Another Terrific Visit! A six-year-old, a four-year-old, and two tired (but happy!) grandmas had an amazing time again. Pro tip: bring a wagon, a big bag of carrots, and plenty of energy! We love that this experience is completely free--but please consider supporting them by making a donation or buying one of their adorable T-shirts. The volunteers are fantastic and love sharing fun facts about the horses, donkeys, and even the Zorse (yes, a Zorse!). We spent about three hours exploring and definitely saw it all--then left totally worn out but smiling. Bring your own water and snacks, or grab carrots there for the animals. And don't forget to save a little money for those cute shirts at the end--they've got sizes for everyone, from the tiniest tots to the grown-ups. read more

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I volunteer here. Come out on Saturdays from 11 to 3 to visit and to feed treats to the horses. Maybe even sponsor one of them or give a donation to a great place. Just remember, they are retired horses. They like bananas, apples, and carrots. read more

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No horsing around, this is some of the best good free Florida fun. Who knew feeding horses could be so fun?! While there's no admission or entrance or parking fee, I'm inclined to recommend buying something from the gift shop and/or getting your carrots there now that they offer them rather than bringing your own; which you could do. There's miles of paths to wander about taking in the air and feeding appreciative horses which seems to me like good honest wholesome outside fun. Not enough of this. read more

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Had such a great time visiting with and feeding the horses! This is a great activity to do with family and friends (and especially kids!) on a beautiful Florida day. Bring lots of treats! The horses love carrots, apples and bananas. read more

Mill Creek Farm - Animal Shelters Near Me - Alachua, Florida

I found this farm by a social media group that recommended it and I was super happy to find it! It was nice to see these horses and walk around the property! I highly recommend you to bring water, a backpack or wagon, and some good walking shoes. This property is massive and while some spots are shady, some spots are not. So sunscreen and an umbrella might be a good idea. The farm is well maintained and the pastures are kept clean. All of the staff is super friendly and are full of fun facts about the horses and property. Some areas of the walking are a steep incline. There are benches located around the walking path which is great for when you need a breather. The horses love snacks but some can't have carrots and some can't be fed at all. So be sure to check the pasture fencing for feeding signs. The horses also love apples and bananas! If you forget to grab some snacks for the horses you can get a bag of carrots at the farm for $6. They take cash, card, and Venmo! The road in is a little rough and there is a small dirt path you will travel through but I saw all kinds of cars get here and get out with no problem. My family will definitely be back and be better prepared for the next trip lol read more

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Such an amazing experience. There's so many acres to roam and on a day with good weather you can stay the entire time they are open Saturdays. The staff is so friendly and they have such a great system of taking care of the horses and visitors. Don't forget to bring apples or carrots to feed the horses. Fun activity for those of all ages and worth the drive. read more

Mill Creek Farm - Horses on the property - Animal Shelters Near Me - Alachua, Florida

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This was the absolute perfect afternoon out! The property is massive, over 300 acres. The day we were there, there were over 150 horses. You can bring carrots, bananas, and apples. They sell a 5lb bag of carrots for $6 currently. They also sell shirts, hats, bracelets, etc. there was plenty of parking available. You do not pay for admission, they just ask you to bring treats for the horses. They have restrooms available. We were offered a golf cart ride to the top of the property and chose to walk down and feed the horses along the way. I highly recommend this, as the horses up top don't receive as many visitors. They are Open to the public Saturday 11-3 They also had picnic tables throughout the property. If you bring apples they have a coring and slicing station at the entrance. They also have a banana peeing area. They really have thought of everything to make your time with the retired horses memorable. They have horses from rescues as well as retired police and military horses. Sweet, gentle animals that love getting treats! read more

A great place for family outings on Sat. Wide open space with clean bathrooms. Bring lots of carrots to feed the horses!

The kids and I love this place soooo much since discovering it. We had to come back on the way to the Gators stadium and stop bye and see the horses. It is well worth the hour and half drive on a Saturday to spend time with the kids!!!!Again they made us feel welcome and the nice older gentleman remembered us from the first visit ( I have to asked for his name again next time). Definitely will be coming back soon read more

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The retirement home for horses at Mill Creek Farm is a hidden jewel near Gainesville. It is a nonprofit, so entrance is free and you can feed the horses with carrots or fruits if you give a donation. It is a massive operation with around 300 acres and 100+ horses, although the workers drive around in golf carts if you need a ride. I definitely recommend it for anyone that likes the outdoors or animals. read more

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Highly suggest this place for a nice, free, leg stretching, family day or date! You can buy carrots there or bring your own. Not sure in price there, I stopped at Aldi's. Go at your pace. read more

