Category Archives: Ranch News

2006, an eventful year for Merriewold

2006 was a very active year at Merriewold!  We had our share of ups and downs, but all in all it was terrific.

We moved from Atascadero to Arroyo Grande to a wonderful ranch called Rancho Arroyo Grande and in May we purchased our new property in an area called ‘Ranchitas’.  We are still in the process of developing the land for our horses putting in a new barn, round pen, pastures and arena.

Diplomat, Flaire Lady, Ellie and Cody found new homes with very happy owners.  The purchase of Caduceus Marika was a great addition to the broodmare band. And our first California born foal was Merriewold Ima Lucky Star, or ‘Lucky’.  Merriewold Hero arrived from Kentucky (Hanah arrived in ’05) and he is fabulous.  We are keeping him a stallion for now as he has a wonderful disposition and beautiful conformation.

On the more challenging side, our senior mare UVM Rarity lost her foal and almost died.  She is now happily retired in Kentucky at Saralin.  Promise lost her foal in the tenth month of pregnancy.  We were all so disappointed.  She is now rebred to Gulfwind Sir William and all is going well.  Our lovely Gaysha had a tragic accident this summer.  It is a long story that I will share in detail in a few weeks, of multiple fractures, founder, and seven months recuperation.  She is coming home next week!  And the prognosis is very good.

Jackie and Rocket went to the Santa Barbara Regional Morgan show and won a first and a second in their two classes.  We are starting to get back to showing and taking some dressage lessons.

Lastly, we have an incredible 6 foals due in 2007!

Oh, I almost forgot…we now have this website!  We have worked all year on it and are now starting to see some of the results and benefits.

Thanks to all of you who participated in our great 2006!

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Meet Ubaldo

Ubaldo and the weanlings

Ubaldo Arreola has been with Merriewold for about one year and we really don’t know what we would do without him.  He has become a wonderful groom and horse handler.  He has a kind and calm way with the horses and he is always ready to help out with whatever chores need to be done to keep the ranch running!  Thanks Ubaldo!

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Progress at “Ranchitas”

Barn Exterior  Interior of Barn 
Merriewold’s new ranch in Arroyo Grande is starting to look like home for our horses.  We have almost made it through the ‘disaster’ stage where it looked like a demolition zone.  Everything is finally coming together. The new seven stall show-barn is about three quarters of the way along.  And at the existing  mare & foal barn we added three stalls, and four all weather runs. 
 Footings
Fencing for the six pastures is almost finished and the footing and fencing for the arena are in.  The final touch that will bring everything together will be when the irrigation system is up and running and the pastures are green and growing.
Mare and Foal Pasture  Horse Pasture  Arena
New Yearling Pasture  Yearling Pasture
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