🌸 Spring 2026 Newsletter

Emerald Hills Ranch

Date: May 2026

🌦️ Spring Has Finally Arrived

Thank goodness spring finally showed up without us skipping straight into summer. For a while there, it looked like we were headed for an early heat wave. The hills started browning nearly a month ahead of schedule, and everyone was already bracing for dusty arenas and dry pastures.

Thankfully, early April brought us a beautiful round of rain along with cooler temperatures returning to their normal, lovely 60 to 70 degree spring days. Almost overnight, the ranch came back to life. The hills greened up again, the horses started feeling extra fresh, and the pond even got a little recharge.

There’s something special about spring at Emerald Hills Ranch. The grass grows faster than we can mow it, horses spend more time playing, and everyone seems just a little happier being outside.

🌿 General Happenings at the Ranch

You may have noticed a few staffing shifts around the ranch recently. Some staff members swapped workdays and responsibilities, but the team itself remains fully intact and working together well.

We’ve also added two part-time ranch hands, Cody and Fernando, and honestly, they’ve already been a huge help. Spring brings nonstop fencing repairs, weed control, irrigation prep, mowing, trimming, and random “how did this break?” moments. Having extra hands focused specifically on ranch projects has made a noticeable difference.

Cody has jumped right into major infrastructure projects, while Fernando has basically become the official referee of the gelding pasture fencing wars. Those boys out there can really test a fence line when spring energy hits.

This time of year always feels like controlled chaos in the best possible way. The horses are happy, the ranch is green, and there’s always something going on.

👋 Welcome New Ranch Members

Mieken McNally & Nash

Mieken joined the gelding pasture with her incredibly handsome Quarter Horse gelding, Nask. Even though he’s technically retired, someone forgot to tell him. Most days he’s charging around the pasture keeping up with horses half his age and joining in on all the fun.

He may be another bay in the pasture lineup, but trust us, you won’t confuse him with anyone else. He’s got personality for days.

Cece Johns & Missy

Cece and her beautiful gray mare Missy moved into paddock #13 and seem to have settled into ranch life wonderfully. Missy has a calm, sweet presence and both horse and owner have already become a lovely addition to the community.

Zoe Hosk & Venemo

Zoe brought yearling Venemo into the gelding pasture, and he immediately became part of the entertainment committee.

His best buddy is Rollie, and together they are absolutely hilarious to watch. Rollie has basically adopted Venemo as his little mini-me, and the two spend their days running, playing, and stirring up just enough trouble to keep everyone smiling.

The amount of joy these young horses bring to the pasture is honestly hard to overstate.

Honey Beeman & HD

Honey arrived with High Dancer, better known around the ranch as HD. This 17-hand Irish Sport Horse is currently living in paddock #14 and will eventually move into #20 once it opens up.

Despite his size, HD is an absolute gentleman. Sweet, polite, and stunning to look at. Be sure to say hello if you see them around.

Susan & Athena

Susan has a new horse!

Athena is absolutely gorgeous, and her calm, steady temperament is exactly what you’d hope for from such a large breed. She’s already turning heads around the ranch.

Julie Rodriguez & Serge

Julie joined the gelding pasture with her handsome mustang, Serge. He settled into the herd with grace and seemed to find his happy place right away. We look forward to getting to know both Serge and his humans.

Jess Hiller & Farina

Many of you have probably noticed the beautiful mare in paddock #5. Jess has also been a wonderful and attentive addition to our ranch family. Welcome Jess and Farina.

💌 Fond Farewell

Kristin Jankowski, Alexander, Fern & Clover

Kristin recently moved to New York after accepting a position at Cornell University. While we’re incredibly excited for her, we definitely miss seeing Kristin, Alexander, Fern, and Clover around the ranch every day.

Alexander was such a familiar and steady presence here, and Fern and Clover always seemed to brighten the barn aisles wherever they went.

It was a long and thoughtful decision for Kristin, but we’re proud of her and excited for this next chapter. I still get updates regularly, so if anyone wants to know how they’re doing, just text me anytime.

Kelli Davis & Foxy

Kelli bought a home in Woodland a few years ago, and after a long effort to keep commuting to the ranch, she decided to move Foxy closer to home.

