Home Care In Horse Shoe, NC

Information

Surrounded on three sides by the Neuse River, Horseshoe Farm Nature Preserve consists of primarily undeveloped pastures and woodland areas.

Preserve Rules

Programs and Volunteering

Programs

Volunteering

ecoEXPLORE HotSpot

Horseshoe Farm Nature Preserve is now an ecoEXPLORE hot spot. ecoEXPLORE is a program where kids grades K–8 can earn prizes and help scientists just by taking photos!

Learn more about ecoEXPLORE and sign up today.

Trails

There are two distinct natural surface trails at Horseshoe Farm Nature Preserve.

Sustainability

Horseshoe Farm's rich natural and cultural resources as well as public input led to the concept of a nature preserve. This concept guided the overall planning principle with the intent to preserve the existing character of the property and minimize the environmental impacts to the site.

The preserve was developed using sustainable practices and was selected by the Sustainable Sites Initiative (SITES) to participate in a new program testing the nation’s first rating system for green landscape design, construction, and maintenance. Sustainable features such minimizing site disturbance, eliminating the need to be connected to public utilities, implementing the City's first compost restroom facility, providing on-site stormwater management, protecting wetlands and riparian buffers, using native plants, regional materials, permeable pavement, and solar lighting are employed at Horseshoe Farm Nature Preserve. We are pleased to have earned SITES certification at a two-star rating.

View more information on the Sustainable Sites Initiative.

Shelter

Hours

Horseshoe Farm Nature Preserve is open daily from 7 a.m. to dusk. Please call the office to confirm the current park closing time.

Farmhouse

The Farmhouse is open on the second Sunday of every month from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Hours

Horseshoe Farm Nature Preserve closing changes monthly. They open daily at 7 a.m. See closing times below.

August 8:30 p.m.
September 8:00 p.m.
October 7:00 p.m.
November 5:30 p.m.
December 5:30 p.m.
January 6:00 p.m.
February 6:30 p.m.
March 7:00 p.m.
April 8:00 p.m.
May 8:30 p.m.
June 9:00 p.m.
July 9:00 p.m.

HORSE SHOE - There's a new restaurant opening soon at 3754 Brevard Road in Horse Shoe, and it will be a haven for chicken wing lovers.

Jared Dotson told the Times-News he's planning to hold a grand opening of Hustle Wing Company in the next few weeks.

"We're shooting to open up by Nov. 1. Some things are just out of our control like with any new opening, especially in the restaurant industry," he said.

What's in store

Dotson posted on social media that there will be 24 varieties of sauces on the menu for his wings and that the Hustle Wing Company's website is in the works.

As far as the menu, he said the main thing will be, of course, his wings.

"We'll also have homemade tenders, sandwiches, salads and a great selection of sauces and vegetarian options as well. We will be serving local beers and some wines," he said.

Dotson said the restaurant will be sourcing as many local products as possible and that it will be environmentally-friendly as well.

"We have up-cycled lots of the dining room furniture. We are using carbon negative compostable cutlery as well as compostable to-go products," he said.

More:Decision on proposed subdivision at Etowah golf course delayed until Oct. by Planning Board

Why the name Hustle?

Dotson said he started in the restaurant industry when he was 19.

"A very talented chef who took me under his wing, no pun intended, and trained me to be his sous chef. From then on, I’ve been in management ever since. I continued my culinary career in fine dining restaurants for many years," he said. "I’ve also managed restaurants from casinos, private mansions and sky resorts."

He said the term "Hustle" was inspired from him being on his own since he was a young child.

"I'm always hustling to make a life for myself," he said.

More:Restoration in Etowah will offer habitat and trails by the French Broad River

Locally, he used to help manage 12 Bones and Luella’s Barbecue. He said he's been living in the Western North Carolina area since 1996.

"I moved around a lot when I was really young. Here is the only place I call home. I bought my house about a mile up the street in 2012," he said. "I’ve owned a couple restaurants over the years. Most recently I was one of the founders of Juju’s that used to be located at Mills River Brewery. I took some time off to focus on family over the last year."

He said his passion for making sauces is what prompted him to get into the wing business and that the reception so far from leaders in Henderson County has been "outstanding."

"They have always been easy to work with and really supportive. The Horse Shoe community has been really engaged on what is going on here. Our goal is to bring good food, a great atmosphere and excellent service to our community," he said.

