I'm not one to usually write reviews but I felt the need to write one in this case. I have been going to Calypso Bay Stables for about 6 years. At first it was good, the owner was Scott and the manager was Sherette. As a client I was coming out just taking lessons and I felt that the horses were cared for. Over the last year to year and a half the stable was purchased by Anthony Degina and placed under new management. Over this period of time I have witnessed many questionable events that have occurred including but not limited to; lack of safety for the horses and rider, disregard for the horse's well being, lack of cleanliness (over run with rodents, rat droppings in the water and wet stalls), behind the main barn there is a fence that is down which is approximately 12 feet wide where they dump manure on the other side when they don't have room to dispose of properly. Should a horse get loose, they could go right out that open fence and be on Ulmerton in no time. Loose boards are down in the tiny paddocks where horses have injured themselves. When I approached the barn owner he said the horse knocked it down, like it was the horses fault. The main barn is HOT.
My most recent experience was the absolute worst. The owner of the 2 horses that I have been working with for years passed away suddenly and without warning. The horses were left in limbo from July 1st until the 20th. I finally was able to purchase the horses from his family. The family had sent $300 towards the horses care. The board is $1200 for 2 horses. I was trying to pay the pro rated board for 20 days because as soon as I purchased the horses within an hour I had 2 trailers there to haul them out. The barn owner Anthony Degina had the stable hand Alvero Palma place PADLOCKS (I do have witnesses) on each horses stall until I paid the additional $700. Anthony wouldn't even put the $300 the family sent towards the board! I would never recommend this facility for boarding a horse. Seems to me they are more concerned about money then the horses well being. The ONLY reason I went there the last 1 1/2 years under the new management/owner was because the horse that I rode was boarded there. I NEVER used their trainers in the last 1 1/2 years!
more