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Went to Mill Farm with my family this weekend, and we had a wonderful time! It is absolutely gorgeous!! There are 50 pastures with 2-7 horses in each one depending on the size. The horses are all very friendly, and eager to eat some carrots! The staff who own the farm are absolutely delightful! They have a little shop at the front where you can buy calendars and little trinkets, and a donation jar. The farm is free to get into- the only admission requirement? Carrots! When you first arrive get a map and decide how long you would like to spend at the farm, we walked to whole thing and spent about 2 and a half hours. There are shorter loops that take only 15 minutes. I would also suggest bringing a lot of carrots. The horses get more and more friendly the more carrots you feed them and the longer you hang out. If you have the time, walk the whole farm, there are a lot of horses in the back that don't get as much attention as those first few pastures. Just be aware, some of the horses were mistreated and are therefore not as pretty to the eye- some have growths, are emaciated, or are missing an eye. Some of the horses are also a tad skittish, so be gentle :) Definitely bring some water or be prepared to buy some, wear bug spray and take photos. Such a fun day!! read more

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Love this place!!! There should be more places like this where animals are treated with love and respect. The places is huge, so be ready to walk. Visiting day is Saturday for a few hours. There are a lot of beautiful retired horses, some with very sad stories, that are waiting there for love and most importantly carrots!!!! read more

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This is an absolutely wonderful place to spend a Saturday (11-3) feeding the horses. They are truly committed to their animals and you can tell. Admission is only 2 carrots and the space is so large that a day in the hot sun walking up and down the farm would certainly wear out any little ones. They also have some sleepy dogs that you can usually see riding around in golf carts. Be sure to bring plenty of carrots because your heart will be won over by them all. read more

This a great place to bring kids on a Saturday. You can bring carrots, apples, or bananas, and spend a day feeding the horses. (They sell five pound bags of carrots for six dollars at gate, in case you did not plan ahead.) Lots of families with kids here, and the occasional group of college students feeding some horses. The paths are all dirt. Many are sandy, so not great for a conventional stroller. To get to the back, you have to go through woods with lots of roots in the paths. A conventional stroller can't do it. I actually broke the wheels on mine this way. The farm is pretty big. Lots of pastures each with around five horses give or take. Walking the loop is around 2.5 miles. The horses near the front tend to be full of food by 1pm. At 2, they don't even care that you have a carrot. The horses in the back are always hungry. If you wanna see a thoroughbred gallop at you across a field, because you are the first person to get to that pasture in a while, be prepared to walk two miles to the back of the farm. read more

My wife, daughter, and I recently visited Mill Creek Farm (aka The Retirement Home for Horses) and had a wonderful, relaxing time. The farm is over 300 acres, and is home to 135 horses! The farm is very well kept, and the horses well cared for. I spoke with Paul over the phone asking for a few tips before we came, and when we arrived he recognized us and greeted us. He and the very nice lady manning the entrance (unfortunately, I didn't catch her name) are a pleasure to speak with. The horses were very lively and fun to interact with. We'd stopped at Sam's Club and picked up (3) 5lb bags of carrots and a bunch of bananas. (You can also buy carrots from the folks there for a reasonable price/donation.) A few had dietary limits and could only eat bananas or apples - FYI. There was a wide variety of breeds, colors, and personalities. It was a lot of fun feeding and petting them. My daughter found her favorite: a dark brown mare that, when you asked her a question, moved her head up and down like she was nodding yes. The grounds are beautiful: gentle slopes and hills, huge green pastures, giant shade trees, and wooded trails and paths. The nature and scenery just added to the great experience. We spent about three hours total, and estimate we visited less than half the horses. There are plenty of horses to see and visit, so make sure you bring (or buy) plenty of carrots. If you do run out, they had a golf cart cruising the trail offering bags of carrots for sale. On the way or, we stopped and chatted at the gate/souvenir stand. They offer shirts, hats, car magnets, calendars, etc. and also have a sponsor-a-horse program. My daughter asked about her favorite horse, and based on what we could describe, Paul identified her. On the way back home, Paul took the time to text me (using the number I'd originally called in with) to let me know he'd thought more about what we'd told him, and realized he gave us the wrong horse's name. I was very pleasantly surprised; he'd thought about it, and taken the time to contact me again to let us know. Another example that these folks really love and care about what they do! It's really great that this group has provided such a wonderful way for these animals to "retire" and enjoy their lives in beautiful pastures, and for allowing visitors to come experience and enjoy them. A couple suggestions: * there are some dirt trails, so wear footwear you don't mind getting dirty. I might recommend against flip-flops or sandals, unless you don't mind dirty feet. * there are a few stretches with no shade, and the Florida sun can get a little harsh. We all got a tad pink from not wearing any sunscreen or bringing shade umbrellas. read more

