Victoria’s Glen Eden Thoroughbred Agistment is a specialist built thoroughbred property only one hour’s drive from Melbourne. The property has been lovingly developed by owner-operator Sonia Carboni, who purchased the farm in 2000 when it was a simple sheep farm. Using her vast experience in the horse racing industry Carboni has designed a property with the horse at its heart. Carboni’s love of horses is further illustrated via her position as a foundation director at Living Legends. It is this deep understanding of the Thoroughbred industry, and a wealth of hands-on experience that allows Glen Eden Thoroughbred Agistment to provide exceptional service to their clients.
Glen Eden Thoroughbred Agistment prides itself on having large uncrowded paddocks with pasture that is regularly tested to ensure the nutritional content is correct. Due to the hands-on nature of Carboni’s service, every group of horses is carefully selected for harmony to reduce injuries and stress on each individual horse. The large paddocks are securely and safely fenced, with plenty of shelter – both natural and man-made - in every paddock, and the farm is located in a quiet valley away from busy roads.
Carboni told Breeding & Racing, “We have 100 acres of pasture, and it is all fenced with Diamond Mesh fencing which is very safe. We have never had a major fence injury on this property. Glen Eden has undulating flats at the front of the property and we use these for smaller specialist paddocks, while the hills out the back are used for groups of young horses or spellers. We tend to keep our groups small, only five to six horses, to reduce competition (and injury) between individuals. Because of my veterinary nursing experience, I am able to treat and rehabilitate injured horses. Extra effort is taken to ensure horses are doing well and are happy.”
Other facilities include individual colt paddocks, and specialist foaling paddocks and yards. Glen Eden Thoroughbred Agistment also has convalescent yards that provide an excellent alternative for horses that require confinement in a larger area than a standard box. These yards are located among other horses, so the confined horse has companionship as they recuperate.
As Glen Eden Thoroughbred Agistment provides full foaling down, and walk-on services, the farm has the expected facilities that these services require, including a hospital box, a crush area specifically designed for safety, and a set of scales to enable the monitoring of growth in young horses. Other facilities include a state of the art rubber lined walking machine to assist with the preparation of yearlings for sale, and rehabilitation of racehorses.
The management of racehorse rehabilitation and convalescence is a speciality service that Glen Eden Thoroughbred Agistment provide. Carboni has extensive veterinary nurse experience, and will work with trainers to accommodate all special needs and requests for every individual horse.
Top sprinter Mic Mac won seven of his first eight starts, including a couple of Gr2 races, before embarking on an ambitious campaign in 2010, when he ran in six Gr1 races in succession. After that, he had two years off with feet issues; and was successfully rehabilitated at Glen Eden Thoroughbred Agistment before he had another twelve starts from 2012-2014, winning the Listed Civic Stakes and placing at group level on several occasions.
The key to the success at Glen Eden Thoroughbred Agistment is this fully catered individual service.
