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Writer's pictureEric Haraga

October/November 2024 Newsletter

Updated: Nov 13

🍂 Welcome to Fall at Emerald Hills Ranch! 🍂


The days are shorter, the air is crisper, and the hills are beginning to show hints of winter green. Fall has arrived at Emerald Hills, bringing with it new projects, new faces, and a fresh season of ranch life. As we transition into cooler days, we’re as busy as ever—improving, preparing, and caring for every corner of the ranch. Grab a cozy beverage, settle in, and catch up on the latest happenings at Emerald Hills Ranch. We’re thrilled to share what’s new, introduce recent arrivals, and celebrate the wonderful people and animals that make this ranch such a unique place!


General Happenings at the Ranch


This fall, we’re excited to announce that we finally have a new Kubota tractor! After being on our wish list for years, this tractor is now helping us tackle essential tasks and streamline daily maintenance. Whether it’s moving materials, cleaning up paddocks, or prepping winter areas, this machine is already making life around the ranch a bit easier.


We’ve also decided to reduce our cow herd from 22 down to just 4 cows. These smaller numbers allow us to better manage grazing, with these four acting as our natural groundskeepers, rotating around the property to keep tall grasses in check. This more sustainable approach ensures the cows can graze directly from the land, reducing supplemental feed needs and keeping our fields in balance.


Our irrigation system is typically what keeps our pastures lush and green, but due to recent low lake levels, we haven’t been able to sustain irrigation through the fall. With the water level in the lake dropping, our pastures are now mostly brown grass with hints of green where they received the last rounds of irrigation. This has affected not only our fields but also the surrounding hillsides, which have retained their late-summer browns. We’re keeping an eye on the lake and hoping for a winter that restores our water reserves for next spring!


Welcome New Ranch Members


We’re thrilled to welcome new boarders who have joined our Emerald Hills family this season. Each of them brings a unique presence to the ranch, and we’re excited to see these new friendships blossom:


Nathalie with Shiloh & Ryland


• Claire Cichocki with Whiskey


Natalie with Spantik & Cookie


Returning Soon: In mid-November, we’ll be welcoming back Olivia Clouser and her horse Poppy! Watching Poppy grow from a weanling to a young horse has been a true joy, from her beautiful coat change—from bay to hints of grey—to the strong bond she shares with Olivia. Olivia graduated, moved to San Luis for work, and now is back at Davis. Poppy, now a riding horse, will be joining us in paddock #20. We’re excited to see this duo back on the ranch!


Thank you all for choosing Emerald Hills as your new home. We look forward to getting to know each of you and your wonderful horses, and we’re excited to share this special season with you.


Fond Farewell


A warm farewell to Faith, who found her perfect forever home after a year-long search. We’ll miss her presence here at the ranch and wish her the best in her new home.


Percy has also moved on to be closer to his person. A pasture space opened up in a location closer to where his owner keeps her riding horse down south. We’re happy for Percy and his owner, knowing that they’ll be able to spend more time together. His bossy yet charming personality will surely be missed by all.


We also say goodbye to Thunder, who has made the big move to Wisconsin to join Coleen. While we’ll miss him here at Emerald Hills. Best of luck to Thunder and Coleen as they settle into this new chapter together!


Best wishes to Faith, Percy , and Thunder in their new chapters!


In Loving Remembrance


It is with the heaviest of hearts that we share the sudden and unexpected loss of Charm. Charm’s quirky spirit, complete with her distinctive “drunken sailor” walk, brought so much joy and laughter to our community. Our deepest condolences to her person, Nissa, and all her pasture buddies who are missing her dearly. Charm, you were one of a kind, and you’ll be forever remembered.


Charm on the Right

Meet Our New Team Member


As many of you know, we’ve had a few ranch hands over the past two years, each spending some months with us before making life changes or not quite fitting the skill set we need here at the ranch. We’re thrilled to introduce Alfredo, a hardworking and skilled ranch hand who recently joined our team. After a five-week break to wrap up the walnut harvest with his previous employer, Alfredo has returned to Emerald Hills. It was well worth the wait! Be sure to say “Hola” and introduce yourself if you see him working around the ranch. We’re excited to have him as part of our Emerald Hills family!


Boarder & Horse of the Month

















  1. Boarder: Trina Helmke

  2. Horse name: Riomez

  3. How long have you been riding horses: I started when I was 11 but had a 30 year gap once I turned 18 and had to adult my own way through life.

  4. What is your favorite movie: Nightmare on Elm Street

  5. What is your favorite hobby or pastime besides horse riding? Hiking to hidden waterfalls or swimming holes.

  6. What breed is your horse, and why did you choose this breed? Rio is a North American Oldenburg. I didn’t really choose him, he just happened at the right time. We were meant to be together!

  7. What is your favorite food dish? Spicy Korean soup.

  8. Name one thing about your horse that most do not know: If you scratch his inside thigh, he will herd you around his paddock and not let you leave because he wants more scratches.