My Mom Nephew and I spent about 2.5 hours here yesterday. We brought 10lbs carrots, 1 bag of apples and 6 bananas and left empty handed. We saw and fed a majority of the horses. We will definitely go back. I'm only sorry that I'm 3 hours away, otherwise I would try to volunteer. read more

Mill Creek Farm - Smokey Joe - Animal Shelters Near Me - Alachua, Florida

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I have fallen in love with horses, we had our very own horse who had to be euthanized after breaking out of a barn and breaking her back. I volunteer at Mill Creek every Saturday. I now have 126 horse 2 cats 3 dogs as my new pets! The horses and donkeys are groomed weekly. They are fed three times a day and we take in to consideration speci diets. We have a huge team of professionals who come out on a regular basis for check ups to make sure the horses are healthy. Each horse is placed on a pasture that is safe for them where they can socialize with other horses with the same personality. I look forward to every Saturday I am there. The volunteers the guests and of course the animals on the farm have become my family. Coming here is a step away from realty, guaranteed to better your mood by just being there. We support all the guests that come and most of all we support and love all the volunteers! Some horses you'll fall in love with and some horses will fall in love with you and will take a liking to you. It's the most fulfilling relationship you can have. They are intelligent animals and every horse has a different personality and of course a different story. read more

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A beautiful place that is dedicated to providing a retirement home for the oldest and most unwanted of horses. They arrive from rescue organizations and law enforcement agencies emaciated and in ill health. They live out their lives in large pastures with special feed, care, and plenty of carrots. My young nieces love visiting and have learned a great deal about the care of these senior horses. read more

Mill Creek Farm - photo taken Dec 8 of Max (not neglected as poster claimed) - Animal Shelters Near Me - Alachua, Florida

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The Retirement Home for Horses cares for old, abused, neglected and retired service horses. Most come with issues and take time to adjust. They always do adjust and are nurtured along by volunteers,staff, and especially owners. They receive the best veterinary care, equine dental care, farrier care and feed. Their treatments are guided by the veterinarian. Come visit this special place and see how happy and healthy the old guys are. Be sure to bring some apples too. read more

We went this past Saturday and it is a beautiful farm! There are 126 horses and they each have a really good size pasture. They look happy, well cared for, and healthy. It's a huge farm, so come prepared to walk. The grounds are very clean and the staff was very friendly and helpful. The admission price is two carrots, but you'll want to bring more! We brought a whole bag and ran out after just a few horses. read more

I am THANKFUL to be a volunteer at The Retirement Home for Horses for almost two years now and have seen for myself the wonderful work that the founders have done for all the lucky horses that arrive at the retirement home. The farm receives no funding of any kind from any outside source, except for donations from the public. All of the horses there are special in their own unique way; some are retired police horses, some are ex-circus horses but most of the horses arrive at the farm after being RESCUED by police or animal organizations. Some, when they arrive at the farm, have been grossly mistreated, abused, neglected and starved. Once they are allowed to live at the farm, they begin to recover where ALL of their needs are met: medical attention, farriers, equine dentist, pastures with pole barns for shelter, hay rolls, green grass, daily grain feedings (some of the horses, because of their condition, receive 2-3 feedings per day) and volunteers that donate their time and love by grooming and loving each and every one of the horses. Mill Creek Farm is a RETIREMENT home for horses...which means that every horse there has already lived most of their life. One of the residents is now 40 she will be 41 this year) and has been at the farm since 1995. This horse came from very dire circumstances but thankfully, she has been able to live the past 19 years of her life in a true horse paradise where she is taken care of and greatly loved. Some of the horses are very thin but that is NOT because they are not fed or well cared for...they are OLD and they are living out their last years in peace...no longer being ridden to death, no longer having to perform, no longer being worked to death with sore feet and legs and no longer being neglected. Some of the horses are thin because of the way they were treated BEFORE they arrived at the farm (starvation) and some never fully recover from that, but proper feeding and attention to their needs is a given and for once (maybe for the very first time in their life) they know what their life should have been like because they are finally and forever LOVED. MILL CREEK FARM, THE RETIREMENT HOME FOR HORSES is a hospice for horses...it is their "heaven on earth." I would give my life for the founders and for what they stand for and believe in and what they have done for all the horses since 1984. I am proud, but most of all THANKFUL, to be a volunteer at Mill Creek Farm. read more