When Jennifer Arcuri retired from protecting and serving her community in Pembroke Pines PD as a 20-year veteran Sergeant she knew that her lifestyle change was going to include horses. Together with her retired firefighter husband Paul, the acquisition of a 15-acre property in Trenton, in Northwest Florida, offered an opportunity to continue her community service career. This time by establishing a home for retired Mounted Patrol horses, a 501 (c) (3), aptly named 10-42 Police Horse Retirement Home, Inc., the signature code for being out of service.
Today 10-42 is home to three retired police horses, Ghost, Rockaway and McCoy. These are three very fortunate equines that have found a safe landing with excellent care, a situation that is not always viable for the equines that serve as Mounted Patrol partners when they face their own retirement.
“These horses all came with their own fan clubs. Especially Ghost, who has been featured on TV news programs. You can learn more about his story in this Vimeo short, Unwritten Legends. I have four stalls for the retirees so currently have room for one more. I don’t want to get too many as I think four would be a maximum for me to manage easily. It’s important to me and to the horses that I have time to socially interact with them. That is what they have become so used to in their careers. To just leave them out in a field without daily human interaction I think would be a total contradiction to what they’ve become used to. They need the human interaction and support and my husband and I want to do them justice,” shared Arcuri.
The property did not include any provision for horse housing when the couple purchased it so building a barn, fencing paddocks and adding the accoutrements required for horse keeping was necessary. While Arcuri had experience working and riding horses, two back surgeries had left her with no realistic avenue to continue her horse-loving passion in the saddle. Undaunted by never having kept horses at home, Arcuri enrolled in courses for equine care at Midway University, KY. to engage in learning everything she could about how to design a good business plan for the charity. A heartfelt endeavor, that would include her shadowing a local vet that was later to become a personal friend as well as the attending vet at the 10-42 Police Horse Retirement Home.
“I learned so much about horse care in my year at Midway University. It was an insane education. But when I spent the day shadowing my vet, Dr. Stephanie Helinger, to visit what started out as 10-12 horses requiring vaccinations and health wellness visits to a 32 plus horse day and the vet tech was effectively me, the impromptu internship and my vet’s generosity in sharing her knowledge taught me a LOT. I have a background in nursing, so helping out was a natural fit. Dr. Stephanie Helinger has been instrumental in helping me to become better for the horses. Her attention, compassion, and genuine love for the horses is both supportive and inspiring,” Arcuri explains.
Arcuri, always hungry for more knowledge, continues her education at any opportunity. And her unique vision for the property was not limited to founding a charity for the care of retired police horses. In addition to the work she embraces in their care Arcuri has established a very special human and horse layover facility, modifying her 8-stall with loft Monitor horse barn that she acquired from leading modular barn company Horizon Structures.
“When we applied for permits for the horse barn I knew I was going to include accommodation for horse and human living so we took the Horizon Structures plans for their regular Monitor Horse barn and had a draftsman add residential living spaces. Not just in the loft area, which is commonly done, but also on the ground level. We then applied for a single family home residential building permit and ultimately received the Certificate of Occupancy at completion. Our very own Barndominium design.”
When asked about her experience working with the team at Horizon Structures on this complex building project Arcuri was keen to share how the purchase and construction process had unfolded,
“I was extremely happy with the entire process. Denise {Chesnet} was exceptionally helpful in the planning stages, offering insight and suggestions for the design. She even held a video conference call to include a dear friend and lifetime horsewoman who I asked to weigh in on some of the final decisions. I believe every build is a learning process and there are some things I would do differently if I were to build again, but everything that Horizon suggested was invaluable to the final product. Merv {King} was absolutely fantastic for the final stages of the project and his communication made me feel like I was their only customer! The entire process was smooth and enjoyable and I would highly recommend Horizon to anyone considering any of their products. I only wish I could call them again right away to add a run-in shed for our pasture as we don’t have shade trees for the horses on the property, so they don’t get daytime turnout as much as we’d like without that protection from the sweltering Florida heat!”
This unique modification in design of the popular Monitor Barn, offers horse folks seeking an equine layover facility the advantage of being across the aisleway from their equine charges, living conveniently at hand on site with their horses rather than being resigned to finding accommodation at local hotels, BnBs or motels.
“For those that don’t have a camper or RV, these guest rooms provide an affordable means for horse folks to travel and get where they need to go safely with a stopover specifically designed around the needs of them and their horses.”
Arcuri has also included another alternative method for people to stay on site:
“We have included a full hook-up option behind the barn for someone in an RV or horse trailer with living quarters, who still wants to be on site, only steps away from their horses.”
Arcuri named this business, Lazy Neighs Layover, a play on the brand Lazydays RV, a popular Floridian based company.
“With two modern guest rooms, one themed English and one themed Western, plus the full apartment and the ensuite arrangements, horse owners/trainers travelling with their equines can relax knowing they are on hand to care and monitor their animals. Our proximity to the prestigious World Equestrian Center {WEC} in Ocala, and our Trenton location being enroute for folks on the road through the Florida panhandle to Southern Florida, make us a perfect stopping point. Competitors can spend time here before hitting the showgrounds like HITS and WEC and enjoy the relaxing atmosphere. We are less than an hour from these locations and it is a straightforward drive. A respite at Lazy Neighs also allows them and their horses to adjust to the change in temperature/weather before the pressures of competition and a period to de-stress. Some competitors simply want to be away from the crowds and chaos in preparation for their events. Others are considering off-site boarding options for enhanced safety with the growing concern for virus exposure.”
The beautiful facility at Lazy Neighs Layover offers turnout for visiting equines, and dry stabling is also available on request for limited periods. Arcuri’s husband Paul, who works away from home for FEMA sometimes for long periods, finds time between to be hands-on construction wise on the farm helping his wife realize the full potential of the property incorporating high quality features that horse owners will appreciate.
“Our Lazy Neighs Layover is also an option for accommodation we like to offer to hurricane evacuees, both horse and human. It is possible for folks to come and stay with their horses/pets and we are not in a high hurricane risk area like some parts of Florida. Although of course, we had Horizon Structures engineer the barn to meet/exceed hurricane building codes.”
Another perfect use for this special horse/human friendly layover facility is for clients of the prestigious University of Florida at WEC.
“It’s not ideal to have a horse discharged from medical care and to have to hit the road and travel hundreds of miles home right away. We offer an ideal stay where the horse can be monitored by its owner, spend a few days to recuperate before heading home. And remain in proximity to the hospital/clinic for a speedy return should it become necessary.”
The entire Lazy Neighs Layover property is security monitored with an advanced camera system that provides safety and security for all its residents.
“This camera system allows for peace of mind at all times. We have eyes on every corner of the property, aside from the human residential space of course! For companionship for the horses aside from our police horse retirees we also have two mini donkeys that graze in paddocks close-by. They make the perfect calm companions for any horse. Paul and I are working hard to ensure that both 10-42 and Lazy Neighs Layover offer a stress-free and enjoyable environment that both professional and amateur horse folks as well as all equids can enjoy.”
If you are interested in booking a stay at Lazy Neighs Layover please contact Jennifer Arcuri at (954) 444-3965 or reach out via email to lazyneighs@gmail.com . And you can follow both 10-42 Police Horse Retirement Home and Lazy Neighs Layover on Facebook and Instagram.
Donations to the 10-42 Police Horse Retirement Home are always welcome and go to support the daily care and veterinary costs associated with the medical needs that led to the police horses’ retirement. You can learn more about their mission, services and donation programs here.