  9. What would your dream vacation be? Hiking Patagonia

  10. What is one word that best describes your horse? Goofball

  11. What accomplishment are you most proud of? My career in oncology

  12. Why do you enjoy horse riding or being around horses? It’s more of a bond or friendship that I treasure with all my horses. That ability to be vulnerable and trusted at the same time. It’s a privilege to be allowed in their world or on their backs.

  13. What is something on your bucket list that you hope to accomplish soon? A trip to Croatia

  14. What advice would you give to someone new to horse riding? Just enjoy it, and be thankful for every horse that lets you in their world.


Improvements Around the Ranch


The arrival of fall has us hard at work preparing the ranch for the winter season. Here’s a rundown of the improvements we’ve completed:


Winter Prep for Hay Storage: All of our hay is now securely protected against high winds and rain. This year, we’re trying a new technique by pulling hay from the middle of the stacks outward, keeping the outer layers fully intact for added protection. This task was no small feat and took several days of careful labor, but we’re confident the hay will be well-protected this winter.


Hay Barn Gutter Repair: One of our biggest challenges this season was addressing a persistent leak in the hay barn gutter, about 40 feet up. We had to fabricate a custom patch and brave the heights for this fix, but now it’s securely in place.


Tractor Troubles: Our previous tractor was out of service for over two months, a huge challenge for our staff who had to handle manure management without it. With the new Kubota, we’re now back on track with efficient operations.


Water Leaks: We tackled several significant water leaks this fall, ensuring that our irrigation and water supplies remain reliable.


Fence Fixes: Fencing is always a work in progress, and this fall we focused on replacing and repairing multiple rows of fencing. Almost all of the interior fencing has now been repainted, giving the ranch a refreshed look.


Grain Room Remodel: In addition to a newly installed grain room shelf, we’re remodeling the main grain storage area in the back of the barn. Another shelf is in progress, about one-third complete, to create additional storage space for boarders to organize and manage their grain supplies. The expanded space will make access and organization much easier for everyone.


Barn Door Repairs: We rebuilt the back barn door, allowing us to fully shut off the main barn during harsh weather—an essential improvement for colder, wetter days.


Tool and Storage Area Makeover: Both barn storage areas next to the grain room, as well as the main tool barn, received clean-ups and reorganization. The spaces are now more functional and tidy.


Irrigation Gun and Lake Level: We had an irrigation gun repaired just in time for the lake level to drop, which halted irrigation for the season. While our irrigated pastures have a few green patches, the surrounding fields are mostly brown as we await winter rains to restore lake levels.


Manure Management Overhaul: Manure management was challenging all summer without a functioning tractor, but we managed fly control well under the circumstances. Now, with the new tractor, we’re revamping our manure handling. The previous area is being modified to create a better environment and a more streamlined area for trailer parking. Currently, it looks like a large project due to re-routing the hay barn roof drainage from beneath this section to the creek, but it’s setting us up for much smoother operations.


Cow Stocks and Live-In Paddock Transition: The cow stocks between Sunny and Honey/Annabelle are in the process of being relocated, creating a new live-in paddock for Cookie, who is temporarily in paddock #20.


🎃 Halloween Barn Party 🎃


A big thank you to everyone who joined us for our second annual Halloween Barn Party on Saturday October 26! It was wonderful to see both our boarders and our beloved four-legged friends come together to celebrate.


We’re grateful for the laughter, camaraderie, and memories made, and we hope you enjoy a few photos capturing the fun and festive spirit of the day. We can’t wait to make this an annual tradition at Emerald Hills, so start planning your costumes for next year—it’ll be even bigger and better!



Fun Facts About Horse Care/Health


Looking for new ways to bond with your horse? Try some fun groundwork exercises! Here’s a helpful list of 15 Fun and Interesting Groundwork Ideas from Horse Tricks 101 that will strengthen your bond, improve communication, and provide mental stimulation for your equine friend. Check them out here: Groundwork Ideas for You and Your Horse.


Photo of the Month



Safety Reminder


As our four cows are rotated around the property for grazing, please remember to close all gates at all times. This keeps the cows in their designated areas and maintains a safe environment for all boarders and visitors.


Important Reminders


Fall Vaccination Time: It’s time to schedule your horse’s fall vaccinations. To save on the trip fee, consider coordinating with fellow boarders. Group appointments are a convenient and cost-effective option.


Cartoon of the Month



Final Thoughts


As we enter the season of giving thanks, we’re reminded of how grateful we are for each and every member of the Emerald Hills community. Your trust, care, and camaraderie make this place what it is, and we couldn’t do it without you. From new faces to those who have been with us for years, we cherish each of you and look forward to many more memories together.


Enjoy the beauty of fall, take time to appreciate your equine friends, and look forward to the coziness of winter. Thank you for being part of our family. Here’s to a wonderful season ahead!


With gratitude,

The Emerald Hills Ranch Team

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