There are so many wonderful things we could say about this pair. Many of us have a funny Foxy story, especially from her younger years when she liked to bolt while we tried to close the gate behind her. Then there was the year she would make you walk all the way to the far end of the pasture to catch her, only to run straight back to the gate and make you walk all the way back.

Mules definitely keep life interesting.

One of the special things about watching a young mule grow into a stunning adult is seeing all the little steps along the way. Foxy grew beyond those youthful antics and became a delight to handle and be around. We will miss Kelli and Foxy dearly, and we sincerely hope their partnership continues to grow. Give Foxy a big hug from all of us.

Jessica Bugbee, Ember & Gitana

Jessica found a great opportunity for her two mares, Ember and Gitana, much closer to home. With a long commute and a demanding job, this move makes a lot of sense, even though we will miss all three of them.

We will miss Ember’s sweet disposition and gentle presence. Gitana gave us the opportunity to help her build trust in people and reminded us what it takes to truly earn that trust. For that, we are grateful.

We wish Jessica, Ember, and Gitana all the best in this next chapter.

🕊️ In Loving Remembrance

Amal

Helen McClowsky recently lost her beloved mare Amal very suddenly.

Many of you knew Amal as the feisty little Egyptian Arabian who always seemed larger than life despite her size. What many may not have known was just how incredible her journey truly was.

Amal was born premature, weighing only 31 pounds, and was rushed immediately to UC Davis Veterinary Hospital. Her survival helped advance neonatal equine medicine, and after months of care, she finally came home.

UC Davis eventually paired her with Zane, who still lives here at Emerald Hills Ranch today. The two spent over a decade together sharing adventures and growing up side by side.

Helen shared these words with the ranch community:

“Amal was a feisty, smart little Egyptian Arab mare and my heart broke when I had to make the decision to have her euthanized due to an onset of seizures. I want to thank all the people at the barn who treated her with affection and gave her good care.”

- Helen McClowky

Amal will be deeply missed.

Helen & Amal

Amal & Zane Playing

Cover Girl @ 9 Months Old

🏅 Boarder & Horse of the Month

Korrie Fullmore

1. Horse name: Dallas

   
   

2. How long have you been riding horses: I don’t ride too much but have cared for horses for many years

   
   

3. What is your favorite movie: Hard to pick just one but I would say The Princess Bride

   
   

4. What is your favorite hobby or pastime besides horse riding? Going on motorcycle road trips with my husband

   
   

5. What breed is your horse, and why did you choose this breed? He is a mustang. They are unique, intelligent, and hardy

   
   

6. What is your favorite food dish? Thai pumpkin curry

   
   

7. Name one thing about your horse that most do not know: He has quite a few primitive markings one that is rare called a “herringbone dorsal stripe” down his back

   
   

8. What would your dream vacation be? To tour castles throughout Europe

   
   

9. What is one word that best describes your horse? Goofy

   
   

10. What accomplishment are you most proud of? Besides my family bringing up orphaned mustangs to be good citizens

    
    

11. Why do you enjoy horse riding? The connection and there is just something about them

    
    

12. What is something on your bucket list that you hope to accomplish soon? Swim in the ocean without fear of something getting me!

    
    

13. What advice would you give to someone new to horse riding? It's not always going to be easy so just hang in there and enjoy the ride

    
    

14. What do you do for a living? Client Services Rep at UCDavis Vet Med Teaching Hospital

Korrie & Dallas

Rare Herringbone Dorsal Stripe

🛠️ Ranch Improvements

Perimeter Riding Trail Project

Cody has been spending Saturdays installing fence posts for our new perimeter riding trail around the property.

And yes… we officially decided to widen it.

The trail will now have an approximately 26-foot-wide riding path, creating more room and flexibility for riders. We also shortened the far end route slightly so riders can more easily cut across the creek area and incorporate additional hill work into their rides.

This project has already generated a lot of excitement, and we think it’s going to become one of the ranch’s most loved features.

Gelding Pasture Fence Repairs

Fernando has been hard at work reinforcing and repairing fencing throughout the 15-acre gelding pasture.

