Feral Valley Ranch

Tako

July 2026
A 5hr ride to a lake for a splash and dip can be so developmental. We learned to hold space for our riding companions and enjoy different speed regulations. Standing tied among the trees for a riders' lunchbreak is also valuable time well spent, and does offer an opportunity to do some branch pruning. Often one to wait for another's lead and instead simply ham about, Tako is learning to work through new situations on his own and take a moment to think about the task at hand, such as admiring an old dock in the lake in between pawing up water and blowing bubbles!

So loved by his family, Tako had a lot of the basics in his toolbox before coming here. He just wasn't overly motivated to pay attention or engage actively in any requests or cues. Chewing on the lead rope and fighting the tie-time at the hitching rail were fun pastimes. Getting a good rub or scratching of his face or his neck, chest, withers, and beside his tail dock were priorities for him. His first rides were very underwhelming, with any form of enthusiasm and persuasion resulting in some pouty crow hops and disinterest in moving forward. The first trail ride was achieved initially at a snail's pace without an abundance of nagging, but seemed to finally ignite an interest within him for saddle work and adventure.

After almost a year of down time for Tako to heal up and prove himself capable of becoming a riding horse after his major health scare just before I had my accident back in 2025, he wasn't sure if the working life suited his more mature 4 year old desires of pasture life and being loved on. Such a playful and mischief-making guy, it quickly became apparent to lock up everything away from his grasp. Halters, brushes, tack, ropes, manure forks, and rest in pieces, dear wheelbarrow handle whilst we were busy picking his pen and not being attentive enough to his antics.

Tako

June 2026
So loved by his family, Tako had a lot of the basics in his toolbox before coming here. He just wasn't overly motivated to pay attention or engage actively in any requests or cues. Chewing on the lead rope and fighting the tie-time at the hitching rail were fun pastimes. Getting a good rub or scratching of his face or his neck, chest, withers, and beside his tail dock were priorities for him. His first rides were very underwhelming, with any form of enthusiasm and persuasion resulting in some pouty crow hops and disinterest in moving forward. The first trail ride was achieved initially at a snail's pace without an abundance of nagging, but seemed to finally ignite an interest within him for saddle work and adventure.

After almost a year of down time for Tako to heal up and prove himself capable of becoming a riding horse after his major health scare just before I had my accident back in 2025, he wasn't sure if the working life suited his more mature 4 year old desires of pasture life and being loved on. Such a playful and mischief-making guy, it quickly became apparent to lock up everything away from his grasp. Halters, brushes, tack, ropes, manure forks, and rest in pieces, dear wheelbarrow handle whilst we were busy picking his pen and not being attentive enough to his antics.

Tako

June 2026
After almost a year of down time for Tako to heal up and prove himself capable of becoming a riding horse after his major health scare just before I had my accident back in 2025, he wasn't sure if the working life suited his more mature 4 year old desires of pasture life and being loved on. Such a playful and mischief-making guy, it quickly became apparent to lock up everything away from his grasp. Halters, brushes, tack, ropes, manure forks, and rest in pieces, dear wheelbarrow handle whilst we were busy picking his pen and not being attentive enough to his shenanigans...

Ryder

April 2026
From an arena prince to a backroad champ, Ryder led the way from the fairgrounds in town to for an enjoyable Friday night supper! He had his moments with lots of traffic on the roadway, from motorcycles to trucks pulling trailers to tractors, but retained composure and was allowed a chance to watch and become aware of everything.

Most horses have some quirks or an odd behavior or two. Ryder has a great history with kids, I am told, and he is the absolute sweetest guy. He hasn't been out on the trails in a few years, and his eyeballing every rock or log is a funny reminder of that. That being said, he's so superb at learning or remembering things that are brought up; his retention from things of yesterday are so consistent with stellar behavior today!

Meeting this wonderful Arab gelding and getting to expand this Coastal boy's horizons has been such a treat! We are getting some great opportunities to grasp a good feel of one another's abilities, and progress any potential shortcomings.

It's been awhile since the last post, because life changes certainly adjust our perspectives on things, and the rebirthing process takes a while to take shape, but the next chapter is going to be another exceptional one for the books!

Ryder

April 2026
Most horses have some quirks or an odd behavior or two. Ryder has a great history with kids, I am told, and he is the absolute sweetest guy. He hasn't been out on the trails in a few years, and his eyeballing every rock or log is a funny reminder of that. That being said, he's so superb at learning or remembering things that are brought up; his retention from things of yesterday are so consistent with stellar behavior today!

