Leaving your barn can feel overwhelming, but setting realistic expectations, maintaining open communication with staff, and breaking down post-trip tasks into manageable chunks can make the transition smoother. Encouraging employees to reach out with issues while you're away prevents a buildup of problems upon return. Most importantly, hiring trustworthy people ensures peace of mind, making time away far less stressful.

In this clinic with Kerri Lake, riders and auditors gathered for a day of insightful learning on the deeper connections between horses and riders. Kerri emphasized the importance of intuitive communication, guiding each rider to tune into their own body and energy to foster clearer, more harmonious interactions with their horses. From encouraging forward energy with subtle cues to teaching mindful awareness in riding, Kerri's approach left everyone with a renewed understanding of how clarity and intention shape our relationships with horses.

After months of planning and construction, the barn aisles at Rancho Agave were transformed from dusty, dirt floors into a sleek, functional space. The new design features concrete bibs, gravel and DG base, and black rubber pavers, along with a carefully planned drainage system to keep the barn clean and low-maintenance. The finished aisles not only look stunning but have also drastically improved the cleanliness and acoustics of the barn, making it a much more pleasant environment for both horses and humans.

Nestled in the heart of San Diego County, Valley Center, California, is a haven for horse enthusiasts, offering a perfect blend of mild climate, expansive landscapes, and a vibrant equestrian community. Boarding your horse here not only ensures access to top-notch care and scenic trails but also places you near Southern California's major horse shows and events. With abundant space, professional amenities, and a supportive network, Valley Center is the ideal location for a thriving equine experience.

Tackling the challenges of farm management as a woman, this post dives into the unique hurdles faced in a traditionally male-dominated industry and provides a roadmap for success. Drawing on personal experiences, it offers practical advice on tasks like tractor operation and team management, highlighting the importance of competence and clear communication.

Learn more about Rancho Agave’s jumper program and philosophies.

Learn more about Rancho Agave’s retirement board offerings and philosophies.

Transitioning your horse from being groomed and ridden to living out in a field for retirement can be challenging, especially when faced with worries about changing their familiar routines. However, despite the initial apprehensions, reintroducing retired horses to a herd environment allows them to reconnect with their natural instincts, offering a level of comfort and purpose beyond the confines of their previous routines.

My friend hits me with a classic "Cry me a river" when I'm venting about the chaos of my life/managing a farm. Harsh at first, I agreed with her. Life with horses trumps all the struggles. From my stint in the regular work grind to now cherishing any free moment with horses, it's a journey worth taking.

Imagine staring out of your office window for an entire year, greeted by a sea of metal beams, roofing sheets, and fence posts – the silent promise of something incredible to come. Our journey to create the covered walker and roundpen was a rollercoaster of challenges, unexpected discoveries, and a few 'Plan B, C, or D' moments, but it's the satisfaction of customizing our dream spaces for our horses that makes it all worth it.

Seeing a hurricane barreling towards Southern California made all of us chuckle. How could we be getting any more rain than we already had this winter?

Our “Open Barn” welcomed new and old faces from the polo community. We gathered to show everyone the vision for the future and celebrate the return of polo in San Diego.

The process of turning the breeding facility on property into a clean, new space. Including tackroom, crossties, kitchen, and office.

Record rainfall in California caused a whole new set of problems at the farm. Here are 3 tips I learned along the way for dealing with heavy rain, especially if you live in California!

The process of demo-ing all of the old fencing, buildings, and miscellaneous junk on the property. What started out as optimism, quickly became a reality check for making the farm usable and safe for horses.

A guide to create an equestrian farm with a good flow and layout. Considering the different necessities for a boarding facility.

Our first major project on the farm was to build an arena. This post goes into the details of selecting the building site as well as the process it took to fully complete the jumping ring.

Going into the details about how we fixed up the barn in order to be ready for the polo horses to move in for the season. All of the repairs were temporary, but helped us chip away at the decay in the barn.

Diving into the inspections on the property and what they revealed about the old racing and breeding facility.

All that we learned in our initial visits to Irish Oaks Ranch in Valley Center. My family looked for land for 5 years to build a polo facility after the closing of San Diego Polo Club in Del Mar.