Springtime means fresh grass, cooler weather, and lots of horse energy… which unfortunately also means fences suddenly become “optional suggestions” for some geldings during playtime.

He’s done an excellent job staying ahead of repairs and helping keep both horses and fencing safe.

Irrigation System Repairs

Staff have also been busy repairing underground irrigation piping damaged during the winter months. Horses have an incredible talent for finding exactly where pipes shouldn’t be stepped on.

Once water releases begin from Lake Berryessa, we’re hoping to have the irrigation system fully online and functioning smoothly for the summer season.

The upgraded system still has a few kinks we’re working through, but things are steadily improving and we’re optimistic heading into warmer weather.

Paddock #7 Expansion & Reconfiguration

We recently divided paddock #7 into two individual paddocks while still maintaining the ability to convert it back into a double if needed in the future. This project required installation of new fencing and construction of an additional shelter.

This improvement allowed Athena to move onto the ranch while also opening up more options for boarders searching for private single paddocks. Flexibility in space management has become increasingly important as the ranch continues to evolve and accommodate different horses’ needs.

Pasture Mowing & Field Maintenance

The pastures and the large area across the bridge have already been mowed several times this season. It’s amazing how much of a difference mowing makes, not only in the appearance of the ranch, but also in the quality and health of grazing for the turnout horses.

Spring growth comes fast, and keeping ahead of it helps improve pasture usability, reduce weeds, and maintain safer footing and visibility throughout the fields.

Lake Solano Irrigation Preparation

One of the largest and least visible projects each year is preparing the irrigation system that pulls water from Lake Solano to irrigate our fields and turnout pastures.

Very few people realize how much labor goes into simply accessing the pump area. This year, because the neighboring house had been on the market and the area left untouched, the brush had grown so thick that the original 5-foot access path to the lake had completely disappeared. Nature had fully reclaimed the banks.

In addition to clearing access, we also need to dredge the irrigation canal this year, something that has not been done in roughly 4 years. This requires staff to physically wade into mud and hand remove sediment, cattails, and debris that block water flow.

It is an enormous undertaking and will continue throughout the month of May as we work to get the irrigation system fully operational for summer.

📚 Fun Facts About Horse Care & Health

Spring means flies are coming.

Unfortunately, flies are more than just annoying. They contribute to skin irritation, eye infections, stress, and can spread disease. This is the perfect time to:

• Replace worn fly masks

• Restock fly spray

• Check fly sheets for damage

• Buy extra Swat before stores sell out

Getting ahead of fly season early makes a huge difference once temperatures rise.

📸 Photos of the Month

End of the Day

⚠️ Safety Issues & Reminders

Mandatory Fire Drill – May 23rd

Our annual fire drill will take place on May 23rd for all boarders who moved in after May 2025 and have not yet participated.

If you have never gone through the evacuation drill, attendance is mandatory.

Even if you’ve already participated before, refresher attendance is strongly encouraged.

Fire preparation is one of those things we hope we never need, but if we do, everyone must know exactly what to do without hesitation.

If you absolutely cannot attend, please contact Laura so another drill date can be arranged.

Evacuation Trailer Plan

The evacuation trailer assignment sheet has been posted in the barn since mid-April.

Please take a moment to confirm:

• Your evacuation buddy

• Your assigned trailer

• Your loading location

• Your evacuation route

If anything needs to be updated, now is the time to do it — not during an emergency.

Preparedness only works when everyone participates.

🖼️ Cartoon of the Month

💬 Final Thoughts

As we move into late spring and early summer, now is a good time to prepare for warmer weather routines. Stock up on fly spray, fresh fly masks, and any summer supplies before the heat fully arrives.

We’re also incredibly thankful for the extra rain this spring. The cooler weather and extended green season have been wonderful for both horses and pastures.

Behind the scenes, staff continue working hard on irrigation repairs and infrastructure improvements so we can keep the turnout pastures healthy and green once Lake Berryessa water releases begin.

A lot of the work that keeps a ranch operating well isn’t always visible day to day, but it matters. And we truly appreciate all of you who contribute positively to this community and make Emerald Hills Ranch such a special place to be.

Here’s to a beautiful spring season ahead.