lessons are offered for beginners to advanced riders and ropers. Students don't have to have their own horses. Shelly Macumber, center manager, said she recommends children be at least 6 years old to take lessons. Riding lessons start at $30 an hour, which increases with skill level.
"We have a horse, Tango, that we call a famous horse," Macumber said. "He is the horse that we put all of the little kiddos on. He has a really funny personality, so he plays with them and the kids, really, really love that part of it."
The arena can be rented for horse owners who want to exercise their horses over the winter. The facility, which has two meeting rooms, is available for rent for meetings, parties and events. The meeting rooms include tables, chairs and TVs and can either hold 21 or 24 people.
The cost to rent meeting rooms is $80 for half days or $150 for full days. Overnight horse boarding costs $35 per night.
The center also has an indoor, heated horse wash.
Outdoor pens and runs are going to be added during the expansion. The overnight boarding, or horse hotel as Macumber called it, will be expanded by 24 stalls in the new facility.
Outdoor spaces also will be available for events such as barrel races, roping and clinics. The pasture will be available for trail riding.
Anne Lang, co-owner of the facility, has a Phoenix Western Shoppe that is temporarily located on the second floor of the center. The shop sells western wear and horse tack.
Brian Lang of Lang Diesel, Anne's husband, is also a co-owner. Brian Lang said he is stepping away from day-to-day management of LDI and decided to invest in the center rather than fully retire.
A riding club, Triple Eight Saddle Club, also is based out of the center and offers activities for both adults and children.
Macumber has a lifetime of experience with horses. She started with a pony as a child and moved up to horse showing in 4-H. She has competed in a variety of horse events including western pleasure and barrel racing. Her 17-year-old daughter is an active barrel racer.
She is almost done with certifications in Rehab Therapist and Equine Sports Massage Therapy.
She taught students in the horse program when her daughter joined 4-H.
"My favorite part of it is being able to teach new people to be around [horses] and the connection they get with it," she said.
"The kiddos are my favorite," she said. "They're a lot of fun, and they enjoy it so much. They're big animals, so starting out, it's a major confidence builder for them."
Equine Rehabilitation Center
Ground has been broken on a new equine rehabilitation and conditioning center. Completion is scheduled for this spring.
The new center will have state-of-the-art equipment to assist in injury recovery, post-surgical care and accelerated conditioning for horses.
This equipment will include an Aqua Pacer +, which is a water treadmill for horses. The Aqua Pacer + also can offer spa and saltwater therapy to help wounds heal quicker. The rehabilitation center will have the only Aqua Pacer for horses in the area.
The center also will have horse walkers, and a horse Bemer blanket, which helps increase circulation.
Therapy will be offered with the assistance of a veterinarian, who will be on campus. Kris Harris of Western Prairie Equine will be the center's vet.
Macumber said the center will not only help horses properly heal, it might also prevent some horses from being put down.
Therapeutic Riding Center
Macumber is in the process of obtaining certification to offer therapeutic riding, which are riding sessions to help people who have disabilities. These riding sessions will be offered for both children and adults.
The new, smaller arena that is under construction will be used for these riding sessions. Those will be paid for by the individuals receiving services.
The sessions can assist with building cognitive, social, emotional or behavioral skills, Macumber said.
"I have always wanted to do therapeutic riding because [horses] are my stress reliever and my therapy," Macumber said. "There is a special connection with horses that is hard to describe.
"I hope I can bring that and share that and help people in any way."
The center will have a Hays Chamber ribbon cutting and Chamber Chat at 9 a.m. April 21. Further events will be scheduled when the rehabilitation center and vet hospital open, Macumber said.
Learn more about Triple Eight Equine by following the center on Facebook. You can book lessons or rentals by calling 785-639-5876 or emailing [email protected].