Rick and Dixie Abbott, owners of Coatesville’s Charlton Bloodstock which breeds and raises racehorses, are winding down the business in preparation for their retirement later this year, writes Ron Mitchell for Blood Horse.

For more than three decades the couple, who are now both 68, have nurtured champion horses including graded stakes winners Miss Union Avenue, Palmeiro and Afleet Again.

Their imminent retirement is the final stage of a five-year plan to gracefully exit the industry they have dedicated their lives to since they got married in the early 1970’s.

“We said we were happy doing what we were doing now, but not sure we were going to be happy doing this when we’re 70. So we came up with this five-year exit strategy,” said Rick.

The couple have already sold their 160-acre farm near Coatesville to Meghan and Dan Cowan effective Dec 1. The next steps are to sell their final consignment and hold a sale of their equipment and supplies on November 4 and 5.

The Cowans have purchased the farm for their non-profit operation, Lasata Farm, which is a therapeutic horseback-riding, equine-assisted psyotherapy and learing center.

“We couldn’t be happier with the outcome,” enthused Rick, adding that his wife plans to volunteer at Lasata.

Read more about the Abbot’s retirement at Blood Horse here.