For more information about Hustle Wing Company, call 828-435-3055.

Dean Hensley is the news editor for the Hendersonville Times-News. Email him with tips, questions and comments at [email protected]. Please help support this kind of local journalism with a subscription to the Hendersonville Times-News.

Settlement to secure essential food source for red knot birds listed under the Endangered Species Act

Horseshoe crabs and threatened rufa red knots will enjoy enhanced protection in South Carolina following an agreement between Defenders of Wildlife and the Coastal Conservation League, represented by SELC, and Charles River Laboratories and the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources.

Yesterday, a settlement was filed in federal court in the case brought by SELC, Defenders of Wildlife, and the Coastal Conservation League regarding the use of horseshoe crab holding ponds. Today, all parties announced the agreement that, for at least the next five years:

This landmark settlement comes after years of litigation and represents a huge victory for South Carolina wildlife and the citizens who care about it.

Senior Attorney Catherine Wannamaker

“We are glad that Charles River has agreed to increased protections for red knots and to conduct its operations in South Carolina in a more sustainable way,” says Wannamaker.

The rufa red knot stops on South Carolina’s coast each spring to feed on horseshoe crab eggs along its transpolar journey to the Arctic. Listed under the federal Endangered Species Act, red knots share special relationships with the crabs dubbed “living fossils” that outlived the dinosaurs and resisted evolution, having kept a relatively similar appearance for over 400 million years. Red knots must essentially double their bodyweight by gorging themselves on horseshoe crab eggs to survive their long migration.

At the same time as the birds’ arrival in South Carolina, harvesters for Charles River Laboratories collect spawning horseshoe crabs to use their blood in biomedical testing. The basis of SELC’s federal lawsuit was that these practices denied the red knots access to the eggs they need and threatened their survival. Moreover, this harvest occurs despite the existence of a synthetic alternative to the crab’s blood used by companies like Eli Lilly.

But with the new protections in place, red knots will be ensured access to the food source critical to the transpolar journey and their survival.

This resolution allows for smart, focused restrictions on horseshoe crab harvesting that ensures a critical food source for red knots at vital foraging locations along South Carolina’s coastal plain.

Faith Rivers James, Coastal Conservation League

Second win for horseshoe crabs and red knots this month

This good news follows a decision by the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service, also the result of litigation brought by SELC, that bans horseshoe crab harvesting in Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge during the crabs’ spawning season.

Earlier this month, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service prohibited the commercial harvesting of horseshoe crabs during spawning season when it issued its final compatibility determination stating that the practice is incompatible with the purposes of the refuge and the mission of the National Wildlife Refuge System. This news came in response to a lawsuit brought by SELC on behalf of Defenders of Wildlife that temporarily blocked horseshoe crab harvesting there in 2021, which prompted the Service’s action to address harvesting in the Refuge.

Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge lies on South Carolina’s coast, made up of 22 miles of barrier islands for visitors and wildlife alike to explore. With its islands and estuaries only accessible by boat, these species enjoy special sanctuary from common habitat disturbances, like development practices, that are common on other parts of the coast.

“Along with the Cape Romain decision, the settlement is an exciting step in our work towards a sustainable future for the people and wildlife of the Southeast,” said Ben Prater, Defenders of Wildlife Southeast Program Director. “This agreement will help maintain the integrity of essential habitats for horseshoe crabs, their spawning grounds and critical food sources for imperiled wildlife including migratory birds like the red knot.”

Be part of the solution. Double your impact with a donation through a special wildlife challenge grant.

There are many ways to enjoy the fall color display in North Carolina as travelers have an abundance of ways to enjoy the show, either by car, train, bicycle, boat or horseback. However, there is only one place to stay and that is at The Horse Shoe Farm, nestled on 85 stunning acres along the ancient waters of the French Broad River.

The Horse Shoe Farm is a destination for everyone, as it is perfect for romantic getaways, family reunions, weddings or corporate retreats. Guests looking to connect with nature will marvel at the picturesque valleys and mountains of the Blue Ridge Mountains which host the area's best views of the trees dressed in their colorful fall finery.

The Turchin family bought the farm in 2017 and they were captivated by the breathtaking beauty and serene elegance encompassing the property. With a desire to complement the authentic essence and natural landscape, the Turchins transformed The Horse Shoe Farm into a private retreat.

