By Matt Fredmonsky
Record-Courier staff writer
There are options in Portage County for boarding horses at safe, mindful farms in order to avoid the neglect now so famously associated with the Brimfield Township Never Rest Ranch.
The operator of the Brimfield boarding stable, Diane Silbaugh, was sentenced in March to 180 days in the Portage County jail for felony theft and fraud charges and 10 misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty.
Sheila Vandergriff, executive director of the Portage Animal Protective League, said the shelter is caring for 12 animals removed by court order in the Brimfield case.
"This is the largest horse case we've ever had at the APL," Vandergriff said. "It's very important to regularly go check on your animal, because even though you're being told it's well cared for does not mean that it is."
In March, former Shalersville resident Sue Schmidt began a therapeutic business venture. Schmidt took over boarding operations at Sahbra Farms in Streetsboro at the property's front stable as a means to provide horse owners with the opportunity to enjoy their equine friends while Schmidt gets to spend each day enjoying her passion.
Schmidt provides hay, grain and bedding, and she turns the horses out herself each day so they can enjoy Sahbra's sprawling pastures. Schmidt operates with full insurance.
"You do have to be responsible for your property and your business," Schmidt said. "The only thing we don't do is ride them and brush them, but that's for the owners to do."
Schmidt and her husband, Bill, began leasing the farm house at Sahbra after a fire claimed their home in December and forced them to sell the farm.
Schmidt said she is willing to allow partial-care boarding, but for the most part her boarding contracts are for full-care stalls, which essentially provide owners with worry-free boarding.
"I'm here for the everyday person," she said. "But I want to make sure that horse is fed."
Schmidt can board 45 horses at Sahbra Farms, but now boards 24. And she is aware there is competition in Portage County.
Norman Webb owns Panorama Farm in Hiram Township. Webb has been boarding horses at his 270 acre farm since 1994 and has room for about 50.
Webb said he occasionally leases to trainers and racers who like to use his half-mile trotter track.
"We currently lease a whole barn to someone, or we can do some self-care, but we are not a full-care facility," Webb said.
Webb said he has not seen an increase in business since the Never Rest Ranch was shut down.
"That's just clear off in left field some place," he said. "There are lots of people who are conducting business in a reasonable fashion."