Meeting this wonderful Arab gelding and getting to expand this Coastal boy's horizons has been such a treat! We are getting some great opportunities to grasp a good feel of one another's abilities, and progress any potential shortcomings.

It's been awhile since the last post, because life changes certainly adjust our perspectives on things, and the rebirthing process takes a while to take shape, but the next chapter is going to be another exceptional one for the books!

Ryder

April 2026
Meeting this wonderful Arab gelding and getting to expand this Coastal boy's horizons has been such a treat! We are getting some great opportunities to grasp a good feel of one another's abilities, and progress any potential shortcomings.

It's been awhile since the last post, because life changes certainly adjust our perspectives on things, and the rebirthing process takes a while to take shape, but the next chapter is going to be another exceptional one for the books!

Martini

June 2024
When I acquired Martini as part of the family back in 2012, she had already had six previous owners. I had vowed to her that she would always remain loved and stable with me, and I kept that promise. Despite the many quirks of hers, she was highly adored, and I wouldn't change our lives together at all. Besides, what fun is life without a bit of sass?

This is a series of images I want to remember my girl by, and putting them here will immortalize her in some way. She lived large in her life; there was never a dull moment with Martini, and everyone who knew her has their own memorable story of some adventure or another with her. 😅

Some days are harder than others when chapters draw to a close. We think of days gone by, recall fonder memories of the past, and reminisce on the way we felt during those times.

It's been just over six months since I laid my beautiful Martini down to rest after she quite clearly requested to be let go. Her body had begun to fail her, but her mind was still intact and suffering the frustration of being unable to keep up physically.

Loss certainly changes our perspectives on things, and the rebirthing process takes a while to take shape.

Martini

June 2024
This is a series of images I want to remember my girl by, and putting them here will immortalize her in some way. She lived large in her life; there was never a dull moment with Martini, and everyone who knew her has their own memorable story of some adventure or another with her. 😅

Some days are harder than others when chapters draw to a close. We think of days gone by, recall fonder memories of the past, and reminisce on the way we felt during those times.

It's been just over six months since I laid my beautiful Martini down to rest after she quite clearly requested to be let go. Her body had begun to fail her, but her mind was still intact and suffering the frustration of being unable to keep up physically.

Loss certainly changes our perspectives on things, and the rebirthing process takes a while to take shape.

Martini

June 2024
Some days are harder than others when chapters draw to a close. We think of days gone by, recall fonder memories of the past, and reminisce on the way we felt during those times.

It's been just over six months since I laid my beautiful Martini down to rest after she quite clearly requested to be let go. Her body had begun to fail her, but her mind was still intact and suffering the frustration of being unable to keep up physically.

Loss certainly changes our perspectives on things, and the rebirthing process takes a while to take shape.

Guinness

October 2023
A lot of dreams and goals seemed so far from being attainable, but if I've learned anything, it's that if it's something worth doing, go for it. Our first exposure to mounted archery back in 2021 had Guinness spook at the white rope that makes up the lane way (he assumed it was electric) and he proceeded to take down the course in his panic. It was something we had to work through, breaking things down slowly again before he was confident to run the track.

Growing up, I became involved with horses on my 10th birthday, when my grandparents gifted me three riding lessons at a local English barn. Prior to that, I'd been in love with them because they had been my Mom's passion throughout her youth. Books upon books of horse stories were passed down to me, and I've read each and every one.
I rode at that barn for a couple of years before we moved, and my parents acquired Bud/FlyBoi for me. I did not take lessons after we relocated, and it was through a lot of trial and error that I stumbled across things that worked and things that didn't.
It wasn't until 2019 that my interest and level of horsemanship took on a new dimension and purpose. Guinness had been with me for two years by that point, and he was thrilled to grow exponentially as I began to have my eyes opened to the infinite world of unending teachings. He truly did become the "Guinny Pig" as we learned things such as the importance of timing and feel, and I learned that ignorance is only bliss for those who do not know better.

Known as Mr. Dependable, Guin joined the family back in 2017 as a project needing to be restarted and legged up due to having a tendency to spook and bolt. He was joint owned between myself and a friend, but when the time came to rehome him, the decision was made to buy her out and keep him. This proved to be one of the best choices I ever made, and "Not-So-Skinny Guinny" became a fixture and main mount here, from trails to town rides, from mounted archery to schooling colts, he's been a cherished member of the equine team. More recently, his nickname was overhauled, and he is now adoringly known as the "Guinny Piggy" thanks to his easy keeper body type. 😉