The Horse Shoe Farm is minutes from downtown Hendersonville, Asheville, and Tryon offering luxury accommodations for up to 61 guests, an unparalleled spa experience in an authentic renovated barn, on-site fine dining and bar, and private event space for weddings, family gatherings, and retreats. There are eight total luxury vacation homes, cottages and a loft available for booking individually or combined. With a total of 25 guestrooms and 23.5 baths, The Horse Shoe Farm can be rented in its entirety starting at $8,500 per night during high season and from $6,500 per night in low season. All accommodations are well-appointed and equipped with modern amenities such as fireplaces, kitchens, television, and wireless internet.

With a combined 15,500 square feet of climate controlled event space, The Horse Shoe Farm can accommodate groups of 10 to 450 people, and with unlimited outdoor space, it can be customized to suit any size occasion. While only 61 guests may stay on property at one time, the on-site event coordinator can assist with recommendations of nearby accommodations for larger parties.

When you're not unwinding indoors, venture around the farm to explore. The grounds feature a newly finished pool & pool house offering a heated resort-style pool surrounded by lounge chairs, a hot tub, sauna, steam room and gathering space year round. Stop by the Labyrinth, go fishing in the pond, tend to the organic garden, paddle board or kayak in the spring fed farm pond, or ride along the biking trails. All equipment needed is provided complimentary.

Everyone can enjoy The Farmhouse, the central hub of the farm; it serves as the communal living, game, and conference room on the farm. Regardless of which house you are staying in, The Farmhouse is yours to enjoy. A great place to socialize and meet your neighbors at. It features a game room with a pool table, ping pong and arts & crafts.

Guests will love visiting with the 2 horses, 3 sheeps, 5 goats and the many chickens and ducks on the farm and they can pick their own eggs for breakfast. The Horse Shoe Farm produces their own honey, has cherry trees and blackberry bushes, as well as a vegetable garden.

The Silo Cookhouse offers a culinary experience that is truly farm to table. Set amidst the tranquility of The Horse Shoe Farm, The Silo Cookhouse’s eclectic dining room is set amidst sweeping views of the mountains, including Mt. Pisgah, rolling pasture and farm land, and the French Broad River. Enjoy delicious food prepared with the freshest ingredients, predominantly sourced from the gardens on property, and supplemented by local artisans and purveyors located right here in Western North Carolina.

The menu changes daily, based on the ingredients available. The menu features one protein a night along with a complement of other dishes. Menu items may include Pork & Shrimp Dumplings, Butternut Squash Pierogi with Apple butter, fennel and arugula, Roasted Joyce Farms Chicken with Salsa verde and Grilled Bavette Steak with Black garlic chimichurri. Desserts include Vanilla Bean Panna Cotta topped with fresh farm berries, toasted coconut and Dulce de Leche Pot de Crème with Blood orange caramel and sea salt. Set up in the style of a supper club, dinner is at 7pm daily and includes 3 courses. The restaurant is open Wednesday – Saturday and reservations are required.

At The Horse Shoe Farm you can also pamper yourself in the luxury of its eclectic, whimsical converted horse barn, Western North Carolina’s most unique spa experience. Surrounded by sweeping pastures, distant mountains and the occasional crow of a rooster, The Stable Spa has a simple approach to bring “life on a farm” into your spa retreat. The spa offers signature and specialty massages, wellness & transformative therapies, acupuncture, body and foot treatments and classes, workshops and retreats. The Stable Spa offers immersive experiences as well, such as vibration healing sessions, inner guidance sessions and sound baths that will have guests leaving soul-connected and grounded in serenity.

The Horse Shoe Farm offers different luxury stay packages including their Romance, Seasonal Bliss and the Corporate Wellness Retreat Packages . The Romance package includes Luxury accommodations for 2 nights, flowers, champagne, and chocolates in-home upon arrival, one 90-minute couples massage with warm basalt stones, 2 private wellness classes, romantic dinner for 2 at The Silo Cookhouse, Continental breakfast each morning in The Silo Cookhouse, Farm bonfire and s’mores each night under the stars and much more. The Seasonal Bliss package includes luxury accommodations for 3 nights, Champagne, chocolates, and welcome gift in-home upon arrival, Continental breakfast, lunch, and dinner each day for 2 in The Silo Cookhouse, one 75-minute couples Seasonal Bliss Herbal Immersion Wrap, and Farm bonfire and s’mores each night under the stars.

