After Decades of Caring for Horses, Couple Protects the Land that Makes It All Possible

Suzann and Peter Bobley have spent more than four decades caring for Thoroughbred racehorses. Now, the couple has taken a step to support the horses they love by permanently protecting the land that has become their home in retirement. 

The Bobleys have partnered with Saratoga PLAN (Preserving Land and Nature), a nonprofit conservation organization, to permanently protect their 75-acre farm in the Town of Northumberland through a conservation easement funded by the Saratoga County Farmland and Open Space Grant Program. 

The couple first came to the Saratoga region in 1983 to race Thoroughbreds. After starting on a small property on Long Island, they gradually expanded to larger farms before building 18 Karat Farm in 2006. They settled just outside Saratoga Springs, near the historic Rojan Farm and minutes from Saratoga Race Course.

“We found the land and the people of Saratoga and everything about this place beautiful,” Suzann Bobley said.

Saratoga PLAN worked with the Bobleys throughout the conservation process to establish a customized easement, which permanently limits future development while allowing the property to remain a working horse farm for generations to come. Today, the farm is home to 13 retired Thoroughbreds, including three horses from the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation (TRF), and their farm now serves as a TRF Sanctuary Farm.

“Protected farmland is essential to the future of Thoroughbred aftercare, it’s an investment in the lifelong welfare of the horses who have given so much to us. We are deeply grateful to the Bobleys for their continued support of our mission and deep commitment to conserving farmland. Strong partnerships that support both farmland conservation and equine aftercare help ensure a sustainable future of dignified lifetime care for Thoroughbreds beyond the racetrack,” said Maggie Sweet, executive director of the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation.

Having watched rapid growth reshape many of the rural landscapes on Long Island, Suzann and Peter understood how quickly farmland and open space can disappear. They knew they wanted a different future for the farm they built in Saratoga County, especially as development pressure increased around the property.

In 2021, when an adjacent 28-acre tract of forested wetlands was listed for sale, the Bobleys and several neighbors hoped it could be protected from development. Rather than risk losing the woods, the Bobleys purchased the property themselves, preserving open space next to their farm.

The protected property also contains wetlands that filter water and provide wildlife habitat. The parcel lies within a mile of protected lands that support Blanding’s turtles, a threatened species. According to the New York Natural Heritage Program, habitat loss and the degradation of private wetlands surrounding known populations are among the greatest threats to Blanding’s turtles. The conservation easement permanently protects these wetlands and the wildlife habitat they provide.

“The Saratoga region offers so much to the people who live here and to those who come to visit. The land and natural resources around us are a big part of what makes that possible. Protecting them is a shared effort and takes all of us. The Bobleys are a great example of how dedicated landowners can work with Saratoga PLAN to preserve the landscapes that define our region and the quality of life we all value for generations to come. We are grateful for our strong partnership with Saratoga County and its integral role in making this project happen,” said Saratoga PLAN Executive Director Jamie Brown.

Saratoga PLAN has helped conserve over 14,000 acres of land in Saratoga County. PLAN helps landowners conserve farmland, woodlands, and natural habitats, and connects people to nature through an extensive trail network, including 13 public nature preserves open for hiking, biking, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and nature study.