Compassionate Horse Boarding in Central Alberta
Stargrazers is a small family-run horse boarding operation located in the quiet countryside of Beaver County, Alberta. The ranch is owned and operated by Anne and Dane alongside their two young daughters, creating a warm, family-centred environment focused on compassionate horse care.
Anne has spent years working with horses, including managing a retirement boarding ranch in British Columbia, where she discovered her passion for caring for senior, retired, and rehabilitating horses. She understands the unique attention and thoughtful management these horses require and is dedicated to ensuring they receive the comfort, dignity, and individualized care they deserve.
Dane brings the practical side of the operation to life. As a skilled welder, plumber, and all-around handyman, he is constantly building, repairing, and improving the property to keep everything safe, functional, and running smoothly year-round.
The youngest members of the family were born in 2023 and 2025 and are already becoming an important part of daily ranch life. Our oldest proudly serves as the “head groom,” while the youngest currently holds the very important position of ranch mascot.
At Stargrazers, our mission is to provide a peaceful and fulfilling retirement for horses who have spent their lives caring for others. Whether a horse is retired, aging, recovering from injury, or simply no longer suited for regular work, we strive to give them a safe, low-stress environment where they can relax, roam freely, and simply enjoy being horses again.
We believe every horse deserves attentive care, open space, and the opportunity to live comfortably and happily in their later years.
A Day in the Life…
Our 40-acre property offers the perfect combination of open pasture and natural wooded areas, creating an environment where your horses can live as naturally as possible. At Stargrazers, we believe horses thrive when they are free to roam, graze, socialize, and simply be horses.
The property features 37 acres that can be safely fenced off for rotational grazing, seasonal management or herd management when necessary. Horses have access to fresh, clean drinking water and can find shelter in either the wooded area or our man-made shelters for additional comfort and protection year-round.
During winter months, horses are provided quality round bales using slow feeders with no more than five horses to a feeder to reduce stress and encourage a steady forage intake.
New horses to the property will be kept in our front pasture for up to three days until they have been introduced to everyone over the fence before safely joining the main herd. We also have dry pens for horses who are injured, unwell, or require temporary separation for specialized care.
Each morning, the herd is called up to the front pasture for daily wellness checks and individualized feeding as needed. If the grass is too rich in the spring, they will spend the day up there and be let out again for the night. Horses prone to weight gain will also remain in the front pasture during the day before rejoining the main herd overnight. Our management approach is always tailored to the individual horse and their unique needs.
Part of our rangeland management approach is to limit the number of horses to avoid over-grazing. This also serves to limit overcrowding of our horses. Stargrazers is designed to remain a smaller, quieter boarding environment rather than a crowded facility. This allows us to provide more attentive care while maintaining healthy pasture conditions for the long term.
We are located just 20 minutes from West Wind Veterinary Hospital, providing quick access to experienced equine veterinarians whenever needed. We also arrange annual on-site wellness visits for vaccinations, dental care, and routine health checks, making it convenient for boarders while helping reduce travel costs. Owners are welcome to use their own veterinarian if preferred, though annual vaccinations and deworming are required to help keep all horses healthy and protected.
Routine hoof care is available through our trusted farriers, Tricia Willsher and Juliana Minty, both of whom come highly recommended. Owners are also welcome to continue using their preferred farrier if they choose.
Because Stargrazers is family-run, it is more than just a boarding facility — it is our home. We take great pride in maintaining the property, caring for the horses, and creating a welcoming atmosphere for both animals and owners alike. When your horse boards with us, they become part of the Stargrazers family, and we strive to ensure both horses and owners feel comfortable, supported, and cared for every step of the way.
Access
We are just a short 30-minute drive from Sherwood Park and are located on paved roads. Our driveway has a convenient turnaround loop for trailers.
Riding
While our main clientele is retired horses, there are trails winding throughout the wooded area of our property. Alternatively, you can take a short drive to Blackfoot Provincial Park and Ministik Bird Sanctuary. And of course, there is always ditch riding accessible right outside our front gates.
Our property will soon showcase an indoor arena as well as an obstacle/ play area, but in the meantime, there is an indoor arena that is just a few minutes down the road!