For corporations and businesses of any size, The Horse Shoe Farm corporate wellness retreats offer organizations the opportunity for eight or more colleagues to spend four days and three nights together in the luxury accommodations with all meals included. Guests will also enjoy guided yoga or meditation class each morning, farm field day and team-building activities and bonfire & s’mores each night at The Silo Cookhouse.

The farm is 10 minutes from Asheville Regional Airport with direct flights to several major cities (Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, New York, Washington DC, Atlanta, Austin, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, etc.)

The Horse Shoe Farm 155 HORSE SHOE FARM DRIVE HENDERSONVILLE, NC 28791 +1 (828) 393-3034 Thehorseshoefarm.com | @thehorseshoefarm

HORSE SHOE, N.C. -- It doesn't take long for farrier Buck O'Neil to determine the type of care a horse may need from him.

O'Neil, who has been shoeing horses for 49 years and fittingly calls Horse Shoe home, may only watch a horse take four or five steps before turning to what he considers a more reliable source of information.

Working recently with Stetson, a brown and white gelding at Windy Gap Young Life Camp in Weaverville, O'Neil, horseshoe in hand, said, “This is a picture of how his foot has moved over the last six weeks. I'll look at that rather than the horse to determine what I might need to do.”

O'Neil, originally from Minnesota, said he was drafted into the trade in the 1960s and became more serious about it when a friend offered to sell him an anvil and forge for $40. The friend told O'Neil he could pay up whenever he got the money. He took the deal.

A few years later, O'Neil was fortunate to find a mentor in Frank Fleischhacker, a German master farrier who had immigrated to the Twin Cities after World War II. Fleischhaker, having learned the trade between the World Wars, served as farrier to the German Calvary during the second.

O'Neil worked with Fleishhacker for six years, learning the basics of classical European-style farriery, along with something he considers most important — horsemanship.

“That's really the hardest part,” he said. “Because they're all individuals. A big part of this is psychology. I always tell people that veterinarians, jockeys and farriers are all in about the same boat, because we walk up to a strange horse and we've got about 15 seconds to figure out how it won't kill us.”

O'Neil worked in Minnesota for 20 years before moving to the Northeast to work with racehorses. For a brief spell in the 1990s, he changed careers, moving to Atlanta and earning a master's degree in taxation from Georgia State University.

He would eventually move to Asheville to work as an accountant, but after working on a friend's horse, who showed O'Neil's handiwork to a local veterinarian, it's wasn't long before O'Neil was shoeing horses again full time.

Today, O'Neil keeps up with the technological and academic advances and describes what he sees as a reinvention of the wheel, returning to the lessons learned from his mentor.

“I find that a lot of the technology they're using today to study horses — gait and everything else — really reinforces what he always told me,” O'Neil said.

Asked whether he's ever altered his approach to farriery, O'Neil responded, “Let's put it this way, I've changed my techniques several times over the years and have gone back.”

According to O'Neil, farriers are the forerunner to the modern veterinarian, with Greeks being the fathers of the trade. He noted the Greeks were great horsemen and were the first people to study the correlation between a horse's performance and its hooves.

The trade moved along slowly for 2,000 years, and as horses played a primary role in transportation, moving the economy, O'Neil said, the farrier was celebrated.

But when World War I came along, there was a change.

“Like in Europe, the cars and trucks got big right after World War I because they were left over from the war,” O'Neil said. “And they started getting away from the horses a little more.”

From the conclusion of the World Wars up until the 1970s, the popularity of horses and the need for them dramatically decreased.

“But as the economy turned around in the '60s and '70s people had so much more money to spend it became cheap to have horses again,” O'Neil said. “Up until then it was pretty much just the rich who had them. More and more people could afford horses and the industry started to boom again. And that's when I kind of got into it.”

Though he describes himself and other farriers as an “expensive accessory for an even more expensive pastime,” O'Neil, with front teeth slightly worn from the horseshoe nails he grasps between them, can't turn away.

“I tell people horses are my heroin,” O'Neil said. “I'd really like to quit and get away from them ... but there's no place to go for treatment.”

To learn more about O'Neil and his work, visit www.pisgahforge.com.

Reach Biba at 828-694-7871 or [email protected].