Terrapin Horse Center

"What a glorious place!  From my first visit, I was hooked.  Owner/Operator/Trainer, Cindy Acosta welcomed me and my daughter to her beautiful barn with a personalized gator tour.  The property is peaceful, secluded, and beautiful.  It was obvious from the start that the priority here is on enjoyment of the experience for both horse and rider.  Cindy provided endless enthusiasm in her instruction on horsemanship and riding.  Her motivation clearly stems from her sincere love and respect for horses and the desire to share this with others!" 

Rachel Katz
Potomac, MD

"I have boarded at Terrapin since the gates opened.  I know that my horse is under excellent care while I am not there.  I am always notified when something appears off with my mare.  I enjoy the family atmosphere.  Our equine friends are treated as companions, not just recreational or working horses."

Shannon Weaver
 Swansboro, NC

"Cindy began to talk to me about their feed.  She would say, "I think we really need to get them on the all natural (feed).  It's your decision.  I don't want to push you"....I decided to change their feed.  In text lingo....OMG, what a difference.  Within a couple of weeks, Sampson began to fill out, urinating with ease and producing clear urine.  Within several weeks, the dominate gelding reappeared and began herding Lincoln when another horse approached their fence line.  Lincoln lost his bloated belly and began to have the slick under cut of a Thoroughbred.  Sampson's topline has filled in, but the biggest change I have seen is the rebirth of my beautiful, elegant, Spirited horses."

We have posted more of Jessica's story and her experience with switching from processed, soybased grain to natural feed.  Please click here and take a moment to read her story.  Her story is typical for the issues that we have observed with horses on soybased feed.

Jessica Huff
Jacksonville, NC

"This is a wonderful place; the back porch has windchimes to catch the breeze while you're sitting in comfey chairs to shoot the breeze. There is a wonderful energy about this place that works so hard at keeping things as natural as possible for all living beings.  Another bonus is the interaction of the many animals, even the roosters with the horses and the cats and dogs with the chickens. A great place to learn to be a good partner with your horse and to learn about whole health!"

Patricia Jordan
Swansboro, NC

"I brought my horse to Cindy for rehab after he injured his knee and needed strict stall rest along with continuous care (bandages, medications, etc.).  She did an excellent job of keeping him calm and bringing him back to good health. Cindy makes you and your horse feel like part of the family.  She is so knowledgeable and on top of everything that I never even worried about leaving my baby. 

Thank You so Much Cindy for all you did for us!"

Patty Barnes
Rapid City, SD

"My name is Sherry and this is the story of how I came to know Cindy, my awe of homeopathy, and a horse named Apache.  I was raised with horses back in the 60's, we trusted our veterinarians, never questioning.  Last year I.was in Louisiana and given a 4 year old thoroghbred gelding, got him ready for the track but he ended up stepping on a nail, his back right, and getting an infection.  I was told by the vet that he would never race, and he would have to be on an anti-inflammatory, "Bute," for the rest of his life.  After two rounds of antibiotics he wasn't limping anymore and I began to western train him.  We ended up moving back home to North Carolina this year, in July.  When we got Apache off the trailer we noticed he had thrown a shoe on his right front and was limping.  After cleaning his foot we discovered that a horseshoe nail had went through the bottom of his foot and out through the hoof wall.  After the vet visit to remove the nail, we were told it had abcessed.  More antibiotics, soaking, wrapping, more bute, and he seemed to get better after a week or two.  We moved Apache to a.boarding place in September and he began to limp again.  One more vet visit, and it was discovered that somehow there was this crater on the bottom of his foot covered with a flap of hoof.  More antibiotics, more soaking every day for at least three weeks, more bute.  In November the vet came out and decided it was time for x-rays since he didn't seem to be getting better.  At this point I had not seen my horse trot, run, gallop, nothing.  He would just stand around with his head down.  After the x-rays it was determined that he now had a bone infectiion, osteomyelitis, and his coffin bone looked like it had started rotating.  My vet recommended that I put him down.  I told her I was not going to do that because he was only 5 years old and that I was going to try to find something to help him.  My vet called me back and told me to get in touch with Cindy.  To make a long story short, after working with Cindy, using homeopathic remedies and a healthy diet, I am happy to tell you that today Apache is limp free, the hole has healed, and I saw my boy run again for the first time in a year.  We owe Cindy a debt that cannnot be repaid for helping us.  I am now a true believer in homeopathy and tell everyone I can about her.  Cindy is our Angel from heaven and we owe her our gratitude.  God Bless you, Cindy.

Sherry Hopkins
Newport, NC