What is Equiculture?

Equiculture is a word we coined in 2009 to describe a way of living and working with horses that honors their nature, supports community, and protects the Earth. It's where horses, ecology, culture, independence, and history come together along our shared path with the Horse.

At Anam Cara Farm in Canaan, Maine, we’ve created a unique model of care for retired, disabled, and homeless working horses. Our Equiculture model includes:

 

Herd-Centered Living

Horses live in herds and roam along endless circular pathways with access to pasture, mimicking their natural way of life. This encourages herd bonding, supports emotional well-being, and restores their instinctual social hierarchies.

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Environmental Harmony

Our pastures are managed to protect native plants and remove invasive species. Horses help regenerate the land by producing rich manure, which is carefully composted and used to nourish our gardens.

Regenerative Gardening

We grow food and flowers in circular gardens—free from chemicals—using only our horses' compost and our flagship soil formula, FeedBack. These gardens are not only productive but visually beautiful and biodiverse.

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Closed-Loop Farming

Manure is collected daily, aerated offsite, and prepared for community sharing, showcasing the horse’s role in healthy soil systems.

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Living Education

The Equiculture model is rooted in education and hands-on experience. We are rebuilding our programs to share draft horse care, farm skills, and cultural traditions that empower people to connect meaningfully with the land and animals.

From Blue Star to Anam Cara

From 2009 to 2020, we operated Blue Star Equiculture, a nonprofit draft horse sanctuary that served hundreds of horses and their communities. In 2022, we moved to Canaan, Maine, purchased land, and began anew. We are now a for-profit venture—with all proceeds supporting the herd and the land they call home.

Every product you purchase from us helps fund hay, feed, supplements, medical care, transportation, farrier and dental services, and the daily operations that care for these noble horses.

Thank you, on behalf of our amazing herd—our friends, teachers, and living connection to something much greater than ourselves.