Optimus Farm is a horse farm and Physical Therapy business which often has an imported Irish Sport Horse or Thoroughbred or two for sale. All imported horses will have had clean pre-purchase exams performed in Ireland and are cleared to participate in any horse sport. Gary and Tootie Anderson as well as their tenant, Chuck Mills, will know the life story of most of these horses from their birth, which is priceless. Irish Sport Horses are known for their strength, endurance, jumping ability, and intelligence, as well as fantastic temperaments which make them super trainable and safe for amateurs to handle and ride. Cynthia "Tootie" Anderson has been riding for 41 years, and has very successfully competed through the Preliminary level of eventing on her purebred Irish Draught mare "She's Got Game." She has also competed at high levels of the hunters, jumpers, and equitation ranks with many accolades to her name. Combining these skills with a Master of Science degree in Physical Therapy, her 26 years of experience in the field of Physical Therapy, and her ability to "feel" asymmetries in horses before they become outwardly apparent, Tootie loves to select very young, athletic, sound, and safe horses, and bring them up the ranks. Those who don't quite have the potential to become upper level horses will be placed as competitive low to mid level mounts.
Our on-site Physical Therapy clinic specializes in hands on "manual" Physical Therapy consisting of Muscle Energy Techniques, Joint Mobilizations, Mobilizations with Movement, Myofascial Release, Jones Strain/Counterstrain, and Semi-Custom Foot orthotics. This clinic has both a treatment room and a small gym. We also have the ability to come to your farm for your physical therapy needs as we have a portable treatment table. Tootie is also available for Hippotherapy sessions (Physical Therapy for disabled children on horses) by special appointment.
Tootie's Physical Therapy efforts in 2013 helped Lisa Marie Fergusson of Canada to qualify for the long list for the World Equestrian Games and the Pan American Games in 2014 for 3 day eventing on 3 different horses: Ferral Errol, Uni Sprite, and Honor Me! This foundation also helped her to make the list of alternates for the 2016 Olympics on Honor Me, as well as the Canadian team for the World Equestrian Games in 2018. Congratulations to Lisa!
We also offer stabling for Virginia shows and events. We are located in Bluemont, VA which is centrally located to most USEA Virginia events, including Hunt Club, CDCTA, Morven Park, Middleburg Hunt, and Great Meadow. We are also very close to the Upperville Horse Show. If stabling is full, you only need a stall for a night instead of a weekend, or if you prefer to put yourself up on the same property as your horses, come stay with us. We have 2 rooms in the house for the humans, and 4 stalls for the horses. Turnout will also be available once the EHV-1 debacle is over. Top notch care and facilities. Tootie and Gary are fully vaccinated for covid, so people are welcome to stay in our two extra bedrooms. There are also several air bnb's within a few miles of our home...
Additionally, we offer self care boarding at $250/horse/month, and currently have 3 - 5 stalls available. The farm has a 12 stall barn, 17 total acres of three fenced pastures with run in sheds, lovely 195 x 95’ riding arena with good footing, and all the ride out / hacking you could ever want and then some. There is also a very spacious hay loft, a tack room to die for, a laundry room and a half bathroom as well as a posh wash stall. Ideal candidate for this type of boarding would be a quiet horse person who has several horses of their own. Lessons also available on the farm and your trainer is welcome, so long as he or she provides an insurance certificate of liability coverage with Optimus Farm being a named insured.
PC: Gary Anderson